A collar could be a saving grace for your cat
flickr photo courtesy of coxy
Although it's pretty much a given that dogs wear collars regularly, it's a much different story with cats. Is it the way that we view each species? Perhaps the idea that cats are more "independent" and not socialized the same way in our culture plays a part.
Most cat owners feel that collars pose a danger to their pets, or could cause some other strife. Others, feel that since their pet is strictly an indoor pet, a collar isn't needed. In the latter case, it couldn't be further from the truth: some situations cause cats to get spooked, and run outside - like the Fourth of July and New Years Eve, due to fireworks, and possibly additional foot traffic venturing in and out of the house.
For many cats who get lost with no collar and ID, it's a bleak picture. Seldom are the ever reunited with their families.
In a recent study published in the August 15 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, most cats wear collars with an identification tag quite safely, despite the general consensus. Click here to read the findings of the study.
Along with a collar, the study notes that having felines micro-chipped as a back-up measure is important. These along with other measures, like some recent photographs of your pet, can help them come home safely in the event that they are lost.
Authors of the study included Linda K. Lord, DVM, PhD; Brenda Griffin, DVM, MS, DACVIM; Margaret R. Slater, DVM, PhD; Julie K. Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Your participation is valued. Take the poll and leave your comments below:
Lorrie Shaw is owner of Professional Pet Sitting as well as a regular pets contributor on AnnArbor.com. She also blogs frequently on More Than Four Walls and enjoys researching solutions regarding pet wellness and behavior, as well as social issues related to pets. She can be reached via e-mail.
Comments
Liz
Thu, Sep 16, 2010 : 9 a.m.
Everybody with cats that go outdoors -- PLEASE add a bell to the collar. I see too many cats stalking and killing birds and rabbits which I love having in my yard. At least give birds and rabbits a chance to get away by hearing the bell. Thank you.
treetowncartel
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 9:54 p.m.
I take comfort in a microchip for both my feline and canine housemates. I just wish the neighborhood skunk had a collar with a bell on it so I could know him or her is around before they walk up on me as I am siting out in the back 40 during the evening.
Paul
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 7:03 p.m.
My cat would kill me in my sleep if I put a collar on him, I tried when he was younger and he was not having it. He only made a run for it once and once he got outside he froze up, I picked him and brought him back my house, he hasn't tried since.
a2d3
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 6:53 p.m.
I really need to do both of these. One of my cats gave me a huge scare a couple months back when she went exploring for a few hours. A bit different when I was outside of the city. I wonder what the most compatible RFID chip type is in ann arbor? Thanks for the reminder!
Subroutine
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 2:28 p.m.
@Stefanie Murray: Great Kittie names, Go Blue;) My cat is indoors only as well, though I let her roam around the yard sometimes on weekend mornings when it's quiet and there is less traffic. She likes to eat the grass and stalk imaginary prey. One day she saw a neighbor cat and ran after it. I got her back but I thought I should get a collar in case I lose her someday. Trouble is she has her claws, and while she seems indifferent to the collar, it still ends up shredded in about two weeks. Are there leather collars for kitties? I haven't found one but maybe that's the answer?
John of Saline
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 2:26 p.m.
They're indoor cats but we let them roam around on the balcony outside or on the front lawn when we're out there. Stefanie, you might be interested in a new concept, "catios": http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/garden/17catio.html I haven't gone THAT far, but I have a screened porch and occasionally I put them outside in a "kittywalk": http://www.kittywalksystems.com/
Cheri
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 1:08 p.m.
We have three cats and all wear collars and are microchipped. They are all indoor cats. They all have the quick release collars, and every once in a while we'll come home from work and one of the cats will be sans collar. Usually, we just find it laying on the floor. One time we couldn't find the collar for several days so I went out and got a new collar and ID tag. We found the collar a few weeks after that -- she'd been climbing on boxes in the back corner of the basement and the collar got snagged on something sticking out of one of the boxes. I'm so glad she had the break away collar! Our third cat showed up at our house one night and came right up to my husband and me, happy to see people. I pet her a little bit and told her to go home. She left and then came back the next night, and the next. Then she didn't show up for about a week. When she next showed up, she was beaten up and very dirty. She wanted inside and to have someone take care of her. I took her in for the night (separated from my other cats) and took her to the Humane Society the next morning with the hope she was chipped (nope) or that her family would be looking for her. No one claimed her, so we brought her into our family. It was pretty obvious she was not an outdoor cat that had either been let outside or gotten out. If she'd been wearing a collar or chipped, we could have gotten her back to her family, but instead she is now part of our family. (She has never shown the least bit of interest in going back outside.)
Killroy
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 11:57 a.m.
Cats that are let outdoors regularly within the city limits should have some type of identification, in case they get lost and are found by a kindly stranger. Too many times have I found cats in need w/o identification.
Jorie O'Brien
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 8:13 a.m.
We have two (indoor) cats... one wears a collar with an ID tag, and the other cat wears a bandanna with an ID tag. Readers should remember that when selecting a collar, that it should have an "easy release" feature, so that in the case of the collar getting stuck on something, the cat can get free and not choke. If your cat shows no interest in wearing a collar, keep trying. While our first cat had no problem with it and wears the same collar to this day, our second cat has gone through THREE collars! We discovered she didn't have a problem with bandannas, so we had one custom-made and she has little problem wearing it.
Sarah Rigg
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 8:01 a.m.
My cats are all indoor cats, and I did have one who would make a dash for it, but never would leave our yard. The current cat has NO interest in going outdoors at all, probably knows how good he has it! I tried to put a collar on our previous cat, but it bothered her, and she would dig her neck bloody trying to get it off. It just wasn't worth it.