Elastic collars vs. breakaway collars

Does anyone here know just how safe the cat collars with the stretchy elastic are, as compared with breakway collars? Anyone here use one for their cats?

Here's the thing, Phineas has learned how to remove his breakaway collar. For days I'd come home after work or school and find Phineas without his collar, and it seemed odd to me that he was getting stuck that often, as he's really not the most active and there's not much to get stuck on. Finally the other day I caught him doing it - he has learned to stick his paw up between his neck and the collar and pull until the collar snaps off! I really want him to wear a collar, though - I'm very afraid that if he ever managed to escape without one, whoever found him wouldn't think to check for his microchip and would assume he was a stray. So now I'm considering the kind of cat collar that has stretchy elastic instead of the breakaway buckle, but I've always been wary of these since Esmeralda got her jaw stuck in one as a kitten - somehow they don't seem as safe to me as the breakaway collars.

Does anyone know how safe they actually are compared with a breakaway collar? Anyone ever had an incident with one? Can I put one on my cat and be confident that he's not going to strangle or hang himself or get caught in it the way I was with the breakawy collar? Any advice?

Not sure how saftey differs, but everytime I have gotten one (3 times) they little elastic part breaks so the collar can't be worn any more.

That happens to me, too. I've about given up on those collars. I just ordered three of these to try: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...ance&s=kitchen

Here's a pic:


They come in several colors.

I totally hear you as we had the same issue awhile back ago. I've used both and I have decided that the breakaway is better and safer. Wallace has "taken off" his breakaway when he was younger but he seems to more content with it now....maybe time will help?
I gave up quite quickly on the stretchy collars as I've had 2 experiences where the cat would get the collar stuck in his mouth trying to get it off. It may not be a problem now as all my cats are no longer little kittens and are used to their collars but the stretchy ones just sort of scare me.

I just posted my first collar experience on the thread "do your cats wear collars". I got the safety breakaway collars. I hope that they work. If they don't I will post here.

We don't use collars.

I collar just 2 cats but bobber keeps on losing the breakaways. The neighbor kids found one in there driveway (the really expensive one thank goodness!) They are on the lookout for the other two she just lost. I don't think she is getting them off and I never see her try it in the house. I had bought the stretchy one for Bakker but he isn't wearing it currently.

Hi,
Both my cats are indoors only, but I have the Harley Davidson breakaway collars with the bells on them because they are both very curious about getting close to the door, and this way we know where they are, and we can hear them comming, and have time to close the door before they can get out.
I had the elastic collars prior to this, but Foxi always took hers off. She only got this one off once,so I feel for my cats the breakaways are better.

breakaways here.. the strechy was too easy for them to remove..

it was just an elastic collar, that i used to use, and one morning when i woke up, i found my ragdoll tangled in it. somehow he had one part slipped into his mouth, like a horse bit, and his jaw couldn't shut, was caught in his teeth so it stretched his mouth in a permanet position. he had drool everywhere, very scared, no permanent damage, thank god, slipped it off and he was happy, if not a little sore. never again. I use breakaways now, if any as they are indoor cats and chipped. not sure how long caesar was caught in it, but thank god i caught it.

Hi, I know this is silly replying as the post was a long time ago however the reason I am posting is because someone else might see this answer and it will hopefully prevent them buying an elastic collar.  I got one for my cat and his claw got stuck in the elastic and of course as he tried to undo his claw the collar tightened around his neck.  I got the fright of my life, he could have choked if I hadn't been there when it happened.  He was frantic and I had to hold him still and force my fingers under the collar and pull it off.  Scary moment and my heart was pounding.  So please don't anyone buy elastic cat collars.  I think they should be banned.

Hi @polilyzoe  

You're right it's a very old thread, but that is an important message you shared and one for us to be mindful of.

Welcome to the site btw 

I'm a cat owner for more then 30 years, I had the same problem with the break away my cats are indoor/outdoor cats, they were always losing the break away, since then  I've been using the stretch collars, and have had no problems, if they should get caught on anything it stretches over their heads. my oldest cat is 15 yrs old and still has his stretch collar. I hope this helps

I guess I'll add my experience. I got a stretch collar for my first cat. I got a break away for a new kitten, but it wouldn't stay on. So I've stuck with the stretch collars on my four cats. There has never been a problem with them. I think the problems described happen when collars are put on too loosely. I see many cats and dogs wearing collars like a necklace, which is indeed dangerous for many reasons. Fit it around the neck so that you can get two fingers under it before it stretches, one for guys with big fingers. More, and it's probably too loose. This does mean you won't see it in their fur well. It is not uncomfortable this way or harming them in any way. It's for their own safety and your peace of mind.

I used to use the elastic ones, but then switched to break away ones. The first brand I tried, came apart super quickly, but then I tried a different kind and they only rarely lose their collars now.

One of my cats once got stuck in an elastic one, she somehow managed to get her front leg through it.

The breakaway collars come off when the cats are playing, or even rolling on a rough area or they learn to paw them off. I have lost so many of them. I had telephone number discs on the collars, all lost in the garden. At present I have 6 cats. Breakaway ones are useless.

At one time my cat flap needed a magnet thing on the collar for the cats to get in, but collar lost and cats stuck in the garden. Not good.

An elastic buckle collar is safe if it is adjusted properly when you can comfortable put just 2 fingers in the collar. I understand the comments about their mouth with collar but that would mean the collar was just too lose. 

That means it was too lose for her. Just two fingers in the collar to check the tightness.

my cats hated the breakaway ones. they always managed to get it off. they were bulky and stiff- so I am sure they are uncomfortable.

so I got the Beastie Band elastic collars that velcros shut. They've never tried to get it off. It's soft and lightweight, I doubt they realize it's on them.

I only had an issue once.. they do get old and frayed after a while. Only once my cat got his tongue caught on the loose threads (And I've been trimming them since until I replaced the collar.)

I having a hard time deciding from the breakaway collars to the elastic my cat is more outdoor then I door and he need a reflective sewn in name tag I got him several breakaway colors and he always seems to come home with out it on so please if someone can help me decide on one that be great !!