Safety of cat collars

Calver MC, Adams G, Clark W, et al. Assessing the safety of collars used to attach predation deterrent devices and ID tags to pet cats. Animal Welfare 2013;22:95-105.

Many pet cats are occasional or frequent hunters at some time in their lives. Collar-worn predation deterrents are sometimes used to curtail the predatory ability of cats; these include bells, electronic devices, and even brightly colored material ringing the collar. One drawback to the use of these deterrents is the perception that collars cause significant risk to cats through snagging on objects, or by catching their paws or teeth in the collar. This may reduce the use of ID collars. This study assessed the incidence of mishaps involving cat collars in an Australian suburban setting. The investigators defined collar incidents (snagging), collar injuries (requiring veterinary care) and collar death. They surveyed veterinarians as well as owners.
 
Their data indicated that collar-associated injuries or deaths are rare. Among veterinarians, they reported one incident in 2.3 years of practice. Owners reported only one collar injury and no deaths for the lifetime of their cats; however, 27% did experience collar incidents. In contrast, 22% reported cats needing treatment following road accidents, 53% reported cats needing treatment for fighting injuries, and 62% had owned cats killed on the road. Fighting and road hazards are far greater threats to the welfare of cats than ID collars. [MK]
 
See also: Lord LK, Griffin B, Slater MR, et al. Evaluation of collars and microchips for visual and permanent identification of pet cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2010;237:387-394.
 
Related blog posts:
Bells on cat collars to reduce predation (Sept. 2010)
 
More on cat health:
Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Calver MC, Adams G, Clark W, et al. Assessing the safety of collars used to attach predation deterrent devices and ID tags to pet cats. Animal Welfare 2013;22:95-105.

Many pet cats are occasional or frequent hunters at some time in their lives. Collar-worn predation deterrents are sometimes used to curtail the predatory ability of cats; these include bells, electronic devices, and even brightly colored material ringing the collar. One drawback to the use of these deterrents is the perception that collars cause significant risk to cats through snagging on objects, or by catching their paws or teeth in the collar. This may reduce the use of ID collars. This study assessed the incidence of mishaps involving cat collars in an Australian suburban setting. The investigators defined collar incidents (snagging), collar injuries (requiring veterinary care) and collar death. They surveyed veterinarians as well as owners.
 
Their data indicated that collar-associated injuries or deaths are rare. Among veterinarians, they reported one incident in 2.3 years of practice. Owners reported only one collar injury and no deaths for the lifetime of their cats; however, 27% did experience collar incidents. In contrast, 22% reported cats needing treatment following road accidents, 53% reported cats needing treatment for fighting injuries, and 62% had owned cats killed on the road. Fighting and road hazards are far greater threats to the welfare of cats than ID collars. [MK]
 
See also: Lord LK, Griffin B, Slater MR, et al. Evaluation of collars and microchips for visual and permanent identification of pet cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2010;237:387-394.
 
Related blog posts:
Bells on cat collars to reduce predation (Sept. 2010)
 
More on cat health:
Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Bells on Cat Collars

Gordon JK, Matthaei C, van Heezik Y: Belled collars reduce catch of domestic cats in New Zealand by half, Wildlife Research 37:372, 2010.

Domestic cats, both feral and pet, can be significant predators of small wildlife in urban and suburban settings. In many countries, outdoor access for owned cats is common. While belled collars are a simple and inexpensive way to mitigate predatory behavior, public perception is often that they do not work. Researchers in New Zealand investigated the effectiveness of belled collars to reduce prey catches. Thirty households with a total of 45 cats participated in the study, as owners of these cats reported at least one prey catch per cat per week. Cats were assessed for successful predation for 6 weeks with a collar, and 6 weeks without a collar. Cats were divided into two groups with equal proportions of males and females. One group wore the belled collar the first six weeks, the second group wore the collar the second six weeks. Predation of birds was reduced 50%, and of rodents, 61%. Numbers of rats, lizards and insects were not affected. Gender, age, and season did not affect the results. The researchers concluded that belled collars were effective at reducing successful predation. [MK]

Related articles:
Lord LK: Attitudes toward and perceptions of free-roaming cats among individuals living in Ohio, J Am Vet Med Assoc 232:1159, 2008.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Gordon JK, Matthaei C, van Heezik Y: Belled collars reduce catch of domestic cats in New Zealand by half, Wildlife Research 37:372, 2010.

Domestic cats, both feral and pet, can be significant predators of small wildlife in urban and suburban settings. In many countries, outdoor access for owned cats is common. While belled collars are a simple and inexpensive way to mitigate predatory behavior, public perception is often that they do not work. Researchers in New Zealand investigated the effectiveness of belled collars to reduce prey catches. Thirty households with a total of 45 cats participated in the study, as owners of these cats reported at least one prey catch per cat per week. Cats were assessed for successful predation for 6 weeks with a collar, and 6 weeks without a collar. Cats were divided into two groups with equal proportions of males and females. One group wore the belled collar the first six weeks, the second group wore the collar the second six weeks. Predation of birds was reduced 50%, and of rodents, 61%. Numbers of rats, lizards and insects were not affected. Gender, age, and season did not affect the results. The researchers concluded that belled collars were effective at reducing successful predation. [MK]

Related articles:
Lord LK: Attitudes toward and perceptions of free-roaming cats among individuals living in Ohio, J Am Vet Med Assoc 232:1159, 2008.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Cat-Coyote Interactions

Grubbs, SE and Krausman, P.R. Observations of Coyote–Cat Interactions. Journal of Wildlife Management 73(5):683–685; 2009

Coyotes pose a threat to domestic pets in some urban areas. In Tucson, AZ, the Humane Society has a "Safe Cats" campaign to encourage owners to keep cats indoors. These investigators, from the University of Arizona and the University of Montana, examined the interactions between coyotes and cats for four months in the Tucson area. They captured, radio-collared, and tracked eight coyotes. In tracking the coyotes for 790 hours over the four month period, 36 coyote-cat interactions were observed, with 19 involving the killing of a cat. The majority of interactions occurred in residential areas between sunset and sunrise during the pup rearing season. Most involved only one or two coyotes. The authors conclude that pet owners should keep their cats indoors for their protection from urban coyotes. [MK]
>> Article Abstract

Related articles:
Atwood C, Weeks HP, Gehring TM. Spatial ecology of coyotes along a suburban-to-rural gradient. Journal of Wildlife Management 68(4): 1000–1009; 2004.
>> Article Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook

Grubbs, SE and Krausman, P.R. Observations of Coyote–Cat Interactions. Journal of Wildlife Management 73(5):683–685; 2009

Coyotes pose a threat to domestic pets in some urban areas. In Tucson, AZ, the Humane Society has a "Safe Cats" campaign to encourage owners to keep cats indoors. These investigators, from the University of Arizona and the University of Montana, examined the interactions between coyotes and cats for four months in the Tucson area. They captured, radio-collared, and tracked eight coyotes. In tracking the coyotes for 790 hours over the four month period, 36 coyote-cat interactions were observed, with 19 involving the killing of a cat. The majority of interactions occurred in residential areas between sunset and sunrise during the pup rearing season. Most involved only one or two coyotes. The authors conclude that pet owners should keep their cats indoors for their protection from urban coyotes. [MK]
>> Article Abstract

Related articles:
Atwood C, Weeks HP, Gehring TM. Spatial ecology of coyotes along a suburban-to-rural gradient. Journal of Wildlife Management 68(4): 1000–1009; 2004.
>> Article Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook

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