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PSA: Make sure to get collars for your cats that either detach under load or, perhaps best, have an elastic segment that lets them slip it off if it catches. A

PSA: Make sure to get collars for your cats that either detach under load or, perhaps best, have an elastic segment that lets them slip it off if it catches. A couple months ago my friend found his cat dead after her collar caught while jumping over the fence. Poor little baby beast. :/ I look at my fun-loving critter basking in the sun as I write this and it breaks my heart to imagine her suffering like my friend's poor cat did. Example of a collar with elastic segment: https://amazon.com/dp/B07P8V374M https://amazon.com/dp/B07P8V374M

monadic3 6y ago
The term for this is "break-away collar" if that helps.
- dkersten 6y ago
  I’ve also seen them referred to as “safety collars”.
sgt 6y ago
Do they still sell rigid collars?
- onli 6y ago
  Yes. And that's not all that bad if you use them to go for a walk with the cat, like with a dog on a leash (but then a harness is better). But it's a real problem if the cat is alone. The veterinarian looked so damn sad when talking about how important those breakaway collars are...
  - godelski 6y ago
    If you're walking them get a harness (same for a dog). Don't pull on the neck, pull on the body. This is not only better for them but you'll have more control.
    - V_Terranova_Jr 6y ago
      I can recommend the Kitty Holster: http://www.kittyholster.com/ http://www.kittyholster.com/
      - moosebear847 6y ago
        Ha.. thanks. going to try out on my outdoor+indoor hybrid cat to see if i can take it for a walk.
        V_Terranova_Jr 6y ago
        Advice: be patient, use the various techniques to get your cat acclimated that are listed on the site. Ultimately, how cats deal with being harnessed even after being acclimated is extremely individual personality-dependent. I've seen some happily walk like dogs. Mine don't particularly want to walk alongside people and very quickly want to go off under plants or other places where they can hide and stalk, and where people can't easily go. We take them out for as long as both they and we can stand, and don't jerk them around. The Kitty Holster type harness is significantly less escape-prone than say the PetSafe style of nylon straps, and probably less uncomfortable as well.
jmkb 6y ago
My cat will remove them within 20 minutes, never to be found. I've reluctantly settled on the non-safety collar after losing a half dozen. Although if I equipped one with RFID I could at least have a shot at locating his stash!
- danesparza 6y ago
  What about a harness design?
  - jmkb 6y ago
    I think that would be even more likely to snag on something. edit -- but of course danging by something other than a neck might be preferable...
- avidiax 6y ago
  Maybe replace the elastic section with a loop of fishing line that's rated at 1/4th the cat's weight (loop having 2x the rated strength). Too strong for the cat to remove, but will snap under their own weight. Or the cat might be OK with the breakaway collar now, due to "learned helplessness".
- godelski 6y ago
  My cat used to do the same. But then I found out that she likes the color red (or orange). Once I switched to that collar it would only come off every few days and seemed more like an accident. She also likes the bell and when she first got it would proudly walk in a way that made a lot of noise. So idk if this helps, but maybe try different colors and configurations and find what your cat likes. Also tightness has a lot to do with it.
mft_ 6y ago
One of our cats removes hers within minutes. She purrs when you put it back on - I think she sees it as a game. :)
- aidenn0 6y ago
  From what I can tell at least 90% of cats see annoying humans as a game.
birksherty 6y ago
What is the need for collar in animals? To enslave them without their wish, for our needs or their? Do they want them? May be change your location, if can't let them roam freely, not fit for having a pet. Don't make slaves.
adfm 6y ago
We've gone through a lot of collars with our cat and he seems to tolerate the neoprene and velcro type the most. The brand I'm familiar with is Beastie Bands. They're more secure than I imagined and fit loosely without snagging or easily pulling off. Additionally, it seems to generate less matting, which is a plus.
HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago
One of our dogs disappeared for two days. Then on my way home I got a frantic call from my wife that he had come home but his leg was in a bear trap. Turned out to be a coyote trap and there was a plastic link on the chain that attached it to the tree or whatever, that he had chewed through then limped home on three legs. If not for that link, he'd probably have died out there since the person who set it was clearly not checking it every 24 hours as required by law. Luckily he was big enough that the trap couldn't close tightly enough to damage his leg and he was running around fine by the next day.
- jjeaff 6y ago
  Interesting, is the plastic link meant to make it escapable by animals larger than a coyote?
  - HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago
    I don't know. I'd think that a coyote would probably escape the same way if so.
- mattmoose21 6y ago
  Depending where you live contact information may be required to be permanently attached to the trap. Glad to hear your dog is okay.
  - HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago
    Each trap has a unique ID that should be traceable to an owner. We happened to know someone who worked for Animal Control and he was looking into it, but I don't recall how that worked out.
intricatedetail 6y ago
Once on my way from work I saw a cat jumping and catching its collar in the fence and choking. Fortunately I got there quick and released the poor thing.
godelski 6y ago
PSA: Keep your cats inside. They will live longer, healthier, and so will the birds. And if they are indoor make sure they have areas to run around, be sure to play with them (they are a pet! They are your responsibility!), and watch their diet (often people let them get too fat and it takes awhile for cats to lose weight).
- mschuster91 6y ago
  > and watch their diet (often people let them get too fat and it takes awhile for cats to lose weight). Given the crap that barely passes for industry pet "food" it's hard to keep an indoor animal slim (it's easier for dogs though since us can openers take them out for walks regularly). Pet foods are made to look and smell appealing primary to us can opener humans, not the pets. And dry foods are even worse for cats and dogs - they are used to stuff like grain as small part of the mice and other rodents they naturally eat, not as filler material. PSA: Get your pets high quality food that is similar in composition to what they'd eat in nature and not highly processed crap. You don't diet on frozen pizza, burgers and full sugar soda all year, so please don't feed your pets the equivalent.
  - godelski 6y ago
    I agree that you should get them good quality food and not the cheapest, but that doesn't mean "let them hunt and kill birds and mice." Not only does that lead to the decimation of bird populations (cats kill for sport) but your cat will have more health problems as they are much more likely to be exposed to worms, fleas, parasites, and fights. The life expectancy of an outdoor cat is significantly lower than that of an indoor cat. And you are encouraged to take your cats on walks. My friend runs a line across his backyard and attaches the cat's harness to it. She gets to run around and the bell makes birds very aware of her presence. Telling people to keep them inside doesn't mean you don't play with them (I explicitly said the opposite). I should refine that you shouldn't let them roam outside. On a leash is fine. People don't realize this, but you can in fact train cats. My cat does tricks.
- gibs0ns 6y ago
  Props for bird lives. It's amazing how many people don't realise cats kill for sport, and unlike a dog for example, can't be trained not to do so.

