Cat Collar with bell 6 November 2017 at 1:26PM in Pets & pet care 16 replies 2K views

rhino_horn

So my nearly 2 year old cat is an extremely efficient hunter.

She brings in approx 1 mouse a day - yesterday she brought in 3!! Two alive and one very much eaten. :eek::eek:

So, before our house is over run with a mouse infestation (we are pretty good at catching and releasing the alive ones - just don't know if we have missed a few) we need to invest in a cat collar with a bell.

I've been given scare stories about cat collars not releasing when they get caught so wondering if anyone has any recommendations? TIA :beer:

sheramber

You can buy elastic ones which expand if caught on anything.

However, a neighbourhood cat arrived in our garden one day with its front leg caught through an elastic collar so maybe not as safe as is made out.

You can get collars with a breakaway clasp which is supposed to open if snagged.

KxMx

The elastic ones are absolutely not safe and I get mad when I see them on sale.

The breakaway clasps are much better.

I keep a stockpile at home for when cat comes in minus collar- happens often lol so they work.

whizzybee

Yep buy them cheap and in bulk, my two had a stock of ten between them and within three weeks lost all of them! Mine are pretty good hunters and we live rurally so the bells don't stop them bringing small creatures back altogether, but does reduce it. Trouble is, many will be settling to hibernate so bell or not, they don't stand a chance . If I spot them with one I try and rescue them but at 39 weeks pregnant, I'm easily outmanoeuvred. As others have said, you will need ones with the breakaway clasps - think our last lot came from amazon and were about £10 for 10 but about to put in another order... They are safer as if the cat catches it, it will break off and shouldn't harm the cat

kathrynha

My cat can catch mice and birds no matter how loud the bell.


We got round the issue of birds and mice in the house by putting her cat box on the inside of the cat flap. She can get in and out of the house and to her food as much as she wants, but she and anything she catches cant get any further unless we let her.

martinthebandit

https://www.woodenart.org.uk/bespoke-outdoor-cat-run-cat-enclosure-cat-pen-bespokecatrun-woodenart

You could always do wildlife a favour

rhino_horn

Thanks all, I know it won't solve the problem but just a reduction would be nice!

teddysmum

You can buy bells from Amazon or places selling sewing essentials for quite a small sum. Amazon even have sets of two or more joined (more expensive) where hitting together could make more noise than a single bell.


Even if it saves just one mouse it's not a huge investment.


My husband's childhood pet cat was evil. She used to put her prey,( dead or alive) under the covers of his sister's bed.

Lilyjade

Apparently bells can make cats better hunters, as they learn to move without the bell making a noise!

Also can you imagine how you would feel if a bell rang near your ears every time you moved, and cats have much better hearing than us.

A refelective or sparkly collar is supposed to be good as the mice can see it and have head start.

Always go for a break away/quick release collar, seen horrific injuries from elastic and buckled ones.

KxMx

Bit of a contradiction there, you say Cats learn to hunt without ringing the bell, but that it rings every time they move!

If a cat is unduly distressed with a belled collar then of course the owner shouldn't persist.

But the majority of cats are not bothered by them, and it's a sensible option for cats who go outside, to help protect wildlife.

No one has claimed a 100% success rate either.

rhino_horn

So we are day 3 of having a collar with a bell. (Breakaway one bought as advised)

And this morning I found an alive mouse behind our kitchen bin which she had obviously brought in overnight.

So clearly not 100% success rate but so far a 66% reduction - better than nothing at least.