Finding The Ideal Cat Collar
by Mary Amos.
If your cat goes outside it's a really good idea to use a
collar. It lets other people know that the cat has a home, and
if your cat should stray or get lost then the contact details
on the collar will have you re-united with your cat in no time.
Deciding what cat collar to buy can be a more difficult choice
than you think. Do you go with a flea control collar, a
reflective collar, an elasticated collar, a buckle on collar,
or no collar at all.
Do flea collars really work? My experience has been that they don't,
but they don't hurt either so we can look at form and fit. Fit
is the most important consideration when buying a cat collar.
If the collar is too tight it can cut off the cat's air and
blood supply. Choking your cat is not a good thing!! If it's
too loose the collar can get caught up on branches and fences
while your cat is out playing. Cats have an uncanny knack of
getting out of any collar that's too loose. For kittens and
still growing cats you’ll want an adjustable collar to allow
for some growth, but make sure you check the fit on a regular
basis.
Most collars have 2 methods of fastening around the cat's neck.
You have the traditional buckle style which is easy to put on
and take off but the buckle can break. Then there is the slide
through adjustable kind. This is a more secure way of fastening
but it's also more difficult to adjust, especially if you have a
cat that doesn't like having a collar on.
Most cat collars come with an elasticated or a breakaway
section. This is a safety feature that allows your cat to
escape the collar if it becomes stuck on bushes or fences. It
helps avoid strangulation as well as being trapped. Even though
a smart cat can figure out how to escape its collar, this is an
important safety feature that you should seriously consider.
Along these lines buy a collar made of a material that can be
easily cut through in emergencies.
Another feature you may consider is a reflective strip in the
cat collar. This can be helpful at night especially in areas
that have a lot of traffic. The number one killer of cats is
traffic so give the driver every chance to see your cat,
especially if it's a dark colored cat.
Many collars come with bells or some other noise making device.
This is designed to warn potential prey animals that your cat is
out hunting. The idea behind these is to avoid your cat bringing
home gifts and presents, especially ones that are still alive!!
In the main these devices are ineffective and its usually best
to remove them so there's less to get caught up in bushes and
fences.
If you have an indoor cat that you'd like to introduce to the
great outdoors, try buying a cat harness and attach a leash.
You should first practice with this indoors until the cat
becomes accustomed to it. The next step - take the cat for
walks; to the park, to the beach, or to Aunty Jane's house! You
can train your cat to use the leash but it will take some time,
practice and a lot of patience.
About The Author: Mary Amos is a cat love and long time cat
owner. Find more articles and resources at
http://www.catsuppliesweb.com
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