monadic3 6y ago

The term for this is "break-away collar" if that helps.

dkersten 6y ago
I’ve also seen them referred to as “safety collars”.

sgt 6y ago

Do they still sell rigid collars?

onli 6y ago
Yes. And that's not all that bad if you use them to go for a walk with the cat, like with a dog on a leash (but then a harness is better). But it's a real problem if the cat is alone. The veterinarian looked so damn sad when talking about how important those breakaway collars are...
- godelski 6y ago
  If you're walking them get a harness (same for a dog). Don't pull on the neck, pull on the body. This is not only better for them but you'll have more control.
  - V_Terranova_Jr 6y ago
    I can recommend the Kitty Holster: http://www.kittyholster.com/ http://www.kittyholster.com/
    - moosebear847 6y ago
      Ha.. thanks. going to try out on my outdoor+indoor hybrid cat to see if i can take it for a walk.
      - V_Terranova_Jr 6y ago
        Advice: be patient, use the various techniques to get your cat acclimated that are listed on the site. Ultimately, how cats deal with being harnessed even after being acclimated is extremely individual personality-dependent. I've seen some happily walk like dogs. Mine don't particularly want to walk alongside people and very quickly want to go off under plants or other places where they can hide and stalk, and where people can't easily go. We take them out for as long as both they and we can stand, and don't jerk them around. The Kitty Holster type harness is significantly less escape-prone than say the PetSafe style of nylon straps, and probably less uncomfortable as well.

jmkb 6y ago

My cat will remove them within 20 minutes, never to be found. I've reluctantly settled on the non-safety collar after losing a half dozen. Although if I equipped one with RFID I could at least have a shot at locating his stash!

