How to Train a Cat to Wear a Collar

Cats who go outside should wear a collar, it marks them as being owned. As well you can put an identification tag on the collar, or a bell which might warn birds to escape (not always).

Select a collar that is the right size for your cat, it needs to be just snug enough that you can get 2 fingers underneath. If your cat is a kitten, be sure to check for growing room and expand the collar as needed.

Pick a collar that is cat safe, meaning it will break, or open, if the cat has managed to get it stuck on a tree branch, otherwise it could choke the cat.

It is much easier to teach a kitten to accept a collar than it is to teach an older cat who has never worn one, but it can be done.

Put the collar on your frisky feline and immediately distract him, or her, with treats, food, and toys. In this way they may notice the collar but be so occupied with other things they leave it alone. If you feed your cat canned cat food, the best time to put the collar on is right before feeding your cat.

Do not let the cat out for a few days during this training stage, or they may lose the collar outside.

Every time the cat removes the collar put it back on, check to see if it is not too loose. If you can you may remove the bell and tags for a day or so, just to prevent them from making the cat fuss more.

When the cat accepts the collar and keeps it in on the house for a few days, if you let your cat outside, you probably can let it out after this time.

Image via Wikipedia - shows a safe break-away collar.

Tips on Training a Cat to Wear a Collar

• Do not ever use flea collars, not only are they fairly ineffective against fleas, they have been linked to causing the deaths of many cats and dogs.
• If your cat goes missing do not assume that somebody will check the collar to see who it belongs to. Do not assume the collar will stay on. You should report the cat missing and say it “may” be wearing a collar – note the collar of collar too. People may not remember seeing a black cat, but they may remember seeing a black cat with a red collar.
• Just because your cat is trained to wear a collar does not mean you can walk it on a collar, cats will pull out of collars easily, to train them for walking you should use a harness and train inside the house first.
• Even some indoor only cats wear collars, that way if they do slip out they have identification.
• If your cat is a kitten be sure to check the collar regularly to make sure it has not become too tight.
• Never catch a cat by its collar, it will often just pull back and run away.
• Only use Safety Cat collars on cats, never use a dog collar.

Other Links for Cat Owners

Why are Kittens being Killed?

How to Control Hairballs in Cats

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