Test Kitten Collars

Test that safety kitten collar!

1. Test the buckle.
Most Kitten collars now come with a safety feature built in – either a “breakaway” buckle, elastic stretching portion, or an entire collar made of elastic material.  These designs are intended to allow a cat who is caught on an object to twist and safely slide out of the collar. However, it is important to test the collar you purchase. How easily does the buckle come undone? If your cat gets caught and hangs, will it function as it should?
For collars that stretch, is it enough of a stretch that it will easily slide off over your cats head but — and this is SO IMPORTANT — can also be tight enough so your cat can not get his/her lower jaw under the collar, and get stuck? See step #2 for how to reduce this risk!
2. Test the fit
The rule of thumb – or fingers really – is snug enough so you can just slide two fingers under the collar. Too loose and it is too easy for a cat to get their mouth under the collar. And we have seen cats that have gotten their jaw stuck who panicked and severely mangled their face with their front and back claws drying to “escape” from a collar that was partially choking them! Cats – especially kittens – are amazingly flexible. That is why step #3 is so important too.
3. Test your cat
Please, please, please, do not put a collar on a cat and leave them unsupervised. Even if the cat seems fine at first and ignores the collar, as they move around, try to eat or drink, lie down, or play, they may suddenly become bothered by this new thing around their neck and try to get it off. WATCH YOUR CAT CLOSELY FOR THE FIRST HOUR and then if you can no longer have your eyes on your cat, take the collar off. Put it back on only when you’ll be able to see immediately if your cat gets his jaw stuck or goes into a panic to get the collar off. Gradually build up the amount of time your cat spends in the collar. If you notice your cat still trying to chew on or get his/her jaw under the collar, even after several days of building up how long he/she has been wearing it, your cat may be one of the few cats who can not safely wear a collar.