Is it okay to keep removing his collar?

Ho Ho is the only one I'm worried about running outside. He's been outdoors for the past three months, but in this house it's indoor only! So I bought him a collar and an ID tag, and when he's due for his shots I'm going to get him microchipped.

The thing is, he's the only one of four cats to wear a collar. I don't like having to make him wear it. He's fine with it on, he just keeps scratching at it like a dog would. He really seems to love when it's off.

So, I've been leaving it off when I know that no one will be coming in or out of the house. That's usually in the evening when I get home. I have to put it back on him before bed, because mom leaves for work before I get up. I've been doing this for about a week, with no problems. He just sits or lays there as I either take the collar off or put it on. I don't think he minds.

Is it a bad thing to keep removing the collar? Or is it something I should leave on him all the time, so he doesn't get the urge to fight it? I'm only planning on keeping it on him for a few months until I figure out how determined he is to get out, and if he does get out, to see what he'll do. (Outdoor only cats in my neighborhood live 14 to 18 years, so I'm not worried about him getting killed. I'm worried he's going to bolt and not be able to find his way back.)

Any advice would be welcome!

With me, I didn't like the way they scratched their necks when they wore collars, so they don't wear them anymore. Skinny was the only one who didn't care whether she had one or not; but I still didn't want her wearing one. QT uses a harness only when I take her to the vet.

Jamie wears a reflective breakaway collar at all times, despite being tattooed and microchipped, in part because of his unfortunate habit of jumping from our spiral staircase onto our heads, or into wash baskets, etc., we're carrying, and it makes it easier for us to spot him and brace ourselves. He's so used to wearing it now that he feels naked without it, and has a fit if it's removed to change the tags, or whatever.

I can't imagine that it's in any way bad to keep removing the collar. I put a harness on Jamie when I take him for a walk or to the vets', and obviously remove it when we're back inside the house.

Thank jcat, that's what I needed to hear. This is the first of 6 cats that I've owned who's had to wear a collar for safety. I just wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing.

Originally Posted by jcat

....... in part because of his unfortunate habit of jumping from our spiral staircase onto our heads, or into wash baskets, etc., we're carrying, .........

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Also, if you're worried about him trying to fight you when you put it on, I would give him lots of attention when you do. That way, he will associate the collar with good things. My indoor babies both wear break-away collars all the time in case they get out. My mom's cat, however, is indoor/outdoor and never wears a collar. To each their own, I guess.

I don't think it hurts. Dusty previously only wore a collar(safety break away one) when he was going to the vet or there were a lot of people in and out of our house.

He's got a beastie band now though and I feel a lot better about leaving that collar on him all the time and he doesn't mind it at all. So if you really think he needs a collar you might want to check out Beastie Bands...almost all cats tolerate them well and they are extremely safe