Collars on cats still stir emotions – especially when someone posts a photo of a cat with a small, „cute” strap around its neck. Unfortunately, what looks innocent is in practice often one of the most common and most dangerous items in a cat's „starter kit”.
This guide was created in order to explain why collars on cats are risky, what consequences they may carry, what behaviourists and veterinarians say about them, and how to approach the subject of cat identification safely.
👉 In our cattery Kotki Kędziorki*PL we always point out to future owners that The Devon Rex is an indoor breed (read our guide Walking a cat – is it worth it, is it possible? 2 advantages, 6 disadvantages, and 6 tips). And since the cat does not go outside – a collar is completely unnecessary for it.
At the same time the guide has been written so that it can serve everyone, including those who have outdoor cats.
Cats climb… It's their nature. Indoors they go under furniture, into gaps, behind the fridge, on top of the wardrobe. Outdoors, of course, up trees, onto fences, over little fences… A collar can: catch on a branch, a door handle or a cabinet handle, get stuck in a gap, slide off incorrectly and tuck under the armpit, or tighten during a jerk.
These are not rare incidents at all – it is everyday life in veterinary surgeries. Some end in injuries, others unfortunately tragically.
So-called breakaway collars (releasing under load) are certainly safer than ordinary ones. But: they do not always release when they should, they can open… too easily and the cat loses them, and they can still get caught in a way not anticipated mechanically.
It is an improvement in safety, but not the elimination of risk.
Even a well-fitted collar can: cause chafing, collect moisture and dirt, lead to skin inflammations, tear out fur.
In cats with delicate skin (like the Devon Rex) this is particularly common.
All the “add-ons” on collars are problematic:
A cat does not need jewellery, and certainly not the kind that can endanger it.
* Little bells are, unfortunately, quite a popular but harmful accessory. Many people put a collar on a cat „so that it does not catch birds” or „so that it can be heard around the house”. Unfortunately a little bell is one of the the most harmful forms of accessories for cats. Why? A cat hears several times better than a human – a little bell by its head is constant noise for it. Noise is an unpredictable and uncontrollable stimulus – stress-inducing. Additionally the cat moves quiet by nature – taking this possibility away from it is contrary to its species behaviours. And finally – think how you would feel if you had a bell by your ear 24 hours a day…
Many owners put on a collar in good faith:
“If it got out… so that someone would know whose it is.”
“So that it is visible that it is a house cat.”
Unfortunately, in practice this sense of security is illusory, because a collar:
It is not a collar, but care, education and proper securing of the space are what truly increases cats' safety.
A microchip is durable, safe, painless, resistant to damage, invisible and the most effective way to find a cat. It is an absolute standard and a basic element of responsible care.
👉 In our cattery every cat Kotki Kędziorki*PL is permanently marked (precisely by means of a microchip) and registered – before it goes to a new home. Read our dedicated guide entitled „Microchip in a cat – why is it worth it and what does it look like?„
For outdoor cats (although for health and behavioural reasons we definitely do not recommend this!), if you absolutely must, then:
And if you want to mark the cat visibly – you can use an address tag on the harness, but only under supervision and never in “around-the-clock” mode.
If a cat lives in a flat, has a netted balcony, does not go out unsupervised, has no need to be „marked” for the neighbours – then a collar is completely unnecessary for it and only introduces risk.
The Devon Rex – as an extraordinarily human, sensitive and delicate breed – should all the more not wear a collar.
And that is exactly how we educate the owners of cats from our cattery.
We tell all future owners plainly:
✔ our Devons are indoor-only cats,
✔ we do not use collars on any cat*,
✔ we do not send kittens with a collar in the starter kit,
✔ we encourage you to read our guide about indoor cats,
✔ every kitten has a microchip and appropriate registration in the databases.
We want the cats to live long, healthily and without the risk of unnecessary injuries – and giving up collars is one of the simplest but most important decisions in that direction.
* Sometimes in our photos of little kittens you may see colourful collars. In the cattery we use them only on tiny kittens from a single litter that have identical colouring. They are special soft, ultralight and adjustable fabric bands for breeders. We check and adjust them daily (because the little ones grow quickly); of course they make no noise, don't hinder movement and don't strain the neck. Our kittens also wear them only for a short time.
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