With all the different colors and designs available, are you excited to put a collar on your pet? But wait, is there a specific age when your cat should be wearing a collar? We've also wondered about this so we asked the experts and here's what we found out.
You should put a collar on your cat at the soonest possible time. Experts say it can be as early as when your pet is 2 months old. More than being an accessory, it is a matter of necessity so that your pet has proper identification in any event that she finds herself away from home. This will make it easier for the people who find your cat to return her to you quickly and safely.
Continue reading because we'll tell you more about the right time to put a collar around your pet's neck, why you need to do it, and how to put it on properly. We'll also answer your concerns regarding its safety and if there's still a need for a collar if your pet has a microchip already.
When should I put a collar on my cat?
Collars and ID tags are deemed necessary because they provide proper identification for your pet. They contain information such as your pet's name, your name, and contact numbers. This is particularly important when your cat gets lost. Of course, you'd want to make sure that the people who will see her will be able to contact you right away so they can return your beloved pet.
You might think that since your cat stays indoors, there's no need for a collar. Indoor and outdoor cats are both curious explorers. They naturally want to explore the world around them and would test their boundaries. Truth is, you won't be able to supervise your pet all the time. There's a probability that your indoor cat might be able to go out through a door or window that was left open.
In other words, the sooner you can get your cat to wear a collar, the better. This will give them enough time to adjust and get used to it. You don't know when untoward incidents can happen. It's good to know that you've done your part so you'll have a better chance of being reunited with your pet when she has a collar.
You should check the specific cat collar that you're eyeing as manufacturers usually indicate the recommended weight or neck size for their products. This will ensure that the collar is the perfect fit for your pet.
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When should you put a collar on a kitten?
Let's face it. You can't just put something around your kitten's neck. She might get irritated, annoyed, or simply uncomfortable with it. Some even raise concerns regarding its safety as your little feline might try to pull it off from her neck and her claws could get caught in them or she might get herself entangled with other stuff because of the collar.
Experts say you should put a collar on your kitten as soon as she's ready to explore the world around her. This would be around the time when she's 2 to 6 months old. The more important factor here is her weight and the size of her neck as these will determine the fit of the collar.
As mentioned earlier, check with the manufacturers regarding the sizes of their pet collars or the minimum safe weight for their product. Kitten sizes usually start at 6". Take note also to choose a collar that's lightweight, has a snug fit, and an age-specific breakaway buckle for maximum comfort and safety.
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How to put a collar on your kitten?
Since you're introducing a foreign object to your pet, you need to do it slowly. Be gentle with your kitten so that she won't get scared.
- Play with your kitten for a while then calm her down.
- Gently put the collar around your kitten's neck.
- Fasten it securely and make sure it fits just fine. You should be able to insert two or three fingers in between the collar and your pet's neck.
- Pet your kitten. You can also give her a treat so she can associate it with a good memory. Some also distract their cats with toys so they will eventually forget about it.
Are collars safe for kittens?
There are some pet parents who are worried about the safety of using collars, especially on their little kittens. They might have heard of cases wherein cats have been injured because of those things around their neck. Their front legs could get stuck in it or there might be some frayed threads that could get into their mouth and prevent their jaws from closing.
Those unfortunate incidents highlight the need to choose a collar that's safe to use for your kitten to prevent any untoward episodes. Of course, we don't want anything bad to happen to our pets. Pet owners should select their kittens' collars carefully and properly, and not decide to buy them simply because they're cute and colorful.
There are kitten-specific collars available in the market. Manufacturers indicate the sizes in their product information. As pet parents, it is our responsibility to check the right size for our kittens.
The material used for the collar should also be considered. It must be comfortable, lightweight, durable. There should also be a breakaway buckle to make it easier for your kitten to free herself in case she gets entangled in something. We can also ask our vets for their recommendations for safe collars for our kittens.
Does my cat need a collar if it's microchipped?
Microchips are radio-frequency identification implants that are primarily used as an identification tool. They are sterilized and then injected into the loose skin located between your cat's shoulder blades. Each microchip is unique, just like each of our pets. An ID number is assigned to each chip which helps in identifying the pet owner in any event that the cat gets lost.
Collars with ID tags basically have the same function as a microchip. They both provide proper identification for your cat and your contact information. This makes it easier for the people who see your lost pet to bring her back to you.
However, don't ever think that you can just choose between either of them. It is recommended to have your pet implanted with a microchip and at the same time, have a collar with an ID tag around her neck.
The collar makes it easier for other people to identify your feline as a pet and not just another stray cat. Just think about this, there have been a number of microchipped pets without a collar who have been euthanized in shelters.
It is also more convenient to access the necessary information to contact you since they just need to read what's indicated on the tag. Whereas they would need a scanner to read the info from the microchip. So, for both your sakes, it is better to put both a collar and microchip on your pet.
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Final Thoughts
It is best to put a collar on your cat as soon as possible. It is a part of being a responsible pet parent. But of course, you have to wait until your pet reaches a certain weight or size before any collar could fit around her neck snugly. When your cat has a collar, there's a higher chance that your beloved pet will be returned to you quicker in case she gets lost.