Collar Question

bengalsmum · Feb 4, 2006

Hi, we let our kitten out for the first time on his own yesterday we put him a collar on with a little bell on it.....Anyway, when he came back in he was fighting with the collar straight away and got his jaw trapped in it.He did the same thing again today after coming in and got distressed so odviosly i took it off but what if this happens when im not there?
I only left a small gap for a finger to fit, i dont know whether i should leave it on him or just put it on when he goes out and remove it as soon as he comes in.I like it as i can hear him jingling in the garden and it gives me peace of mind with him being a bengal.

Any suggestions?~thanks

xocats · Feb 4, 2006

Do a search in this forum about collars.
There are a lot of threads addressing collar issues.
You will get a lot of info that way.

One more thing....why are you letting your kitty go out side?
Have you considered indoors only. It is a much safer way to go.

larke · Feb 4, 2006

It just wasn't on tight enough - cat's necks are really pretty thin under all the fur, but like the other poster, I have to ask why he needs to go out at all? Also, studies have been done to show that bells do not protect birds from cats.

rosiemac · Feb 4, 2006

I only put breakaway collars on mine for this reason

He needs to get used to the collar first and really that should be when he's in the house and your there to keep an eye on him.

Cats and kittens have been known to get them caught on tree branches and hang themselves

This being one of the many reasons why i keep my two inside at all times.

bengalsmum · Feb 4, 2006

Hi, i decided to let him out as it is mainly the done thing here in the UK. I live in a small cul-de-sac area away from the road, andhe seemed very interested in going out.

Also isnt fresh air a good thing for us all , humans and pets/animals?

Nearly every home on our road has at least one cat and they all go out, so i guess i would feel strange keeping him in.

Thanks for advice anyway

rosiemac · Feb 4, 2006

I'm from the UK as well and most of the cats are all indoors where i live.

My parents always let their cats out, and sadly because of this they never got to live to an old age

lionessrampant · Feb 4, 2006

Bengalsmum, is ther any way you can harness train him? My two LOVE the great outdoors, but I refuse to let them explore it on their own. They are both harness trained and we go out on the porch and in the courtyard several times a week. It is also a great bonding experience for both of you. I'm also assuming you have a purebred bengal...and while no one on this site would argue that one cat is worth more than the next cat, that might not be how everyone feels and I'd worry about him being cat-napped.

Breakaway collars work best, also.

bengalsmum · Feb 4, 2006

But dont you ever think that your cats are bored?

Sometimes simba looks a his toys whether i change them or not and looks fed up!

so i guess i let him out through guilt aswell as i never planned to at first, but my husband got to me saying it wasnt right to keep him cooped up especially in our small house.

Hopefully, he will stay not too far from our garden and have best of both worlds, he only spent an hour outside then came back and today only went for 20 minutes.

missymotus · Feb 4, 2006

Get a breakaway collar so if he does get caught it will just come off.

I suggest taking him out with a harness & leash, that way he still gets fresh air but is safe.

lionessrampant · Feb 4, 2006

Originally Posted by bengalsmum

But dont you ever think that your cats are bored?

Sometimes simba looks a his toys whether i change them or not and looks fed up!

so i guess i let him out through guilt aswell as i never planned to at first, but my husband got to me saying it wasnt right to keep him cooped up especially in our small house.

Hopefully, he will stay not too far from our garden and have best of both worlds, he only spent an hour outside then came back and today only went for 20 minutes.

No...and I live in a 450 sq foot apartment.

They have plenty of toys and get new ones twice a month, they have a tree and a gym to climb on, they have each other, they have a window perch where they can watch birds, squirrels, passerby, traffic, etc., they play with me several times a day... and let's not foget that most cats spend 18 hours out of every day asleep!

xocats · Feb 4, 2006

I live in a small place filled with different level cat posts & trees. They have views of the outside plus I play with them daily with kitty toys and a laser that they chase.
They get brushed daily and lots of cuddles & purrs.

My kitties don't have fleas, are not susceptible to outside predators or traffic....
In my opinion, indoors is the only way to go, if you want your kitty to have a long, healthy life.

rosiemac · Feb 4, 2006

Thats the reason why i got Sophie so Rosie had company.

You have to remember that although you don't live by a busy road it doesn't mean that your cat won't wander further bringing it to one, especially in the summer.

I always remember my parents could never get their cats in at night because the weather was warmer and they wanted to stay out.

I was told by someone at work that i was being cruel for keeping Rosie inside.I asked my vet this and she said because she was young she wouldn't know any different, plus theres a lot of other pluses to keeping them inside such as not getting into fights with strange cats, cars, and like Lei said no fleas

missymotus · Feb 4, 2006

Are you playing with him or just expecting him to play with his toys alone? My cats love toy mice, but I also have a cat dancer and laser pointer to interact with them.
Cat trees are great too.

Don't feel guilty about keeping your cat safely indoors

misty8723 · Feb 4, 2006

Originally Posted by lionessrampant

No...and I live in a 450 sq foot apartment.

They have plenty of toys and get new ones twice a month, they have a tree and a gym to climb on, they have each other, they have a window perch where they can watch birds, squirrels, passerby, traffic, etc., they play with me several times a day... and let's not foget that most cats spend 18 hours out of every day asleep!

I have 2 cats and am keeping them indoors. It's not really much of a decision as I had to promise I would before the shelter would give them to me, but I would probably keep them indoor anyway because I'm a worrier.

However, it's always seemed to me that the outdoor/indoor cats I've known were more intelligent and happy than purely indoor.

It's dangerous outdoors for people too, but we wouldn't be happy if were were forced to stay indoors and watch life through a window. I can't help but wonder if a shorter, happier life isn't better than 15-20 years of confinement?

Also, indoors can be dangerous too, if they get into something that will harm them.

menagerie mama · Feb 4, 2006

Too many dangers out there. I wouldn't want to go through life saying.."If only I hadn't let the cat(s) out!"

bengalsmum · Feb 5, 2006

He was let out again today and returned after a short time, sometimes we watch him anyway , i will never leave him out too long, but do firmly believe now that cats need fresh air too whether in a run, on a leash or freely.

I might feel different if we didnt leave in such a nice area , but would still let them out on a leash.

Thanks for your advice will look into the breakaway collar too ,

anakat · Feb 5, 2006

Hi,
they sell the breakaway collars in Wilkinsons for Â£1.79 which is about half what our local pet shop charges, they are the ones with a plastic catch not a buckle. they come off very easily so it is probably a good idea to buy two or three.
Anne

rosiemac · Feb 5, 2006

Wilkinsons is where i get Rosie and Sophies

bengalboy · Feb 6, 2006

I think if you tighten up the collar, it would keep him from getting his jaw caught, without being too tight to choke him. I have a bengal and he did the same thing, but once he got used to a collar, he stopped.

laureen227 · Feb 6, 2006

Originally Posted by bengalsmum

He was let out again today and returned after a short time, sometimes we watch him anyway , i will never leave him out too long, but do firmly believe now that cats need fresh air too whether in a run, on a leash or freely.

I might feel different if we didnt leave in such a nice area , but would still let them out on a leash.

Thanks for your advice will look into the breakaway collar too ,

don't forget to get a harness if you want to leash train him, since the collar won't hold!

Collar Question

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