Sep072008
Quest for the Best Cat Collar
Filed under Collars & Tags by moderncat at 8:10 pm on Sep 07 2008
Since my cats are indoors only, we don’t wear collars at our house, but if you do let kitty out, a collar is a must. Moderncat reader Miriah was having difficulty finding a collar for her cat. Everything she tried rubbed the fur off and created scabs. Miriah searched high and low and found an adjustable cat safety collar from National Leash. Here is Miriah’s review:
My cat and I came to a resolve when she insisted on being an outdoor cat…a collar. I was using various basic collars until I noticed that she was losing fur around her neck. Other times I found crust (as if she scratched it or it rubbed her too rough).
Since I spoil her with everything I figured it was time to find the best collar. I checked Moderncat and other places and everyone seemed to have collars with hip designs but nothing really to help with irritation when wearing a collar 24/7.
This is the collar I have been looking for. It is light and durable. It doesn’t wrap tightly around her neck but loops around with the ID tag sitting loosely on her chest. It has the breakaway feature so my little huntress doesn’t get caught in anything while on the run. I bought three more. The red with blue and white speckle is adorable.
Her fur is growing back and she is at her happiest…and I have one less thing to worry about
These collars are available at Amazon
1 jmuhjon 07 Sep 2008 at 9:31 pm
For anyone who’s interested, ALL cats are safer wearing breakaway/safety collars; my beloved indoor-only cats all wear them with ID tags. And also for anyone who’s interested, there are a nice variety at http://www.DrsFosterSmith.com online.
And finally, for the safety, health and wellbeing of your cat, KEEP YOUR CAT INDOORS ONLY. No ifs, ands, or buts.
2 Kiion 08 Sep 2008 at 8:38 am
A lot of the reviews on Amazon say the break-away doesn’t actually break away and that the aluminum adjusters are sharp and can catch a cat’s claw. Is this your experience?
3 Jon Sallquiston 09 Sep 2008 at 7:54 pm
Thanks for posting one of our collars on your site. We review the comments on Amazon and try to make adjustments to our products based on those reviews. Up until the past few months, we did not make the breakaway feature and were getting quite a few complaints of the collars getting caught and not coming off. Since then we have added the plastic breakaway nib and the complaints have stopped. Some have complained that the breakaway nib disconnected too easy…so we tightened it up. We have also been making the slider a little tighter. As to sharp metal edges, we only read one complaint and that was from a person who did not actually use the collar. We have made hundreds on these collars and the vast majority of our customers like them. For those few who don’t, we have a full money back guarantee. Thanks again, Jon at National Leash
4 Miriahon 10 Sep 2008 at 12:05 pm
Hi! Upon reading the comments posted I felt I needed to follow up.
*No jagged anything on the metal ring (It’s like a typical key ring).
*Definitely releases if she gets caught…. perhaps it is because I have the latest version (see manufacturers comment).
*Lastly, I noticed this posted and wanted to comment on it as I read this a lot: “for the safety, health and well being of your cat, KEEP YOUR CAT INDOORS ONLY. No ifs, ands, or buts.”
Granted, I use to agree to the above statement but upon seeing the absolute pleasure that arises when my cat goes outside I had to reconsider.
Yes, I believe that indoor cats are obviously safer as they generally are not exposed to any of the basic outdoor obstacles (Weather, animals, people, cars, etc.). Yet when it comes to well being, My cat has never been happier and fitter then when she gets that breath of fresh air. She hides in our tomato plants waiting for birds to come out so she can pounce. She climbs trees and sleeps in them. She doesn’t need a litter box, she prefers dirt. She is complete. She is satisfied… and it’s worth every nail biting moment when she hasn’t come home quick enough.
I know that statistically Indoor cats live longer then Outdoor cats. Yet, it is the decision I made a long time ago. That she gets to experience life to her fullest even it means obstacles, dangers, and worries… my purpose is to be her protector and her defender but not her captor. She is not my pet, she is my friend and companion, and this is her life too.
So with all that said, I wish we would stop discouraging outdoor activity for cats, for any animals. How can we begin argue against something as fundamental as Sunlight, fresh air and grass? How can I deprive an animal of that which I could never deprive myself (i.e. except chocolate). I wish we rather, discussed ways of making our individual outdoor areas safer. For example, my backyard is cat proofed. My backyard also has a lot of activity so Molly very rarely desires to breech further (One side of the yard is mice friendly, the other bird friendly.) I have also circled my neighborhood so I know where my cat can go and in the event of an emergency which neighbor’s yards I might need to access too, etc.
p.s.: I live in Brooklyn.. not suburbia. I by no means am trying to promote outdoor cat activity for ALL cats. I just don’t agree that ALL cats should be indoor cats.
5 Connieon 11 Sep 2008 at 6:20 am
Great post, Miriah.
People don’t even keep their kids indoors all the time and they, too, are in danger when leaving the safety of their homes. The question whether to let a cat out or not depends on individual circumstances and there are a lot of ifs, ands and buts.
6 Phoebeon 11 Sep 2008 at 9:51 am
I am a cat lover, but I don’t think they should be allowed to be loose outdoors. The commentor above talks about the happiness of her cat, but what about the creatures her cat preys on? Why should cats be allowed to prey on birds and other small animals? No one would argue that dogs should be allowed to run free to kill rabbits and squirrels. Why is it okay for cats?
7 Michaelon 10 Oct 2008 at 7:15 pm
i wanted to comment on the indoor/outdoor cat question. i used to keep my cats indoor since i lived on a fairly busy street but after a move i decided to try leaving them outdoors.
at first i was very tentative (as were they) but i would let the cats out in the backyard and sit & read while they explored but soon they were off on their own & returning with (dead) songbirds.
so that’s my only advice is don’t let them out until after dark so that they won’t kill all of the birds in the neighborhood.
8 Annon 20 Nov 2008 at 9:58 am
This collar is so close to what I’m looking for!!… only I wish it were in leather. Visiting the shop on Amazon, the color versions have those silly patterns in them. Why not just a plain, sky blue leather strap?
If I can’t figure out how to make my own, I’ll probably get this one though. I love the simplicity of it, and I love that it won’t tangle in kitty’s long fur.