I have two cats and I have collars on both of them with name tags and my name and phone number. My kitties like to bolt sometimes when I open the door, so I just want to make sure if they ran out someone would contact me if they found them. I feel like it's kind of mean though to make a cat wear something everyday. Is it ok to have them wear collars? I know people do it all the time, but I just feel bad about it sometimes.
2006-11-27 10:38:34 · 28 answers · asked by two_kee_kees 4 in Pets ➔ Cats
I check their collars once a week or so to make sure they're not too tight. I also have those safety collars that break in case they get caught on something.
2006-11-27 11:00:03 · update #1
No, it's not cruel.
What's cruel is when your cats get out, don't have collars on and get picked up by Animal Control and get gassed because AC thought they were homeless strays that nobody wanted.
Good job on being a responsible cat owner. Keep them inside please.
2006-11-27 10:40:21 · answer #1 · answered by Munya Says: DUH! 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why would ensuring your cats' identity when he bolts out the door be cruel? If they get lost or picked up by someone they will be able to get back home to you. No, it's not cruel. It's responsible. As long as the collar isn't too tight then you should not have any guilt about it. I have 3 cats and they all wear collars all the time. My oldest cat, like yours, likes to try his luck at running out the front door. My middle child (as I call him) got out one day without my roommate noticing and was gone for 5 days. Someone found him and because he was wearing his collar with tags I was able to get my boy back. If you just feel absolutely horrible about it, think about getting them microchipped. It's a routine procedure done by most veterinarians and even many animal shelters. The chip is implanted through a syringe (the chip itself is smaller than a grain of rice) under your pet's skin. No, it's not a tracking device. You'd be surprised how many people ask that. If your cat is ever picked up then they can be scanned, the microchip number will show up, and you can be reunited with your furry friend in no time. There are 2 different microchip companies, check out these websites for more info.
www.homeagainid.com
www.avidmicrochip.com
If you decide to go the microchip route, it's still a good idea to keep a collar on your pet (you'll get a special tag for the collar that tells people your pet is microchipped) just for the visual factor of "Hey! I belong to someone!". With a microchip your cats can go sans collar and you'll be guilt free, but still know that they are sporting identification. Good luck!
2006-11-27 11:06:55 · answer #2 · answered by Star shower 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A collar appropriate for cats is not cruel. Make sure it is a safety collar specifically for cats. These collars snap together and pull apart with a tug. They have elastic on them so they can streatch. These collars are made to come off if the cat should get tangled in something. Since collars can come off, along with the tags, I also recommend microchipping. Veterinarians do it and your local animal shelter may do it for a low cost.
2016-05-23 15:32:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm glad you asked. I was wondering the same thing and my kittne (4 months) LOVES bolting out the apartment door everytime he hears keys or sees the door open. He recently had surgery and can't wear a collar yet (got a scab on his neck from a pain patch) but I would definately say keep the collars on as long as they don't bother them or possibly get the ID chip put in them but I'm not sure how humane that is or how it feels to animals to have that in them. I found though a small harness (goes around shoulders and belly) that i take my kitten for a walk on or let him run around outside (he was abandoned when he was only 5 weeks old but still loves to be outside) Good luck with trying to keep them indoors! If you find a solution let me know ;) LOL.
2006-11-27 10:46:39 · answer #4 · answered by chrisnterri520 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By putting a collar on your cat, you are doing the responsible thing. Even if you have indoor cats, it is important to have identification on them in the event they get out of the house. You're also doing the right thing by making sure your collars have a break-away latch.
Don't worry about making your cats wear a collar every day - I don't think it really bothers them, and after awhile, I don't think it bothers them.
2006-11-27 11:27:20 · answer #5 · answered by kerry77 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not say its cruel,but it could be dangerous.As you know cats get into a lot and could accidental hang themselves when wearing a collar,a better solution is a harness.A break away collar is the only SAFE collar for a cat but if they become in snared it will come off and defeat the purpose of the id tag
2006-11-27 10:48:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I do not beleive that having a collar on your cat is necessarly bad, just make sure that it is not too tight which could harm the cat. The purpose of the collar on a cat or dog is to be able to attach tags to it, that way if they get lost people will be able to contact the owners of that particular pet. The true tradegy would be you losing your dog or cat because there where was no way to contact the owner of the pets. Most stray cats and dogs end up either ran over by a car, starving to death and/ or get diseased. Look up your local Human Society or your local SPCA to get your pets fixed and to get shots in order to prevent your dog or cat from getting sick and makking you and your family sick.
2006-11-27 10:47:33 · answer #7 · answered by love2bepassionate 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not cruel to have a collar on your cat at all times, just make sure you can put a finger between the skin and collar. Whats crueller is not having your cat identified and if they run away you'll have a very hard time finding it. Your doing the right thing. Your a good cat parent.
2006-11-27 10:42:05 · answer #8 · answered by Pearl N 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not cruel at all!! You're being a good cat-mom. Both my cats wear safety collars all the time (and they are microchipped)- because they also go out the doors without much warning. I also check the fit often. I also recommend microchipping your kitties-- especially with breakaway collars, you'll have more peace of mind if there's a backup for ID'ing them. It doesn't hurt them at all, and it's pretty inexpensive!
2006-11-27 11:18:26 · answer #9 · answered by sara_pk1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi there...not at all. However, collars do come off accidentally and as a preventative measure some people will also microchip their pets. That's no guarantee with microchipping because if whoever finds the cat doesn't bother to scan the found pet, but if animal control picks up the pets they will be able to contact the owner.
2006-11-27 10:42:38 · answer #10 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't like having collars on my cats either, but they don't seem to mind. It bothers them when they DON'T have their collars, oddly enough, and I only use the snap off collars, in case they get stuck. So, no, I don't think it's cruel to have a collar on a cat at all times.
2006-11-27 12:50:30 · answer #11 · answered by summerlover 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