Kitten/cat owners:I have questions

So our little guy Tommy is growing up fast, we think he's about 9 weeks old.
Can you put a collar on a kitten?
Has anyone had their cat microchipped?
We are not ready to let him roam outside until he gets bigger and has his shots but if you had a kitten that became an outside cat, how did you transition them?

Today he learned how to jump through the doggy door with our dog, so it's time to start preparing for his outdoor life!

Re: Kitten/cat owners:I have questions

Jeter came microchipped. We had Figaro microchipped during a dental. The vet said it's better to get them chipped when they are put out so they can place it better. I would check with your vet. They might be able to do it when you get him neutered.

I had a collar with a bell on Figaro as soon as a got him because he would get lost.

I bought one for Jeter but never put it on him. We might but that one on lightening because it has a bell.

Re: Kitten/cat owners:I have questions

Clover is not microchipped, she's an indoor-only cat. Helmut was microchipped but I am not sure of the circumstances - it was probably before DH and I started dating.

When Clover was a kitten, some 17 years ago, we had a collar on her with a bell, because she'd get herself lost in the house lol. I actually found the collar recently... it's so incredibly tiny, it's hilarous. After that there was no need.

Helmut... apparently they used to try to put a collar on him, a breakaway collar because he was a climber (fences, trees, you name it) and there's the inherent danger of a cat hanging itself (unintentionally, one would hope) by the collar. But the problem with the breakaway was that Helmut figured out how to break out of them. So no collars for him. It's worth a shot though, at least until you get a microchip. I would def. do the microchip with an indoor/outdoor kitty. You never know where they will roam!

Re: Kitten/cat owners:I have questions

Yes, you can put a collar on a kitten.
However, I would not recommend letting a cat become an "outdoor" cat, it is very dangerous for them.

Re: Kitten/cat owners:I have questions

My cats are not microchipped but keep in mind that's not a gps for the animal. If your cat was lost and was found a vet could scan for a chip and locate you.

Not a bad idea but people think it's a gps.

My cats go outside on the patio. They once in a while roam around to my neighbor's yard but they always come when called.

We only let them out for a few mins at a time. Both like to lounge right on the steps in the sun so they don't really go far.

Re: Kitten/cat owners:I have questions

My cat is not microchipped.. we did put a collar on him when we first brought him home. He was about 7 months.. it helped, because he would hide all day.. and when we heard the tinkling of the bells we knew he was coming out to eat, drink and go potty. Anyway, that lasted for like a week or so.. and then he would pull it out.. never saw him do it, but every morning his collar would be off... and its been off since.

Re: Kitten/cat owners:I have questions

my cat is microchipped and neutered (he came that way). I tried to put a collar on him that had a bell but he did not like it and I didnt push it with him. He does go out but we have a harness and leash. He is mainly an indoor cat, but when we go to PA he is allowed on the porch with a harness and leash.

I would recommend a breakaway collar so if he gets tangled on a branch or something he can easily get free from it without choking.

Re: Kitten/cat owners:I have questions

My cats are NEVER allowed outside. The fleas, the treatments, the worms, the treatments, the diseases, the fights, the worry. Nope, no thanks.

All of my cats have been collared. I never understood why not. Haha. I prefer to start collaring them when they are young. I put bells on them so I don’t accidently kick, step or harm them. Its easier to find them, to know when they are running around, to listen to them play, etc.

My Dad made one of my cats an outdoor cat when he watched him as I moved to NY. Cat wanted out (so dad says) so he let him out. He came back on his own. I find it all very unnerving. Sure enough my beautiful Russian Blue was taken and never came home.


ETA: I have never chipped them. Just not in the budget.

I HATE HATE HATE HATE those breakaway collars. They are useless. I go to the dog aisle and get the regular belt ones or the clip ones only if they hold with a sturdy jerk. Those safety clip ones come undone SOOOO easily.

Message edited 7/5/2011 5:34:35 PM.