Don't Know What To Do?

[apbtmom76]

Soooooo, my fat fat black cat, Highway, is actign wierd about his collar, like he gets depressed when I put it on him. He is strictly an inside cat and he is microchipped, when we leave the back door open when it is nice outside, he will wander out onto the back porch and lay in the sun, I am totally ok with this, cause usually a small, ssst and he comes back inside.

About 9 or 10 months ago he had knocked his collar off, it took me 6 months to find it, so I put it back on him and he's been fine, til I took it off the other night I had bought a new collar, was too small, but when I went to put Highway's collar back on, he shrank away from me and moped literally all day long til I took his coolar off last night. He's back to his normal self, hahaha I know that cats can train humans, I just want him to be happy and know that if he ever got stuck outside, he would have his collar on.

So I guess I'm wondering if I should get him a harness? Or leave his collar off? Or get him a new collar and let him be all mopey and not let him win? I don't want him to be sad but he needs to wear his collar. Any suggestions?

[pomtzu]

Put the collar back on and play the waiting game with him. You'll win!! I've never met a cat that didn't object when they were first forced to wear a collar, but they get used to it in no time. He hasn't had one on in a while, so it looks like you're starting from scratch. I'd also get a break-away collar in case he does get out and maybe gets hung up in some shrubs or the like. That way at least he isn't going to strangle and the collar will come open as he pulls on it.

[apbtmom76]

Put the collar back on and play the waiting game with him. You'll win!! I've never met a cat that didn't object when they were first forced to wear a collar, but they get used to it in no time. He hasn't had one on in a while, so it looks like you're starting from scratch. I'd also get a break-away collar in case he does get out and maybe gets hung up in some shrubs or the like. That way at least he isn't going to strangle and the collar will come open as he pulls on it.

thanks Pomtzu, his collar now is a breakaway, is why he was missing it for 6 mo, lol. And he wore it for two years, hahaah silly kitten, thank you

[Catty1]

I had a breakaway collar for Oscar, as I sprayed his Feliway in it. Lucky I happened to be home, because as he was grooming his chest one day, his lower jaw got caught in the collar - and it DIDN'T break away! Poor little guy panicked - I got the collar off.

I opted for a super-stretchy one. I can tighten it enough so it stays on. And many is the time it has been flung to another part of the house during a playfight with his furbrother Cole.

Maybe it was a flaky breakaway that I had...sounds like Highway's did the same thing. Maybe he'd find the stretchy one more comfy?

As Pomtzu said - you'll win!

[krazyaboutkatz]

All of my cats are indoor only and are microchipped and they all wear the saftey break away collars except for Sunny. Sunny became so stressed out that he made himself ill. His bladder became inflammed and he kept jumping in and out of the box and was barely able to pee. The vet didn't find any crystals or infection and he said that it could've been caused by stress. I put two and two together and the only change was the collar. I took it off of him and he's never had any more problems. I guess some cats just aren't meant to wear collars. Good luck.

[Randi]

If it's because you want to be sure people know he belongs to someone, should he get lost, you could have his ears tattoo'ed. Vets' do that in Denmark when cats are spayed/neutered and get their shots.

A few years ago, a friendly kitty showed up in our backyard, I checked his ears, called the vet and asked if he knew the cat. He did. So he gave me the phone no. to his owner and they came to get him.

[apbtmom76]

thank you all for your replies, Randi I had thought about the tattoo, Highway is an indoor kitty, but is never left outdoors overnight or anything like that, he is only allowed out there when we are home and the doors are open. I will have to check into a stretchier type collar, maybe that will make him more comfortable. It is almost time to take him in for his Rabies, maybe I'll see what my vet says as well. Thanks you all, I really appreciate the feedback

[katladyd]

Our cats are microchipped and that works better than a collar. Of course, they have to be taken to a shelter and have it scanned, but I know it works. None of my present cats will tolerate a collar, they actually fight to get them off, Mac is especially adept at this. I don't want to stress Ming because of his FLUTD tendencies, so, microchips it is. If he's worn one before, he should tolerate one now. Keep trying.

