SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Cat Care
Cat Care Tips
How
To Safely Collar Your Cat
Many owners never put an identification collar on
their cat. “Cats don’t like them,” they say. “We don’t want to push
the issue and get a bite or a scratch for our efforts.”
Well, the dilemma with that is what happens if they get
lost? You are probably thinking that your cat is an indoor
pet and therefore doesn’t need an ID collar. The problem
with that viewpoint is that no matter how careful you
are cats are sneaky. If a door is slightly ajar or a
window is cracked open just a little, that cat will squeeze
through to freedom. They are curious and love to explore.
But if a dog or other natural predator gets them, you
know that saying “Curiosity killed the cat?” Chances
are that will be the likely scenario and you would never
know what happened to your family feline. ID collars
make sense for your cat.
Your cat’s veterinarian will most likely have identification
tags that you can easily hook onto a collar. These tags will
have the vet clinic’s office number and address. Most likely,
these tags will also have the date of your cat’s last round
of vaccinations for rabies and other diseases. You can either
have your own contact information engraved on the same ID tags
that came from your veterinarian or you can have your own made
fairly quickly. It doesn’t matter which tag you include your
contact information on, as long as it is there. That way, if
something does happen to your cat, anyone who finds it can
call you, even the animal shelters.
By
talking with your veterinarian or visiting your local pet
store, you will find out that there are special collars just
for cats. These have a little piece of elastic sewn into it
which makes the collar not so rigid and allows for some flexibility
in it. These collars are made to stretch a little just in case
your cat gets snagged and stuck while climbing a tree or any
else for that matter. The “stretch” in the collar will allow
the cat to escape. You have to take care not to choose a collar
for your cat that is too elastic. A cat has loose, limber limbs
and could easily find itself in a dilemma with a leg stuck
inside the collar after a round of scratching.
Another type of collar for cats that just hit the market is
one with an easy plastic snap buckle. It is the kind where
if you apply pressure to the button on the buckle, it will
slide open. This new type of collar is also helpful in those
situations where a cat could get trapped in the tree and hang
from a tree branch. If the collar was snagged, the plastic
snap buckle would do a quick release.
When you are shopping around for your family feline, be sure
to inspect the quality of the collars you find. The collar
will be worn around the cat’s neck, in a soft vulnerable area.
That means you do not want to buy any collar that has sharp
edges. It could dig into your cat’s delicate skin. Be sure
to also inspect the stitching on the collar. You do not want
any of the thread to unravel and cause a potential hazard to
your cat. It is preferable to have your cat with you when you
shop for a collar. That way, your cat can try on a collar and
you could tell if it fits correctly. These collars should fit
snugly while still being able to accommodate one of two of
your fingers below the collar.
Another reason for your cat to have on a collar is because
of government rules. In many areas, there is a requirement
that states all pets should be registered and licensed. This
is usually governed by the city or county. Statistics show
that very few cat owners ever find their missing furry felines
at shelters, simply because of the lack of identification.
By having a collar, you could get your cat back at no time.
Be sure to give your cat lots of love, attention and treats
right after putting a collar on them. Treats will often distract
your cat from the weird-feeling collar around its throat. By
the time they are done with their treats, many cats soon forget
that they are wearing a collar.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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