indoor cats and collars

Those of you with indoor only cats, do your cats wear collars?

I have 2 six month old terrors who can't keep collars on to save their lives. I know the collars are properly fitted and adjusted and they are the quick release collars. I kept them on just in case they ever did manage to get outside. Unfortunately, the kitties have different plans. They don't just take them off either, they play with each other's collars while they are still on. I've taken then off because I am afraid they will get hurt.

They figured out how to loosen / tighten the collars without opening the snap. When they are too, loose, however, they can get their mouths around them and get stuck with the collars through their mouths... I'm also afraid they'll tighten them too much.

I just wanted to make sure I am not crazy for giving up. I can always try again later if necessary when they are older and calmer. Obviously we'll never take them out to the vet or anything without a collar / tags on... but I'm afraid to leave them unsupervised with the collars on now.

What do the rest of you do? Collar or no collar?

Re: indoor cats and collars

I tried a collar ONCE on my kitten.....it got caught in his mouth and was gagging. I freaked out, took it off and never put it on since. I had him microchipped incase he gets out & plan on putting the collar on him (MAYBE) when we go to the vet....but even then I don't think I need it because he will go in the carrier when we're at home, get taken out at the vet, put back in at the vet & taken out at home. f

You're definatly not crazy for giving up IMO. If the are strictly indoor cats then just watch your doors till they are a bit older. My Midnight is a year old now and doesn't pay attention to the door anymore when someone comes in / goes out.

Re: indoor cats and collars

My cat is now 2 years old. We tried for months for her to wear her collar. Bought the adjustable snap off kind, and all. She would literally play with it until her mouth would get stuck on it. We just felt it wasn't worth it. It scares me to death the thought of her getting out without it, but I really don't know how to get her to stop playing with it.

I think I am going to microchip her just in case.

Re: indoor cats and collars

I tried a collar on my indoor cat once, just once. I came home from work and she had her paw stuck under her chin trying to get the collar off. God only knows how long she was like that. Thankfully it was a collar with a little elastic, so there was no chance of her strangling herself.

So now, no collar.

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No collars on my cats. They wouldn't have it.

I'm also afraid of them hurting themselves.

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Re: indoor cats and collars

Thanks, everyone! I guess it's not just me. They are going to get microchipped, too.

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We had an indoor cat growing up who always wore a collar, but she never messed with it & didn't seem to mind it. If it's becoming a problem, I think you'd be all right to leave it off, especially since you're going to microchip.

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one does, one doesn't. the other's broke and we never replaced it.

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neither of mine do

but pokey sometimes wears a tie....

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Re: indoor cats and collars

he is very fancy....

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i totally understand the quick release but god do I hate them

I have always had collars on my cats... and they've all been indoors.

With Bonnie & Clyde its important since I can't hear them stalking up LOL

With Buddy he actually likes to jiggle his collar with his tags on it (name tag and rabies tag) instead of meowing

I prefer the non quick release tho.. so I'm probably no help.

Message edited 3/19/2009 1:01:56 PM.

Re: indoor cats and collars

Re: indoor cats and collars

Posted by Kara

Thanks, everyone! I guess it's not just me. They are going to get microchipped, too.

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i never tried a collar. Bella is 11 and has never worn one.

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I had collars for a little while. One day I came home from work and the poor cat must have tried to get it off. It was trapped in his jaw! His mouth locked open. He must have been like that for hours!


Ever since then, no more collars.

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We have 2 cats...one is an escape artist and so I have a collar with a bell on it so I can hear where he is when he gets out. The other one is super lazy and only likes to go in the (fenced) yard so I dont keep a collar on him anymore because he is so fat it was irritating him.

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Both of my cats are indoor and are microchipped. They wear collars with bells, just so I know where they are. I have the quick release ones just in case, but on a few occasions one has tried to get it off. It just snaps off.

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Mine both have collars-my cat Skittles used to take his off, but grew out of doing that. Good luck!

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I tried a collar and he went mad, so I gave up on it entirely.

Re: indoor cats and collars