Q: Why should my cat wear a breakaway cat collar?

A: Cats, being naturally curious, can get themselves into some really tight spots. A breakaway cat collar is designed to snap open quickly if it gets caught on something. So if your cat is in danger - hooked on a tree branch, snagged on a fence, caught on a window latch - she can break free and live to chase another mouse.

If your cat wears a collar, please make sure it's a breakaway collar. But please be aware that some breakaway collars aren't safe. We tested one brand that we could barely pull apart ourselves - how is a cat supposed to get out of it?

Q: What is the safest cat collar?

A: The safest cat collar is one with a breakaway clasp that snaps open under pressure to release your cat if caught on something. This is the type of cat collar recommended by most animal welfare organisations and the only type we would put on our own cats. These are called breakaway cat collars, quick-release cat collars or snap-open cat collars. But please be aware that some cat collars called breakaway or quick-release actually aren't, and could endanger your cat's life.

Q: Why should my cat wear a personalised cat collar?

A: Proper identification greatly increases the chances of your cat being returned to you. A personalised cat collar makes it easy for you to be contacted because your phone number is printed directly on the collar. It's a great alternative to a cat tag which some cats find annoying and which can fall off the collar.

Q: My cat is an indoor cat. Does she need a personalised cat collar?

A: We think so. An indoor cat that escapes from the house is much more likely to become frightened, disoriented and lost, so it's extremely important that she wears identification.

Q: My cat is an outdoor cat. Does he need a personalised cat collar?

A: We think so. Even the most streetwise cat can get lost and most cats find an open car or van simply irresistible. We keep reading about cats that have hitched a ride and ended up many miles from home. So it's very important that he wears identification.

Q: My cat is microchipped. Does he need a personalised cat collar?

A: We think so, for these reasons:
- Many people assume that a cat without a collar is a stray.
- Many people are not aware of microchipping.
- Some people do not have the means (cat carrier and car) to safely transport a cat to a vet to be scanned.
- It is sometimes not possible to scan for a microchip if a cat is badly injured. Some vets will only operate on an injured cat if they have been able to contact the owners.
- Microchips can move or fail.

Remember to update your cat's microchip details if you move house or change phone numbers. Ask your vet to check your cat's microchip on every visit.

A personalised cat collar makes it easy for you to be contacted if your cat is lost or injured.

Q: If my cat has a personalised cat collar, does she still need to be microchipped?

A: Yes! Your cat might might lose his collar or someone might remove it, so microchipping is extremely important.

Q: Should I put my cat's name on his collar?

A: You can, but it's much more important to include your contact details and any critical medical information.

Q: Can I put a dog collar on my cat?

A: No! It wouldn't be safe. Dog collars are designed to stay on (for use with a lead), but cat collars need to be able to come off in an emergency.

Q: Can I use a cat collar with a lead?

A: No! Breakaway cat collars are designed to snap open under pressure, so they must never be used with leads! Cat harnesses are designed for this purpose.

Q: Can I put one of your cat collars on my puppy / toy dog / small dog?

A: Some people put our cat collars on their puppies / toy dogs/ small dogs, but this is for identification purposes only, never for use with a lead. Breakaway cat collars are designed to snap open under pressure, so they must never be used with leads.

Q: My cat wears a cat flap magnet. Can I attach it to one of your collars?

A: Most cat flap magnets have a small ring that you can attach to a D-ring on one of our collars. If the collar you are ordering doesn't have a D-ring, ask us to add one in the Special Instructions section of the Shopping Basket. Also, please let us know if you don't want the bell.

Q: My cat won't wear a collar. What can I do?

A:
1) Make sure the collar is not too tight and not too loose. For a comfortable and safe fit, you should be able to fit only two fingers comfortably under the collar.
2) Try removing the bell. Usually it's the bell that the cat dislikes, not the collar.
3) Try one of our personalised cat collars which are made of really soft nylon, only 1 cm wide and extremely comfortable.
4) Let your cat get used to his collar indoors where you can keep an eye on him, and perhaps give him his favourite treat.

Q: My cat keeps losing his collar. What can I do?

A: Your cat might be getting into tight spots and the collar is coming off as it is designed to. Or, your cat might be pulling the collar off because he finds it uncomfortable or annoying. See "My cat won't wear a collar" above.

Q: At what age can a kitten wear a collar?

A: 6 months and only if the collar fits properly. The smallest adjustment on all of our collars is about 20 cm which tends to fit from about 6 months, but it depends on the size and breed. For your kitten's safety and comfort, you must wait until the collar fits properly. With kittens, you should be able to fit only 1 to 2 fingers (flat) between the collar and the neck. For adults, the guideline is 2 fingers (flat). We haven't found a safe collar for younger/smaller kittens.

Kittens grow very quickly, so check the collar weekly and adjust as needed.

Our personalised cat collars are wonderful for kittens 6+ months because they're so soft and comfortable, and there's no need for a cat tag.

It's a good idea to get your kitten used to wearing a collar before she starts going outside, but only when the kitten is at least 6 months old and the collar fits properly.

The Feline Advisory Bureau has published an excellent article on kitten care which includes a section on collars.

Q: At what age can my kitten go outdoors?

A: If you decide to let your kitten go outdoors, please wait until she is at least 6 months old, fully vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. She will also need a cat flap and an indoor litter tray.

Q: Do you sell flea collars for cats?

A: No, because the safest and most effective flea control is available only from veterinarians.

To learn about the potential dangers of cat flea collars and find out how to get rid of fleas safely, please see this article from the Feline Advisory Bureau:
http://www.fabcats.org/owners/fleas/info.html

We could probably make a lot of money selling flea collars for cats, but we don't because we love cats!

Q: Help! My cat keeps killing birds!

A: The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) recommends:
- keeping cats indoors when birds are most vulnerable: at least an hour after sunrise and at least an hour before sunset, and also after bad weather, such as rain or a cold spell, to allow birds to come out and feed.
- using a quick-release collar (all of our collars are quick-release) with a bell. A recent study suggests that this may reduce predation of birds, and may reduce predation of mice and voles, too.

Some of our customers tell us that two bells work better than one. Apparently, cats can learn to control one bell when stalking prey but find it more difficult to control two. We supply double bells free of charge. When placing an order, state "double bells" in the Special Instructions section of the Shopping Basket.

Q: My cat doesn't like bells. Can I order a collar without?

A: Of course! A lot of cats (including ours) don't like bells. Simply state "no bells" in the Special Instructions section of the Shopping Basket.

Q: What is the best cat collar?

A: The best cat collar is soft and comfy, has a quick-release clasp for safety, and has your phone number permanently dyed into the fabric, making it easy for people to contact you. We've just described our personalised cat collar shown below!