Cat not accepting collar

catieeb06

Hi,

We've had our cat for a little over 2 years and never put a collar on her. We tried to last night (long story but we suspect that she's making a 2nd home elsewhere so we want her to look like she's got an owner)

Anyway, we bribed her with some of her favourite foods last night whilst we put the collar on her, only once she realised it was on she quite literally went ape. She was trying to scratch at it, biting it etc. She really didn't like it. Before we put it on her we'd taken the bell off it so she wouldn't be annoyed by it. When she came into our room this morning she'd scratched her neck raw. She'd had a scab on it from a previous neighbourhood cat fight a couple of days before.

I've read online that it's quite literally a battle of wills and eventually she will accept it but i'm not so sure.

Any help/advice/tips? x

TBagpuss

one option would be to put it on for short periods at a time, while you are with her. distract and reward her with treats, games, whatever she likes.

Stay in the same room with her and intervene when she starts strching.

After a short period, take the collar off.

Do the same the next day, gradually increasing the time.

It may help to get a feliway diffuser or similar and use this in the room you are in trying the collar on.

It may not be successful but you should be able to ensure that she does not scratch herself sore.

It's also worth considering what the collar smells like. I had an issue with one of my cats where he had worn a collar with no issues, then when I replaced he he suddenly stated scratching and was very upset by it. I hung it up in a window getting lots of fresh air and sunlight for a week, then made it into my bed every day for a week so it smelled of me, and tried again. No issues at all. I don't know what it was about that specific collar, but it may be worth looking at other designs to see whether there is one your cat may be more comfortable with.

catieeb06

She did seem fine when we were distracting her with food. When she realised it was on her face was almost comical if what happened afterwards hadn't been so upsetting.

It's a good tip though, think we will wait for her neck to heal a little more and have a go again this weekend for a few minutes at a time. Will keep it close to me as well to see if that helps.

rising_from_the_ashes

Sorry but cat collars are a really bad idea - have a google and see some of the horrific injuries they can get. It does sadly happen all too frequently

A better option would be to put a paper collar on with something like 'I have an owner & require medication daily'

The collar should hopefully deter someone else feeding her but come off easily if needed

Lily-Rose_3

catieeb06 wrote: »

Hi,

We've had our cat for a little over 2 years and never put a collar on her. We tried to last night (long story but we suspect that she's making a 2nd home elsewhere so we want her to look like she's got an owner)

Anyway, we bribed her with some of her favourite foods last night whilst we put the collar on her, only once she realised it was on she quite literally went ape. She was trying to scratch at it, biting it etc. She really didn't like it. Before we put it on her we'd taken the bell off it so she wouldn't be annoyed by it. When she came into our room this morning she'd scratched her neck raw. She'd had a scab on it from a previous neighbourhood cat fight a couple of days before.

I've read online that it's quite literally a battle of wills and eventually she will accept it but i'm not so sure.

Any help/advice/tips? x

Doesn't sound good if she has 'scratched her neck raw.' Hopefully it's not as bad as it seems/looks. In my experience, they DO get used to collars. We had a rescue cat that was a year old when we had her, and she'd never had a collar on. She rawked at it for a few hours and kept rolling around trying to get it off, and she did seem to be in distress which worried us. But within 24-36 hours, I don't think she even noticed it. Same goes for all the other cats we have ever had over the last 15 years.

Contrary to what the above poster says, I am not aware of collars causing horrific injuries. There are a myriad of safety collars you can get that will release/slip off quickly, should they get their neck caught.

https://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=pfIqVISmE8Kq8wfDz4HoAg#q=safety+collar

I think a collar is important (as is a microchip,) as you can put a bell on, to scare off birds, so they can't catch them, a tag with the owner's name (and a phone number,) and also you can let people know (as you want to,) that your cat is owned.

Going back to your original question, I think kitty will be fine in a day or so. Just bear with it.

Air_Cooled_75

I have a cat (2 actually but one hardly goes out) who is a bit of a bird murderer. I have put countless quick release collars with bells on her. I know she visits 2 other houses and I think the 2nd 2nd house (if that makes sense) was taking the collars off. I know the next door but one neighbours wouldn't do it. Recently she has been spending most of her time with me, I think this coincides with LO starting school, but she is microchipped. I understand what you're saying about having a visual deterrent, so to speak, to anyone else.

Molly wasn't keen on collars but she didn't have such an extreme reaction. As others have said perhaps try just a few minutes at a time and gradually build it up. Have it really loose too while she is with you for those couple of minutes and maybe try different fabrics etc? I'm a bit clueless as my previous two cats were house cats, apart from sunbathing in the garden as OAPs

meritaten

I don't use a collar - but my cat is confined to the house and garden. previous cat was too. First cat Timmy - well, putting a collar on him was futile............I think he just took them off and binned them or something. he never, ever, returned home wearing a collar. tried them all - nothing stayed on him.

Babbawah

I tried a collar on one of my cats for similar reasons, someone in the neighbourhood was feeding & sheltering him, often for several weeks !

Eventually . . . I ended up putting 'missing cat' type posters on all the local lamposts & soon got to meet his alternative family.

If the cat won't take to a collar then don't force the issue.

I learned that I didn't actually own him, he was his own man who chose to live with me some of the time.

gettingready

re reaction - you did not use any "flea collar" or a Bob Martin product as a collar?