Why collar is important for an outdoor cat?
1. Normally collar comes with bell. Cats walk in silently. The bell on the collar will help you to identify his/her location easily (if he/she does not go to far).
2. Outdoor cat may explore until they loss their way home. You could always put some basic information on your cat's collar. When someone accidentally find him/her, they will be able to contact you then.
Although collar is good for outdoor cat, you certainly have to get a good one for him/her. There are also some minor risks for putting collar for them, the problems include: the collar may accidentally caught on objects, may encourage development of fleas and lower may get stuck under the collar. This is one of the problem I worried most. When their mouth is stuck under the collar, they will get really panic and severely mangled their face and mouth with both their front and back claw until they bleed. It's not easy for owner to help them at that moment, they might hurt the owner without intention. Remember，these are just minor problem. The dangers of a cat escaping and not being returned to their owner are much greater than the risk of a cat getting a collar caught.
There are a few kinds of cat collars available in the market:
Safety Collar
This type of collar has an elasticated strip which stretches to
allow your cat to slip out should it become snagged. It is designed to break
enough pressure is applied, therefore greatly reducing the chance of
choking. The safety collar is the best type to use on your cat.
Flea Collar
Some
are insecticide only & work by killing adult fleas on the cat.
Other flea collars contain IGR's to kill eggs & larvae. Flea collar is not as effective as it is advertized. It often only kill fleas on cat's head & neck, but any parasites further down the body survive. Flea collar often contains chemical that may cause chemical reaction or sensitivity to cats. If your cat
develops a rash from the flea collar, it should be removed immediately
& best to seek for vet's advice immediately.
Magnetic Collar
I haven't seen this in Malaysia. A small piece of magnet is attached to the collar which is used injunction with cat flap.
Reflective Collar
It's also considered as a kind of safety collar, suitable for cats who stay outdoor at night. The collar will glow when expose to light.
Here comes the important question: how and what's the right way to wear collar for my cat? Always ensure you are able to put 2 fingers between the collar and the neck.
If you would like to walk your cat like how dog owner walk their pet, you may consider buying a leash to bring your cat around. It's one of the safest way to let your cat enjoy the outdoor activities. Always remember to wear a harness on your cat, directly pulling your cat on a leash is not an ideal way to walk your cat.
I bought this for Kusky and Kurimu, one in blue, another one in red.
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