When most people think about cats, leashes and collars are often the last things that come to mind. Neither indoor nor outdoor cats need to be walked, so what’s the point? Collars are incredibly important when it comes to keeping your cat and the animals your pet encounters healthy, disease free, and alive, not to mention providing a quick, accurate, and easy means of identification.
Whether your cat stays inside or enjoys a regular solo romp around the neighborhood, providing your pet with a collar is important for identification and safety. Keep reading for more information about the most popular types of cat collars and their uses.
The 10 Types of Cat Collars
1. Simple Breakaway Collars
Breakaway collars are made of all sorts of materials. The key is that they feature a closure designed to break open if your cat’s collar gets caught. Some older collars feature buckle-like closures, but these products can restrict your cat’s breathing if the collar snags on something while your pet is wearing it.
The breakaway products have a downside; when working as designed, they come off pretty easily! They aren’t great options if you’re interested in walking your cat or allowing your pet to explore the backyard unsupervised on a long leash, as cats can break free just by exerting a bit of pressure on the collar.
Finding the right cat collar can be tricky with so many options on the market. Our favorite is the Hepper Breakaway Collar, a durable hemp collar with adjustable slip-locks, a reliable quick-release buckle, and an included jingle bell to keep your local wildlife safe. This collar is stylish and practical, perfect for any cat! At Excited Cats, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
2. Buckle Collars
These old-fashioned options feature a sturdy buckle that’s easy to fasten. Most cats can wiggle out of the collars without too much trouble, but that often happens when a cat has four feet on the floor and is attempting to avoid a trip to the veterinarian.
As long as there’s a human around to unbuckle the collar, problems are unlikely to arise. But outdoor cats (or escaped indoor kitties) wearing buckle collars who get caught in vegetation can die of strangulation or suffer serious neck and spinal injuries.
3. Flea Collars
There are several options for feline flea control, including pills, topical medications, and flea collars. Pills are great options for severe infestations. Topical medications work well and won’t break the bank. Flea collars are a good choice if you have a cat allergic to the chemicals used in topical medications.
Flea collars are simple to use. Most last for up to 6 months, making them ideal for pets that don’t relish too much human meddling. They cause skin irritation in some pets, and you’re probably looking at a visit to the veterinarian if your buddy manages to remove and eat a substantial bit of one of these products.
4. Decorative Collars
Cats are extensions of our personalities, and it makes sense that you might want to share your passions with your feline companion. Many cat collars are available that let you get your cat in on the fun, from options sporting the name of your alma mater to gorgeous handwoven, artisanal leather choices.
Decorative collars are a great way to show your personality and share what you find essential with your cat. Make sure that any product you select features a breakaway closure for your cat’s safety, and keep an eye on your pet’s skin and fur so you can act quickly if your buddy appears allergic to any materials in their new collar.
5. GPS Collars
GPS collars are great if you live with an adventurous outdoor cat. They provide peace of mind if you have a cat that roams far and wide. The collars come fitted with a small GPS transmitter that allows you to use satellite technology to pinpoint your cat’s whereabouts.
Most allow you to follow your cat’s movements through an app on your cell phone. While these can be a fantastic way to keep track of your cat, remember that most of these devices work using cell phone technology, meaning you may not be able to use the GPS to find your cat in some rural locations. And they often won’t work if you’re in a country other than where you purchased and initially set up the monitoring system.
6. Bell Collars
Bell collars are essential for any outdoor cat! Cats are serious predators responsible for billions of avian deaths every year. Domestic cats kill between 1 and 6 billion birds and possibly as many as 22 billion small mammals and reptiles annually in the continental United States alone. Kitties that hunt can drive bird and mammal populations to the point of extinction.
Bell collars alert wildlife that your cat is nearby and on the prowl, giving birds, mice, and other creatures the chance to get away. Make sure you pick a bell collar featuring a breakaway closure so your cat won’t end up injured if the collar snags on a tree branch or bush.
7. Elastic Collars
Elastic collars are just what they sound like: stretchy products made with elastic. They’re often marketed as promising alternatives for breakaway collars. While these products come in many fun colors and often feature adorable prints, they’re not ideal for outdoor cats.
Elastic collars expand to allow cats to escape if the collar gets caught. The problem is that cats don’t just move backward when their collar catches on something. Most squirm, struggle and use their entire bodies to escape. Elastic collars stretch but don’t break, which can result in a struggling cat’s mouth, arm, or leg getting ensnared.
8. Reflective Collars
Reflective collars are an absolute must for outdoor cats that like to explore during dawn and dusk when cats tend to be most active. Outdoor cats have an average lifespan of 2–5 years. On the other hand, indoor cats live an average of 10–15 years primarily because they don’t end up in fatal encounters with cars or other animals and don’t come into contact with animals carrying contagious diseases.
And recent studies using GPS collars have shown that cats cross roads close to where they live with surprising frequency. Reflective collars make cats easier for drivers to see and therefore avoid.
9. Personalized Collars
Personalized options display identifying information right on the collar, so you don’t need to worry about outfitting your cat with a separate metal ID tag featuring your pet’s name and contact information. While it’s always a good idea to microchip your cat, an ID tag or personalized collar provides an easy way to locate you if your pet heads out on an unauthorized adventure or gets lost or injured.
Having the information front and center on your cat’s collar is the best way to prevent your cat from winding up in a cat shelter if it somehow becomes disoriented and can’t find its way home. And they’re great for keeping things nice and quiet indoors since your cat won’t need to wear a jangly ID tag.
10. Harnesses
The best cat harnesses are sturdy, comfortable, and easy to attach to the leash. Hepper’s Cat Harness & Leash Set offers all that and more, which is why we highly recommend it.
The leash attachment is usually between the cat’s shoulders to limit the pressure exerted on your cat’s neck. And because they feature two closures in different places, harnesses make it difficult for cats to squirm free. But keep in mind that a motivated cat can free themselves from a harness if given enough time, so your cat will still need to be supervised when wearing one.
At Excited Cats, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Conclusion
Any product you purchase should feature a breakaway closure since indoor cats escape from time to time and must navigate the dangers of the great outdoors. Cat harnesses are fantastic options for taking your cat to the veterinarian or going for a walk with your buddy. Since harnesses are designed to distribute weight, your cat won’t end up putting dangerous amounts of pressure on its neck during those inevitable escape attempts.
- Related Read: What Are E-Collars for Cats? When Should I Use Them?
Featured Image Credit: Raychan, Unsplash
