Cat won't wear collar?

Question

My cat hates wearing a collar. She is mostly an indoor cat, but she wants to go outside and I do not want her going out without any id. (she is not microchipped as I will be moving when college starts, and do not believe in putting computer parts into humans or animals) She has been fixed, so pregnancy is not a problem. She comes when called. I live on a lot of land, over 100 acres, where there are wild animals and high traffic and I am worried that she will be eaten by bigger animals or run over by a car.
This isn't just a cat to me, she is my baby and she is irreplaceable. How do I get her to wear a collar/leash or where could I find a kitty harness, something that is comfortable for her that she will not try and bite off? Can she be trained to wear it? Cassidy is a 2 yr old Tabby/Bengal mix, if that helps.

I would be with her outside while she wears the harness.

Answer 1

Petsmart will have harnesses. Yes, she can be trained. Start training her at home, walk around the house with the harness and leash. Do this for a few days. If she struggles at the beginning and feels uncomfy, it's normal. When she isn't biting the harness or leash, give her a treat. Then, do the same routine, but outside your home.

Usually older cats are hard to train, but still possible. With practice, the two of you will make it through.

I certainly agree with you, that wild animals are a hazard to kittens and doggies. When you leave her home, make sure all windows are locked and closed, as well as doors.

Good luck. :-).

Answer 2

I'm glad you love your kitty :)

Ok - please please, consider getting her microchipped. It doesn't hurt, and it is now the PRIMARY means by which pets are reunited with their owners if they go astray.

On the subject of collars, if you feel you MUST put one on her, please please please make sure it is a safety collar, and make sure that it really DOES come off easily should kitty get stuck. I have seen some horrific injuries on cats that have managed to get themselves tangled up in their collars, so please beware. Good collars from here: http://www.kittycollars.co.uk/

NEVER, EVER put a harness on an unattended cat. There are far too many straps that can get caught up. So rather than keeping her safe she could end up dangling from a branch and you would never know.

However, at the end of the day there really isn't a way to get a cat to wear a collar - some just hate it and will get it off if it kills them (and it sometimes does, unfortunately :( ) Best way to try is to put it on matter of factly, distract kitty by playing with her and with treats, and if after half an hour she is still trying to get it off, then just just isn't going to wear one.

If there is a very busy road near you I would be careful about letting her out. And this is where a harness comes in ... IF you can get her to wear one, and train her to do so. (They are available in all major pet stores, BTW). Then you can take her out for walks, but she won't be in danger.

There are plenty of sites that describe how to train a cat to use a harness, and most cats CAN be trained if you're patient - it takes a few weeks and some perseverance.

And she may come when called now, but once she's in the great outdoors there are so many exciting things to do that your calls may fall on deaf ears, I'm afraid. Don't ever rely on your cat coming when called. Mine mostly do, but not if they're just found something more interesting to do! Dogs come when they're called, cats take a message and get back to you!

Answer 3

microchipping is the only way for you to know that if kitty runs away or gets lost it's more than just a removable collar that shows who she belongs to. If you're not willing to do that be prepared for a loss if kitty runs away, then there is no proof at all, and anyone else can have her chipped with their name instead. It's really important with any outdoor cat, but that's your choice. Taking off a halter or collar is easy for a cat thief.
An irreplaceable pet means you will take any steps that are possible to ensure they can be returned.
If she bites off collars, chances are you're not putting them on right, there is not supposed to be enough space for her to do so. Most people put it on too loose, when all that is needed is one finger space betwwn the neck and the collar so they can eat and drink.
If she's biting off collars, my guess is she'll try the same with halters, it would just take a bit longer. Please get a break-away clasp on the collar, a ribbon or piece of nylon could strange your cat very easily.

Answer 4

If not microchipped, you might be able to get her tattooed (then register the tattoo number).

If your cat is as precious to you as you say, you'll keep her inside where she won't have traffic, other cats, wild animals, stupid people to have to deal with. DO NOT LET HER ROAM FREE WITH A HARNESS. Cat collars need to be able to break apart if the cat gets hooked on something (like if she's leaping from a tree and gets snagged on a branch, the collar will break rather than hang her to death)--no one makes harnesses that break away and if you harness her and let her outside free, you could be setting her up for a dreadful death. Cats can be acclimated to wearing a collar; yours is just used to being naked. It's like getting accustom to wearing a ring on your fingers if you usually don't wear rings. Just takes time. Start her off with wearing the collar only a few minutes ever now and then during the day and slowly stretch out how long each time until she's always wearing her collar and forgets it's there.

The alternative is, of course, training her to walk on a leash so you both can go walking about--which would make her safety and whereabouts less of a problem for you. Again, she'll need to be trained to a leash but once she realizes that putting on the harness (I recommend walking a cat on a harness, less easy for them to contort their way out of it, less chance of choking them if they want to go that way through the thorny thicket but you don't) means going outside, she'll come to love her harness and leash--if my cat could reach that high, she'd be bringing me her leash/harness all the time to go outside. Make sure she's up to date on her vacinations so there's no chance she'll pick up anything while outside.

Answer 5

We live right by a major highway, we decided to just keep them inside, just in case. My baby has never liked wearing a collar, my mom had a bell on her for a while and that would tell the dogs where she was, it's just better to keep it off. When a door is accidentally left open they and they get out, we usually find them cause they stay close. I do take her out every once in a while I'll take her out and let her walk aruond. It will need a collar, so before you leave just have it wear a collar a little bit everyday. I have to keep this muzzle thing on my horse to keep her from eating too much and to get her used to it I put it on her in the morning and take it off at night until I will only need to take it off to let her eat in the morning and at night. It's been on her for 3 weeks and she is gettin so much better with it.

Answer 6

It's great you want to protect her.

Try starting with ribbon. It's lighter and she will get used to something around her neck.

You might not have it tight enough. You should be able to slip 2 fingers under it, but no more. Get a break away collar in case she gets hung up on something.

Good luck

Answer 7

our cat Cheyenne will not ware a collar. she just stands and shakes if we even try. she is an inside cat only so we gave up after talking to a vet. keep the cat in if you have concern for its safety. our cat is 11 years old now and as "normal" as she will get. we found her and two others just after they were born and abandoned by the mother. we cut imbelicle cords off and cared for them ourselves. we let two go to adoption and kept Cheyenne. just keep in and the cat will adjust.

Answer 8

i wish i had a good answer for you. i have had many cats before and every single one would not even wear a flea collar. most likely she will take it off. i think you will just have to keep trying, she eventually has to give in.

Answer 9

that's a great question

Answer 10

if you can't find a cat harness get one that says its for a small dog. my moms cat wears one and it doesn't seem to bother him.