Collars (with photo)

Since the girls have taken up the habit of sneaking up behind me and leaping for the stove/oven when I am cooking, I bought them collars with bells to wear. Tara's is an 8 inch and is fine. But an 8 inch seemed too tight on Drusilla so I got her a 10 inch. The 10 inch seems too big though. It hangs, even in the shortest notch and the end sticks out so far it bothers her. I haven't been able to find any 9 inch collars so i'm wondering what I can do. Any ideas on how to make another notch in something so small and delicate? Or is there a general guide as to how tight a collar should/shouldn't be? Maybe she can fit an 8 and I am just paranoid. Here's a photo of her in her collar so you can see what I mean about the overlap of the collar length. (And yes, she has come a very long way from scrawny little thing in my sig pic)

Is it a safety collar? My girls wear adjustable ones so size doesn't matter so much. But it is very important to make sure it is a safety collar. Noodles gave me a scare once. Her rabies tag had gotten caught in the floor vent and the collar broke open around her, but when I picked her up she was limp! I watched her for a bit, and she was fine. But after that I switched to a different safety collar. I always test them in the store too to see how hard you have to yank for them to open. Here is a link to the Petsmart website. This is the type of collar my girls wear: http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...N=2025528&Ne=2

Its a stretchy one, so she can't choke herself or anything like that. I can't use the breakaway ones, I've tried dozens of different sizes and brands and they get them off in minutes.

I think the general rule for size is if you can fit 2 fingers in it sideways then it is ok. Something like that. I'm sure someone will clarify soon.

Two fingers sounds correct.

I'm sure two fingers is safe, but will the cats leave them on with that much room? Can you cut off the extra bit that's a nuisance?

Gorgeous! Yes, two fingers is the general rule. You can make a new notch with a hot nail. It's perfectly logical to cut off the extra bit (while the collar is off your kitty, of course), I do the same.

If it is a nylon collar, get the larger size, snip off the end. You can then use a match to fuse the ends so they don't unravel. Quickly stick the cut end in the flame for only a couple of seconds. I usually do it outside so the fumes don't stick around.

Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles

. Here is a link to the Petsmart website. This is the type of collar my girls wear: http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...N=2025528&Ne=2

Click to expand...

Suzie was wearting that one and destroyed it (shredded) in about 2 months. I got her another safecat one, but it has somesort of plastic coating and so far so good. There is another one that has a silk cover that is a breakaway but very strong that lasted a year on rocky, and cookie has one on now. They have animal prints, sorry I can't remember the brand. ? maybe whiskercity? Mine sometimes get them off, but not very frequently.

I couldn't find a collar small enough to fit Lily, so I bought one to fit toy breed dogs. It is a breakaway one that she has "broken away" once. I bough tone for Twitch in Wal Mart that has a little ealistic band in it so it stretches & she can get out. I, too, always test the collars before I buy them. Lily has a tiny neck & Twitch barely fits into an 8" collar(its too big), so I have had trouble finding collars to fit. I have dozen of collars laying around. I kept buying them & trying them until I got ones that worked. One of these days I will have to start trying to find one to fit Ophelia....

Oliver wears one like this ... I still use the two finger rule and I know he can get out of it if need be... this kind doesnt have preset holes, so you can make it as tight as you want....

The only problem that I can see with beastie bands is that the reason she's collaring her cats is for the bell so she can hear them sneak up on her (I'm reading that correctly, right?)... beastie bands are kinda thick - I dont use them myself though, for those of you that do: are you able to outfit a beastie band with a bell and/ID tag hook?

Just my thought....

I like hearing the reviews on the different brand names. I see them in the store and always wonder how they are. I normally buy Lupine collars, leads and harnesses for Abby and have had good look with them.


http://www.lupinepet.com/cat/index.html