![]() ![]() If your cat is an outdoor cat, she may be far from home, and her predicament might not be noticed in time by a helpful bystander. Cats may compound their injuries in their struggle to get free. Collars can slip over a cat’s lower jaw, or get hung up on a tooth. A cat scratching an ear can get a paw or leg caught up in a collar. What if your cat gets stuck somewhere and simply cannot release himself?Įqually horrifying, cats can get their own body parts stuck in a collar. Bells and tags are notorious for catching on things. Even breakaway collars can fail.Ĭats have also simply gotten stuck. Cats have been strangled to death by their own collars. The main argument against putting a collar on your cat is that collars can (and do) cause injury and death.Ĭats, who climb, slither, leap, and squeeze themselves everywhere, can get their collars hung up on branches, caught in hedges, or stuck on fences. (*Note: as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) Īn even better way to keep birds safe from cats Cats fitted with a bell delivered 48% fewer prey “presents” to their owners than cats without bells. Ī small 2006 study published in the Journal of Zoology came to a similar conclusion. A 2010 study published in Wildlife Research showed that predation of birds and rodents in New Zealand could be reduced by 50% and 61%, respectively, if outdoor cat collars were fitted with a bell. Just putting a little tinkly bell on a cat collar saves lives. ![]() They pollinate plants, spread seeds, control insects, and even help protect the environment from the effects of climate change. The death of so many songbirds is a tragedy, and not just because it’s sad to think about so much loss.īirds, according to scientist Pete Marra, the head of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, and author of the book Cat Wars: The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer, are essential to our ecology. It’s believed that housecats have contributed to the extinction of 63 species of birds, mammals and reptiles in the wild. This video demonstrates how the mechanism works.Īccording to the American Bird Conservancy, outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds in the U.S. The breakaway mechanism does exactly what the name says it does: it causes the collar to snap open under pressure. The safest collars today come with a breakaway mechanism to help prevent cats from getting hung up on branches, or getting a body part stuck in the collar. We’ll discuss this point of view in a moment.īut assuming that you choose your cat collars wisely, and fit them properly, a cat collar can be quite safe. One of the concerns about cat collars is that they can be unsafe. If your cat escapes with a collar and tags, the hope is that someone will find her and call you.Ĭat collars are safer than they’ve ever been They’re unlikely to know how to protect themselves from the elements, or hunt and scavenge for food, like their savvier outdoor cousins. Indoor cats simply aren’t as worldly as outdoor cats. In the rare circumstance that your home is damaged due to an event like a hurricane or house fire, your cat may be forced to leave.Īn indoor cat who gets outside isn’t on equal footing with cats who regularly spend time outdoors. Even cats who love the living-room life can slip through an open door or a broken screen and make a run for it.Įven cats who would never willingly leave the house could find themselves unexpectedly outdoors. ![]()
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