Cat Collars?: Why Your Cat Should Be Wearing One

There is ongoing controversy in the cat-owner community of whether or not cat collars are necessary for our furry friends. Unlike dogs, cats do not have a legal requirement to wear ID tags with their owner’s name and address, nor do they have a legal requirement to be microchipped. With less than 5% of cats returned home if lost, we at Felcana believe that correct identification of your cat with a collar is very important. 

That’s why we’ve put together some common myths about cat collars:

1. My cat will hate wearing a collar.

So... do cats hate collars? Contrary to popular belief, cats usually tolerate collars extremely well, not even noticing that they are there eventually. In 2010, the Ohio State University found that almost 73% of cats in their study kept the collars on successfully for the entire six-month period of their study, and more than half the owners thought that their cats put up with the collars much better than they expected.

2. Cat collars are dangerous.

Owners are often worried that their pet will get stuck in their collars or that their collar will get caught on a fence. This can be avoided with the right collar fitting and type. Wearing a collar can help make sure that if your cat gets lost, they will be returned to you instead of being brought to a shelter by a well-intentioned stranger.

3. My cat lives indoors so they don’t need a collar.

Despite our best efforts, indoor cats do sometimes escape to the outdoors. In these situations, they are likely to bolt the minute they hear a strange noise or see something they’ve never seen before, and a collar would allow them to be identified should they go missing. Cat collars can also have medical conditions written on them; such as “diabetic” or any allergies your feline friend may have.

How tight should cat collars be? 

Good question! To fit a “Goldilocks”-sized collar is very important: if the collar is too tight, it may restrict your cat’s breathing, whilst if it’s too loose, your cat may get their legs through it.

Hint: You should be able to get two fingers underneath your cat’s collar!

Which collar is right for my cat? 

After putting a new collar on your cat, it’s important to watch your cat for a while to see how they adjust to it. It’s normal for them to be a bit uneasy to begin with but it may be worth trying out a few different collar types to find the one best suited for your cat.

How Felcana can help your collar be smarter?

Felcana’s first product, Felcana Go, attaches easily to any cat collar to track their activity level and their calorie expenditure. For all the times that you have you wondered what your cat has been doing on their outdoor adventures, Felcana Go helps you finally know what your cat is up to.

Not only that, but Felcana Go features a useful LED light that you can switch on and off using your mobile phone to help find them at night. Designed in Central London, Felcana Go bot only looks sleek, but it’s also scratch resistant and weighs lighter than a pound coin, meaning your cat won’t even notice it’s there.

Simply attaching to your cat’s collar, we’re helping you be the best owner you can be. Using your new Felcana Go, you can for the first time, track their daily, weekly and monthly activity, monitor how this changes over time and gain accurate insights into what your cat is up to day-to-day.

Clever stuff.  

By Melody Winterhalter, Veterinary Student from The Royal Veterinary College, London.