danesparza 6y ago
What about a harness design?
- jmkb 6y ago
  I think that would be even more likely to snag on something. edit -- but of course danging by something other than a neck might be preferable...
avidiax 6y ago
Maybe replace the elastic section with a loop of fishing line that's rated at 1/4th the cat's weight (loop having 2x the rated strength). Too strong for the cat to remove, but will snap under their own weight. Or the cat might be OK with the breakaway collar now, due to "learned helplessness".
godelski 6y ago
My cat used to do the same. But then I found out that she likes the color red (or orange). Once I switched to that collar it would only come off every few days and seemed more like an accident. She also likes the bell and when she first got it would proudly walk in a way that made a lot of noise. So idk if this helps, but maybe try different colors and configurations and find what your cat likes. Also tightness has a lot to do with it.

mft_ 6y ago

One of our cats removes hers within minutes. She purrs when you put it back on - I think she sees it as a game. :)

aidenn0 6y ago
From what I can tell at least 90% of cats see annoying humans as a game.

birksherty 6y ago

What is the need for collar in animals? To enslave them without their wish, for our needs or their? Do they want them? May be change your location, if can't let them roam freely, not fit for having a pet. Don't make slaves.

adfm 6y ago

We've gone through a lot of collars with our cat and he seems to tolerate the neoprene and velcro type the most. The brand I'm familiar with is Beastie Bands. They're more secure than I imagined and fit loosely without snagging or easily pulling off. Additionally, it seems to generate less matting, which is a plus.

HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago

One of our dogs disappeared for two days. Then on my way home I got a frantic call from my wife that he had come home but his leg was in a bear trap. Turned out to be a coyote trap and there was a plastic link on the chain that attached it to the tree or whatever, that he had chewed through then limped home on three legs. If not for that link, he'd probably have died out there since the person who set it was clearly not checking it every 24 hours as required by law. Luckily he was big enough that the trap couldn't close tightly enough to damage his leg and he was running around fine by the next day.

jjeaff 6y ago
Interesting, is the plastic link meant to make it escapable by animals larger than a coyote?
- HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago
  I don't know. I'd think that a coyote would probably escape the same way if so.
mattmoose21 6y ago
Depending where you live contact information may be required to be permanently attached to the trap. Glad to hear your dog is okay.
- HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago
  Each trap has a unique ID that should be traceable to an owner. We happened to know someone who worked for Animal Control and he was looking into it, but I don't recall how that worked out.

intricatedetail 6y ago

Once on my way from work I saw a cat jumping and catching its collar in the fence and choking. Fortunately I got there quick and released the poor thing.

godelski 6y ago

PSA: Keep your cats inside. They will live longer, healthier, and so will the birds. And if they are indoor make sure they have areas to run around, be sure to play with them (they are a pet! They are your responsibility!), and watch their diet (often people let them get too fat and it takes awhile for cats to lose weight).

mschuster91 6y ago
> and watch their diet (often people let them get too fat and it takes awhile for cats to lose weight). Given the crap that barely passes for industry pet "food" it's hard to keep an indoor animal slim (it's easier for dogs though since us can openers take them out for walks regularly). Pet foods are made to look and smell appealing primary to us can opener humans, not the pets. And dry foods are even worse for cats and dogs - they are used to stuff like grain as small part of the mice and other rodents they naturally eat, not as filler material. PSA: Get your pets high quality food that is similar in composition to what they'd eat in nature and not highly processed crap. You don't diet on frozen pizza, burgers and full sugar soda all year, so please don't feed your pets the equivalent.
- godelski 6y ago
  I agree that you should get them good quality food and not the cheapest, but that doesn't mean "let them hunt and kill birds and mice." Not only does that lead to the decimation of bird populations (cats kill for sport) but your cat will have more health problems as they are much more likely to be exposed to worms, fleas, parasites, and fights. The life expectancy of an outdoor cat is significantly lower than that of an indoor cat. And you are encouraged to take your cats on walks. My friend runs a line across his backyard and attaches the cat's harness to it. She gets to run around and the bell makes birds very aware of her presence. Telling people to keep them inside doesn't mean you don't play with them (I explicitly said the opposite). I should refine that you shouldn't let them roam outside. On a leash is fine. People don't realize this, but you can in fact train cats. My cat does tricks.
gibs0ns 6y ago
Props for bird lives. It's amazing how many people don't realise cats kill for sport, and unlike a dog for example, can't be trained not to do so.