Does My Cat Need A Collar?
There is no law to suggest they do, but what is your first reaction if you see a cat without a collar? Ours would be to think that it was maybe a stray or was in trouble.
You don’t want people thinking this about your cat. Admittedly, many can lose their collar when out exploring, and others really don’t like wearing them. But a collar shows they are loved and have a home to go to.
Even indoor cats should have a collar, on the off chance that they do escape. The likelihood is that they wouldn’t be able to return home themselves, so it could help them be reunited with you.
If your cat often explores during the evenings and overnight, a reflective collar could go way beyond helping to identify them, and could actually be a necessary safety precaution.
Are Flea Collars Safe?
There is a large debate over both the effectiveness and safety of flea collars for cats. For this reason, the one we have included is the Seresto Flea and Tick Control Cat Collar, which has been legally approved and requires strict usage but is safe for cats.
Most experts do not recommend flea collars, as they can cause reactions on your cat’s skin. They work by either releasing fumes and gases which are toxic to the fleas, or by releasing chemicals onto the skin of your cat.
These smell unpleasant, and if they happened to be ingested through grooming, they could make your cat very ill. This includes symptoms such as sickness, trouble breathing and weakness. Depending on how sensitive your animal is to the chemicals, this could eventually lead to paralysis and even death.
Plus, many are left on way beyond their effectiveness, and usually, are not the best collars in terms of safety aspects or reflectiveness for your cat. Then there is the fact that most veterinarians argue they don’t even work, just keeping fleas off the head of your cat.
Do Cats Need An ID Tag?
Unlike dogs, where a form of identification is a requirement by law when they are out in public, cats aren’t obliged to have a tag on their collar.
Even if you do choose to give them an ID tag, it is still a good idea to get them microchipped. This way, if the tag and collar fall off when they are out, there is still a method in which they can be identified.
This would also be a great idea if your cat always loses their collar or tag and you don’t want to keep having to buy another – the cost of a chip could be a lot cheaper in the long run. A really good form of cat tag is the small barrel holders which can hold more information in regards to addresses and telephone numbers, and are less likely to become damaged.
Tags can still be a great backup, however, especially if your cat doesn’t like being held or put into a crate – whoever finds your lost cat would have to do this in order to get your cat to the vet and get the chip scanned after all.