How do I Choose a Good Cat Collar?

Many cat owners, especially those living in urban areas, feel that a cat collar is vital for keeping their pet safe.  Should your cat ever wander too far from home, wearing a collar immediately lets people know that he is a domestic cat, rather than a feral stray,  and that someone is probably looking for him.  Accompanied by a tag, engraved with your contact details, a collar can be your pet´s best chance at being returned to you safely and quickly should he ever stray or get lost.

A cat collar also offers a way to hold your cat more securely during transport, those awkward trips to the vet, and a number of other situations where you may need to hold your cat safely despite the fact that they have other ideas!

So how do you choose the right collar for your cat?

Above all,  a cat collar needs to be comfortable for your cat.  When fastened around your cat´s neck,  you should be able to slip two fingers between the collar and your cat´s skin.  Too tight, and the collar may restrict your cat´s breathing or swallowing, and can also rub away at his hair and skin, causing bald patches and irritation.  Too loose is no better either,  as a cat will have no trouble slipping out of a collar that is not tight enough.

A cat collar should be adjustable,  so that it can be loosened or tightened to accommodate changes in weight or coat thickness.  This is particularly important for breeds that shed large amounts of their coat during the warmer summer months.  For long haired breeds you will also need to make sure that any cat collar you choose does not have parts that can snag or tangle the hair around their neck.

You should check your cat´s collar regularly, once a month or so,  to make sure that it is still a comfortable fit, and that it is in good condition.

How To Keep you Cat Extra Safe With Cat Collars

If your cat loves to explore the neighbourhood there are many dangers that he will be exposed to.  While the urban jungle might be mostly safer than the wilderness that wild cats live in there are still hazards that your cat will have to face.  Some cat collars have been designed with this in mind, and incorporate safety features to keep your cat out of trouble from high vis to high tech, here are some of the ways that cat collars can complement your cat’s survival skills.

If price is no object, and you simply have to know where your cat is at all times, then you may already have heard about GPS cat collars, which are fitted with a device that allows you to track your pet´s movements wherever they roam.  However sometimes the best ideas are the simplest, for example, some cat collars feature a small section of elastic.  While not as high tech as GPS, this safety features allows a cat to squeeze out of their collar should it become snagged on something.  If your cat loves to roam around outdoors this type of breakaway cat collar may save them from becoming trapped in tree branches, hedges or fences.

Another safety feature seen in many collars is some form of reflective material that will make them easy to spot in a car´s headlights, helping to avoid any nasty road accidents.  The collar may be entirely reflective or may have some decoration that will catch the light.  You can also buy small flashing lights to attach to your cat´s collar, making them easy to find in the dark.

The final safety of a cat collar is a bell.  If you can´t see your cat, at least you will be able to hear him tinkling away whenever he moves.  Bells are also a great way to prevent your cat from bringing home ‘gifts’ or birds or mice, as they will have a warning before he pounces!