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A cat collar is a piece of material put around the neck of a
cat The cat (''Felis catus''), also referred to as the domestic cat or house cat, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species of the family Felidae. Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the ...
. Cat collars are put on cats by their owners for identification, fashion, protection (as from fleas), restraint, or to warn off prey, and may be worn by cats that are indoor-only as well as cats with outdoor access.


Collar safety

As of 2021, there is ongoing debate about whether standard or breakaway collars (collars that unclasp with the application) are safer, or if cat collars are safe at all. A 2010 study reported on in the
New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
showed that simple buckle collars are actually the safest for cats. Another study from 2013 showed that the dangers to a cat that is lost outside without a collar (or having lost its collar) were substantially greater than the danger of a cat hurting itself on its collar. However, vets and animal welfare organizations continue to primarily recommend breakaway collars, as they present the least risk of a cat injuring itself on a collar.


Types of collars

Typical cat collars may be secured on the neck of the cat via a simple buckle, an elastic strap, or a breakaway buckle. Harnesses may also be used. Elizabeth collars are cones which prevent cats from licking themselves, often used to help cats recover from injury.


Anti-predation collars

Domesticated cats are among the most significant predators of wild birds—being responsible for over a billion bird deaths every year, as well as the extinction of 22 species of bird as of 2015. Anti-predation collars may be used to reduce bird deaths from domesticated cats. These collars may include conspicuous fabrics, colors, and/or bells. A 2013 study reported on in ''
The Atlantic ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher based in Washington, D.C. It features articles on politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 185 ...
'' showed that cats wearing anti-predation collars killed 19 times fewer birds than cats without anti-predation collars.


See also

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Dog collar A dog collar is a piece of material put around the neck of a dog. A Collar (animal), collar may be used for restraint, identification, fashion, protection, or training (although some aversive training collars are illegal in many countries ). Ide ...
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Collar (animal) An animal collar is a device that attaches to the neck of an animal to allow it to be harnessed or restrained. Types of collars Pet collar A piece of material put around the neck of certain pet animals, such as dogs, cats, or pigs, for co ...


References

{{Reflist Cat equipment