At 12 weeks, kittens can wear a decorative collar or a natural flea collar. Never use the chemical collars on kittens or adult cats.
For instance, our Supakit kitten collars have a minimum weight of 1kg / 2.2lbs, so you need to wait until your kitten is that weight or heavier (which for an average kitten will be when they are around 8 weeks old).
Yes! Even if your kitten is going to spend their life safely indoors. Accidents happen—an open window or door, an escape on the way to the vet—and you want your kitten to be as easy as possible to identify. We've made a handy list of the best kitten collars so your small cat will be safe—and as cute as possible.
No, you do not need to take your cat's collar off at night. If you have achieved the perfect fit and your cat is happy in their collar, they should feel as one! This means that your cat is happy to wear its collar every hour of the day and should feel comfortable enough to sleep in it too.
Spray with Feliway, which is a calming pheromone for the cat. Another technique is to rub a facecloth gently around the cat's mouth and cheeks to get some of the cat's own scent, then rub the collar with the cloth so the collar smells familiar. Rubbing the collar on the cat's bedding may also prove effective.
Let the kitten's neck size be your guide. If the smallest collar is too large, then wait a bit. But you would need to get a kitten used to a collar before putting it on for good. The recommended age is about 5 months.
But Liu says there are a few general guidelines, the first being to never grab, hold, or lift a cat by the scruff of their neck. “It can be painful, lead to significant fear and stress, and takes away their sense of control,” she says. Instead, when picking up a cat, use both hands to support them.
Some Cats Don't Like Wearing Collars
Others pull them off, with even reports of some great teamwork where cats help each other to pull them off (we're super impressed by this!). Many are also just plain miserable when they are wearing one. If your cat hates wearing a collar, do not force them to wear one.
If not checked frequently and loosened as needed, collars can literally grow into your pet's neck and cause excruciating, constant pain. Be sure to check your kitten's collar at least every week until it is full grown, and check your adult cat's collar regularly to make sure it fits properly and is safely secured.
Indoor Cats Should Have Collars – Here's Why:
Although your indoor cat lives indoors, they should still have collar because it is possible that they may escape your home. Accidents happen and if your cutie does get outside, you want to ensure that they are safe and returned home.
In a word, yes! Microchips are essential to keeping track of your pet, and if they ever get lost, hurt, or mistaken for a stray, it is the primary way a vet or shelter will be able to track you down and reunite you. However, microchips are not failsafe!
While some cats with anxiety may not react well to the bell's sound, it's likely that the majority of cats simply won't care. Some owners worry that as well as alerting prey, a bell would also alert large predators to a cat's presence.
If you have a kitten that hates its collar it might be that the collar was introduced too quickly, without gradual exposure but it could also be that the collar isn't specifically designed for kittens.
If you do decide to walk your cat on a leash, it is crucial that you attach this to a harness rather than a collar. Cats can easily slip out of collars or may choke if they escape and become entangled. Also, a proper cat harness rather than a dog harness should be used as these are more comfortable and secure.
A collar may be useful for a name tag and phone number, but not for attaching the leash. A cat should always be walked on a harness to keep them from slipping out or choking themselves in case they dart. Measure your cat correctly and, if possible, try a few different harnesses to test which one fits your cat the best.
Your cat's collar can get stuck on other things too, such as a branch or fence post. If the collar does not easily release them, your cat can become distressed, injure themselves in their attempts to pull away, or even put them at risk of choking.
It can be dangerous to put a collar on a cat. They can get caught in something and the cat will choke to death.
If your cat appears disoriented when you first attach the collar, know that that's normal. Give them time to get used to it, and distract them with food or play, to help them forget they're even wearing it. Do this daily, for increasing lengths of time, until your cat is comfortable wearing the collar.
They work by mimicking the pheromones that are naturally occurring in mother cats. In other words, a calming collar gives your pet the same warm fuzzies they used to get by snuggling with their mom. This can help ease their minds and cool off frazzled nerves. These pheromones are also odorless.
Some cats will benefit from a fragrance-free product like the breakaway ComfortZone Calming Collar. But not every cat will be happy wearing a calming collar, as they tend to be stiff. And while rare, cats with sensitive skin sometimes experience a reaction.
Breakaway / Safety Buckles
Naturally, this is a bigger concern for outdoor cats who like to climb or are extra adventurous, but breakaway buckles can even protect indoor kitties who may jump on ledges or shelving.
A simple training method involves praising and petting your kitten when it leaps onto acceptable surfaces while scolding and removing it from unacceptable surfaces. The spray bottle can help train your kitten to stay off specific surfaces.
The size of collar your cat or kitten needs will depend on the current size of your pet. For example, a kitten might need a 6-inch collar while an adult cat might need a 12-inch collar or larger.