Most cats don't like to wear collars. Cats always get annoyed when they have to wear collars and they will either stop moving or running. Most will try to sit or lie down. They get pretty bored. You can see this from the expression in their faces. There are many types of collars. Some collars are made out of fabric. Some are made out of plastic. Others of leather, metal and hybrid materials. We recommend that the collar should be light, slip proof, easily dried, none metallic, none slippery, and none allergic to the cat. Collars should not be made of thick materials. Neither should be it two wide.

A collar is needed when you want to prevent your cat from licking their wounds as this will aggravate the conditions of the wounds. The collar size has to be chosen very carefully. If the collar size is too wide, it can prevent your cats from eating and drinking properly. A drooping collar which drops over the eyes of the cat prevents the cat from seeing properly. It can create a danger to your cat. The cat cannot see its enemy easily. Some cats walked directly towards the path of an angry dog and they may be badly attacked by such creatures that may turn out to be rather unfriendly. There are very few friendly dogs for cats. A drooping collar also impairs the judgment of the cat in estimating distance.

If you intent to distinguish ownership of the cat, the trend is towards the use of microchips embedded in the body of the cat. The microchip can contain basic information on the cat like, name of the cat, owner, contact information, age of the cat, type of cat, color, weight, etc.

Some owners use the collar as an adornment item for the cat. But do be careful. They can slip off and create unnecessary injuries to the cat. Cats like to explore. They are curious animals. And this is where we get the common cliché “ Curiosity Kills the Cat “. Sometimes these collars get caught or snagged at the places where they are exploring. During a chase or a run, when the collars get caught, a cat can be left hanging at high places where they can choke themselves to death. Likewise, being snagged at a place where their mewing cannot be heard means that they may have to die a slow death from starving.

However, some owners have always argued for the usage of collars on the cat. A collar indicates ownership. It indicates that the cat was domesticated and had a home. It tells the observer that … yes, this cat is not that fierce, it has a good home, it is well taken care of. Most of all, it is not a stray. Treat it properly and with respect. You will have to contend with the owner if you mistreat this cat. It belongs to somebody.

There are advantages and disadvantages in using collars on a cat. But when you make a decision, do look around at the environment where your cat is living. Is it safe? Don’t look around only for your own personal self interest.

Happy cat owning.