cat collar too tight? not my cat

neighborhood cat in condo area has found  me. About 6 or 7 months old. Stays on deck. I drove around other condos to see who he belongs to I have an idea. It seems this cat likes it here better. I walked around the back to see him and he came running to me, so affectionate and lovable. BUT I did notice two collars on him one a fairly loose flea collar (not breakaway) and above that a very tight large braided collar which just snaps closed. It is tight very hard to even get one finger under it? What should I do? I want to remove it if I cannot adjust it. Seems the owners do not care. Cat has been here for 2 weeks now. Not sure what he does at night though perhaps he goes home?? The flea collar is fairly loose as well. I dread them unless they are breakaway. So this is my dilemma. Seems people up in the condo complex get cats and leave them out all day or maybe the cat does not like it there as there are dogs walking around who knows. I believe everything happens for a reason and maybe this cat is telling me get this collar off it too tight!!!

Yes, take it off if it's too tight. Unless it has tags on it, it serves no purpose anyway. If he goes home, they'll see he "lost" the collar and will maybe get him a new one that fits properly.

What about the flea collar. I cannot stand them as I feel a cat can get caught in it or on something. Thats is very loose. I suppose two fingers is the rule on that? I always used breakaway collars on my early cats but stopped letting my  current cats out at all so no need for them. I just wish people would take better care of their cats and keep them in or use frontline I guess which involves no collar, also its a male and has not been fixed yet I can tell. Guess its a waiting game to see what happens with him or I'll post his picture somewhere. Some guy who was walking his dog at the condo area I was at said yes there are two orange cats and a black one that  belong he thought in one of the condos but they get scared when he walks his dog. But thats all the info I got. I'll remove the collar for now

Get the flea collar off immediately as they can be very dangerous, not just from strangulation but from poisoning with t he insecticide. If necessary put a note on the other collar explaining whiat is happening and asking the owner to contact you, If nothing happens, then keep the cat.

This adorable cat just loves me he must be about 6mos or 8mos. Tight collar is off was not adjustable. flea collar still on will think about that or give it a spec more time. Frontline spot makes more sense to me. But If I took him he would not be going outside. What happens if I take him I'm sure he has had his shots etc. I don't believe he's fixed. I always thought balls looked smaller?? Main question being if I bring him to a vet they will give him another rabies which I feel unwarranted. So what do you do?? Bring pictures of the cat to vets or what? 

Vets can't give any shots (or procedures) that you don't permit. He'll need a vet visit to be scanned for a microchip anyway if you do take him in. But I'd put up posters or letterbox drop to see if he has an owner too.

PLEASE take the flea collar off. I am serious in that flea collars have caused death in many cats - it is not good for them to have a steady drip of insecticide.

Did the collar have ID tags on it?

No the collar was a rope collar something you would see on a dog. Non adjustable etc etc. No tags either. Flea collar still on but he itches a bit.

maybe the cat has been abandon or doesn't like his home. i'd take off the flea collar and put some of my own topical vectra for cats on it. maybe you could bring the baby indoors and keep it inside permanently. outdoor is too dangerous anyways. if a collar is tight like that. i would replace it with a different one. owners who leave a cat like that don't diserve the baby. take her inside.

some states require rabies, my state doesn't. if they stay outside they need it because of skunks and other wild animals. yes i would get the cat scanned. but if they leave a cat with tight collar and flea collar, they probably didn't have the sence to get a microchip either! if there is no chip and sometimes even when there is, they dump poor cats and dogs.

get it scanned replace the tight collar and put a id tag on with your info. bring it indoors clean it up and love it forever. here in california if ferals are lose around here, my organization gets them in humaine traps if they are too wild other wize we just put them in a carrier and get them fixed and let them go again if they are too wild, tame ones we get homes for. never ever ignor the babies. and don't allow millions more to die in gas chambers or under cars, or to cyotes and raccons. NOT TO MENTION PEOPLE WHO KILL AND TORTURE THEM!

This cat is about 7 mos or so. Jumps all over me when he sees me. He is the most cuddley cat out there. I do not know if he goes home at night or not. But in my opinion he needs to be loved and have a safe place indoors. I will remove the flea collar then think about frontline BUT if he becomes an inside cat why bother with that. I did put a picture up at the grocery store but there is another picture of a cat found very affectionate. You wonder if someone is taking these cats letting them out and hoping they'd find homes seems sort of backwards to me, but there are crazy people out there. Its all in a crowded condo complex especially with no woods or shelter around the only wooded area is where I'm at.

Also this cat is not a stray very clean and lovable!

even when they are strictly indoor kittys they can get fleas! my baby never has gone out, we don't have other animals inside or company because my husband's hours are so crazy and one year she got fleas. why? because frontlne plus stopped working. two years ago... i reasearched and all over the US frontline stopped working like cats or fleas... were becoming immune to it. my vet quit using it for that reason. she is a cat only vet too. now we only use Vectra for cats. i'ts great. i flea combed a ton of times a day and used capstar each day for a week and vaccumed four times a day. got it all fixed. Vectra is only available at vet offices though. the bio spot and sargents and hartz have killed cats and dogs as well as their shampoos. magic cat has killed them too. aloe vera is a godsend to humans but toxic to cats and tons of cat shampoos have it in it. one would think they wouldn't put chemicals or natural products in things that are bad for us BUT THEY DO! i worked in not just animal hospitals but human ones for over thirty years too. almost every prescription our drs try to give us have serious side effects even death. i don't take anything they try to give me with the exception of anti biotics very very very rarely. i dont' even like them but in a serious case i will. there are other things to boost the immune system like lactoferrin which saves cat lives too. it is the best cure i have ever found. wish i knew about it .when was younger! WOW! a rope collar is cruel for a dog! and a cat??? how ignorant i have seen cases where those rope collars have actually grown into the flesh of the furbabies. they are very harsh. i hope you took that one off too. the way you talk i think this cat belongs with a loving person LIKE YOU!

IMO anyone that lets an intact cat roam freely is asking for the cat to be fixed and adopted by someone else. Talk about irresponsible. I'd have no qualms taking him in to the vet and having him palpated to see if he is intact or not. I'd skip the rabies vaccination myself, if you are keeping him as your indoor kitty or at least get him titered before considering vaccinating him for rabies, since he may have already had the vax. 

As well as being entire he is probably unchipped and unvaccinated.  If you want to adopt him go to a vet for a chip scan (just in case!) then get him vaccinated, neutered, chipped, wormed and treated against fleas.  Sounds like he is adorable.  Photos? 

just want to say what a pretty black cat

everything you said, i second that!

yes unless it is a state that demands rabies, i wouldn't do it because of over vaccination causing cancer sometimes. but if cats are outside and become close to skunks and raccoons they need it. but i always say not to ever let your cat be an outdoor cat. they are so much at risk of every danger under the sun.

Well the cat is still on the deck then ran around to the front as if why can't I come in.Then he went back to the deck 7PM and slept. He is not going home. I have put ads up,etc. Unbelievable how people are. I'll wait a bit longer then take action. How would I know if he had rabies already or even fixed. He is young B'ss are not that big. I know when fixed you still can see a little just not sure.