[Freedom]

Break away collar gets my vote, lol.

Make sure Highway is NOT looking to read this: I have 2 who figured out how to snag the breakaway collar on furniture and get it off, so they don't wear collars.

Mine are indoor only; no kids here, just Dad and I so I don't worry about them getting out by mistake either.

[apbtmom76]

Freedom - Highway has not figured out how to read but he does know how to make the collar come off, hahah is why it was missing for 6 months, lol. Thank you both for your replies

[Cataholic]

Weird. I have never collared my cats, all indoors. I think I toyed with it one time when I fancied strutting my RB Tuxie, Tex, around, but it never materialized. I guess I don't 'get' collaring an indoor only cat.

And, from what I have read- harnesses are not meant to be worn like collars. They are unsafe, apparently, if there isn't close supervision. Just passing along what I have heard.

[Medusa]

I put a collar on Boo when I first got him b/c he's such a beautiful black cat. The collar was rhinestone studded but it didn't matter to Boo. He chewed through that thing in a matter of minutes. I put another one on him and he did the same thing. So no more collars for Boo or any of my Fur Posse. I've had up to 8 cats at once and none of them have had collars b/c they're all indoors and I don't see the sense in it. To each his/her own.

[catmandu]

My Found Cats all hate collars , and run around knocking them off.
I used to use Ova Collars , but got tired of getting new 20 dollar collars!!!

[krazyaboutkatz]

The main reason that I decided to put collars on my indoor only cats is because I live in a condo complex and my front door leads to a hallway. Sky used to door dash all the time and he's so friendly that he'd follow any one home. He'll still do it once in a while. Their tags have my address and home phone number on them as well as their names.

A lot of people don't think about checking animals out for microchips. I used to buy the fabric type safety collars but they tear them up by scratching them. Now I buy the leather/vinyl type and they seem to last forever. If all of my cats seemed stressed out by them like my Sunny, I wouldn't make them wear the collars because it's not worth it. They've all gotten used to them and Pearl and Ziggy have worn them since they were kittens. Once again good luck.

[apbtmom76]

Weird. I have never collared my cats, all indoors. I think I toyed with it one time when I fancied strutting my RB Tuxie, Tex, around, but it never materialized. I guess I don't 'get' collaring an indoor only cat.

And, from what I have read- harnesses are not meant to be worn like collars. They are unsafe, apparently, if there isn't close supervision. Just passing along what I have heard.

Well you know I got to thinking about it and the dogs only wear collars when we go out the front door, and they are all micrchipped as well. And thank you for the harness info, I really appreciate that

I put a collar on Boo when I first got him b/c he's such a beautiful black cat. The collar was rhinestone studded but it didn't matter to Boo. He chewed through that thing in a matter of minutes. I put another one on him and he did the same thing. So no more collars for Boo or any of my Fur Posse. I've had up to 8 cats at once and none of them have had collars b/c they're all indoors and I don't see the sense in it. To each his/her own.

Thank you for the reply

My Found Cats all hate collars , and run around knocking them off.
I used to use Ova Collars , but got tired of getting new 20 dollar collars!!!

hahaha 20 bucks for a cat collar? Have never seen one for that much, and Highway is back to his happy self with out his collar on, I have to give him his yearly booster so it will go back on, I think I will take some of the tags off, lol

The main reason that I decided to put collars on my indoor only cats is because I live in a condo complex and my front door leads to a hallway. Sky used to door dash all the time and he's so friendly that he'd follow any one home. He'll still do it once in a while. Their tags have my address and home phone number on them as well as their names.

A lot of people don't think about checking animals out for microchips. I used to buy the fabric type safety collars but they tear them up by scratching them. Now I buy the leather/vinyl type and they seem to last forever. If all of my cats seemed stressed out by them like my Sunny, I wouldn't make them wear the collars because it's not worth it. They've all gotten used to them and Pearl and Ziggy have worn them since they were kittens. Once again good luck.

Thanks krazy, Highway doesn't dart out the door or anything, I just wanted it on him incase anythign ever happened. I think I will put his microchip info on a tag like I have for the dogs and just put it and his Rabies tag on there.