As beautiful as felines are in their own catty rights, nothing stands to complement their softness more than elegant cat collars. All pusses look even more adorable when owners dress them in these coat flatterers. Choosing feline collar style, color, and decor is one step in selecting perfect collars. The other steps involve practicality, fit and safety.
Practical Reasons for Collaring Cats
From a practical standpoint, when cats are outdoors, wearing collars tells people cats have humans. When collared cats enter neighboring yards, people who see them may be less likely to catch and keep them or take them to shelters. Likewise, when animal control agencies capture cats, they immediately know cats wearing collars have human homes. Plus, collars are the best place for hanging cat licenses and lost and found information.
Cat Collar Fitting and Safety
Safety issues should be considered before choosing collars. Collars must fit properly and meet cat safety needs. Generally, what makes collars safe for a cat is the type of collar used, the fit of the collar, and the lifestyle of the cat wearing the collar. Therefore, when fitting kitties for collars owners should consider:
* The cat’s age. Cats less than a year old are probably still growing. Just as one would buy shoes that allow for a child’s foot growth, one should buy collars that allow for cats neck and head growth. Therefore, when selecting collars with extension holes and pins, owners should make certain extra holes are available for resizing as cats grow. When sliding extension collars are chosen, there should be a few inches of unused collar space for growth adjustments. When cats are full grown collar adjustments shouldn’t be necessary.
* In addition to allowing for growth adjustments, and regardless of cat age, when fitting a collar, make certain the collar is not tight around the neck, and that the collar can slip over the cat’s head without too much effort. If a cat’s collar gets jammed, the cat must be able to maneuver its head through the collar in order to free itself. This is especially true for outdoor cats that could be caught up climbing trees or jumping fences.
* Some stores allow owners to bring pets along while shopping. If unable to do so, owners can purchase two or three collars of varying sizes, try them on their cats at home, and return collars they don’t need. Another thing to do is measure cats’ heads with flexible measuring tape and let head-size be the guide.
* When choosing collar style, safety considerations can be addressed by choosing collars with “break away” features. Break away features assist cats who find themselves jammed when their collars get stuck. The collars are made with closing clasps that separate when cats apply pressure to them. In this way, if a cat cannot get out of a stuck collar because its head is too big, or for whatever reason, yanking its head back and forth will eventually cause the collar clasps to disconnect. The collar may be lost but the cat will be freed.
The Perfect Cat Collar
After safety and sizing have been addressed, owners can move on to find perfect collars. In choosing that perfect collar, owners will discover that manufactures have incorporated aspects of safety and appearance in designing cat collars. Today’s happy cat owners can dress their cats in fancy cat collars and keep them safe at the same time. For that matter, owners can go beyond “fancy” and actually choose designer cat collars for their furry friends.
Today’s cats can be adorned with collars made of decorative rhinestones resembling diamonds, sapphires, rubies and other gems. They can even dangle matching charms from their collars. Sparkles reflected from these collars may even alert drivers when cats are crossing streets.
Designer cat collars are only one aspect of new age cat collar shopping, however. Now owners can even prissy up their pusses with personalized cat collars. Personalized collars may be embroidered with reflective threads. The embroidery can include information like a cat’s name and emergency phone number in case it gets lost. Decorative emblems such as paws, hearts, and happy faces may be embroidered along personalized collars for more individualized touches.
Another option cat lovers are choosing is electronic cat collars. Electronic cat collars work in conjunction with radio training systems to keep cats safe by limiting their travel areas. These systems may also be used indoors. The collars are lightweight, small, and have elasticity for ease in maneuverability. Electronic collars may be best for keeping cats safe because they may prevent them from leaving their yards.
No matter which type of cat one has – big, small, furry, furless, indoor, or outdoor, today’s cats can be dressed up and kept safe with a single circular neckband.
