Should we use collars? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**guineapigluver1** · #1 04-04-09, 12:30 pm

We had collars for our cats a while back, but Rocky knew how to take it off and did so all the time. He even managed to hide it so well one time we couldn't find it for 2 months. Princess hated her collar as well and Rocky helped her take it off, though we always found hers. Penny, even if she did not like it, never took it off.
What I want to know is, should we use collars? And if so, which ones are the safest for cats?

**Paula** · #2 04-04-09, 12:32 pm

I would get a breakaway collar for a cat.
Cat Collars - Safety First Break-Away Collars

If the point of the collar is to identify the animal should it become lost, a microchip is always the best bet.

**AnimalHouse36** · #3 04-04-09, 12:34 pm

WOW! That must be a pretty smart cat, eh?

I would use them. If your cat ever got out it would be horrible. Even if your cats don't like them, they should be used in casse the front door is left open and s/he manages to escape.

I don't have cats so I can't answer the second question.

**guineapigluver1** · #4 04-04-09, 12:34 pm

Yes, we plan on micro-chipping them very soon, but we also think collars would be nice to have to, should someone not think about the possibility of them having a microchip.
Oh yeah. He's pretty smart when it comes to hiding things!
So a breakaway collar. Thanks!

Rocky has gotten out more then once, one time at night we almost could not find him. He scared us so bad.

**Paula** · #5 04-04-09, 12:44 pm

It's good to have both. My cat won't keep a collar on for anything, so it's important to me that he has a microchip too.

This is my favorite place for collars, and they have the breakway ones for cats in all kinds of neat patterns - CritterGear Breakaway Cat Collars.

Also, if you're looking for a tag for the collars - these are amazing: Pet tags, dog tags, pet id tags, dog id tags, pet identification tags, cat id tags.

**guineapigluver1** · #6 04-04-09, 01:10 pm

Oh, wow. I love those collars! Thanks Paula!

**guineapigluver1** · #7 09-06-09, 05:09 pm

I'm afraid they just won't wear collars. Princess didn't even acknowledge she had one on for two whole weeks and then one morning it was gone. We can't find it. Rocky didn't even acknowledge he had one for three days. It's gone. We can't find it. We aren't even going to bother with Penny. I do wish they would keep them on. I suppose if we find them we can try again, but it probably won't work.

**ferndalezoo** · #8 09-06-09, 05:25 pm

A microchip only helps if someone takes your lost cat to a vet or shelter to have it scanned. We have lots of stray cats in my neighborhood. I have two, fully indoor, cats of my own. Puck is a black Persian. If he were wandering outside, chances are good that someone would notice that he's probably somebody's pet, and take him to get scanned. Xena, on the other hand, is a non-descript-looking domestic shorthair. She looks like every other stray cat on my street, and were it not for her neon blue collar, she likely would never get scanned.

**Kipsie** · #9 09-06-09, 06:21 pm

My favorite collars are the glow-in-the-dark/reflective ones. Here:

Amazon.com: Premier Glo Kitty Collar, Hot Pink: Kitchen & Dining

Plus, it's breakaway.

**guineapigluver1** · #10 09-06-09, 06:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferndalezoo

A microchip only helps if someone takes your lost cat to a vet or shelter to have it scanned. We have lots of stray cats in my neighborhood. I have two, fully indoor, cats of my own. Puck is a black Persian. If he were wandering outside, chances are good that someone would notice that he's probably somebody's pet, and take him to get scanned. Xena, on the other hand, is a non-descript-looking domestic shorthair. She looks like every other stray cat on my street, and were it not for her neon blue collar, she likely would never get scanned.

Yes, I know it only helps if they take them to be scanned.
I know someone would think Penny is a stray, she is so thin and quite skittish. Princess, could be mistaken as a stray, she is thin, but not quite so much as Penny and only skittish if you walk past her heavily and/or are quite tall.
Rocky I doubt would be mistaken as a stray. He is quite friendly and placid.

I think that maybe Princess didn't take hers off, but rather it got caught and came off as it was a break away.

**VoodooJoint** · #11 09-06-09, 07:01 pm

I recommend (and use) Beasie Bands http://BeastieBands.com They are fabulous. I have a cat that refuses to keep a collar on but has had one of these on for 6 months with no problems. They are soft and lightweight--so the cat doesn't seem to notice it--They are stretchy and have a Velcro closure (to insure they will come off if the cat catches themselves on something), they cut-to-fit and have an eyelet for a tag. An added bonus is that any pattern with white on it glows in the dark!

IvoryRain · #12 09-06-09, 11:11 pm

Both of my cats are microchipped, but only one wears a collar. It came in handy some months ago when Simon got outside while my friend and her kids were over. The kids accidentally left the door open long enough for Simon to slip out.

It suprised me how far Simon travelled before someone found him, and thankfully he was found after being hit by a car. The lady who found him didn't take him to the vet but instead to a pound. They didn't have a microchip scanner so his collar/tag was a life saver considering he went in as an injured animal (unadoptable and enough reason to be euthanized because he was in severe pain) and he also has a physical disability that would deem him much less adoptable compared to more healthy "whole" cats that are in need as well.

Without his ID there is a VERY good chance my boy never would have made it back home to me.

**YayPiggies** · #13 09-18-09, 09:47 am

You shouldn't let your cats outside, and indoor cats usually are fine with just a microchip. Maybe it's the tags that are bothering them? You could get a collar with their names embroidered on.

**fridzalone** · #14 09-18-09, 10:19 am

I don't think its safe for our pet to use collar. My cat died because the collar she wearing stuck into our neighbour fences, and she choked to death.

**guineapigluver1** · #15 09-18-09, 11:56 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by YayPiggies

You shouldn't let your cats outside, and indoor cats usually are fine with just a microchip. Maybe it's the tags that are bothering them? You could get a collar with their names embroidered on.

Regardless of inside or outside, it is a good idea to have a collar. They can run away or get lost if they slip outside.

It isn't the tags that are bothering them. They had just their collars on, not even a tag yet, as we wanted to see if that was it.

Voodoojoint: Thank you for the link, I'll show it to my mom and see if we can order just one and see how Rocky gets on with it.

**guineapigluver1** · #16 09-18-09, 11:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridzalone

I don't think its safe for our pet to use collar. My cat died because the collar she wearing stuck into our neighbour fences, and she choked to death.

This is why you should use breakaway collars for cats. If they get caught on something the pressure will cause it too break apart at the latch, thus coming off.

**fridzalone** · #17 09-18-09, 10:10 pm

Can rabbit wear collar?

teyah · #18 09-18-09, 10:21 pm

One of the reasons we have collars for cats here in Australia is so that the bells can alert the birds, just in case cats decide to hunt in the back yard

Regarding collars for rabbits - I have never done this to my bunnies, I have never seen a need to have a collar on a rabbit - most especially if it's inside or caged. Collars are quite uncomfortable - I am assuming, as many animals (even my dogs) have a desire to take them off - so I don't see why you would put an uncomfortable collar on a bunny which really serves no purpose. Otherwise, if you are keen on walking the bunny, they have specialised harnesses for this, they are not collar-and-leash set ups, they go around the bunnies' tummy and back.

"Thank you, Paula, for this useful post," say these 2 members:
guineapigluver1 (04-04-09), madakri (09-07-09)