Should Cats Wear Bells on Their Collars?

Posted in: Cat Care - Last Updated: May 9, 2023 - Author: Dexter Jones
Posted in Cat Care 
Last Updated: July 29, 2022  
Author:  Dexter Jones

Should a cat wear a collar? This question has been debated by cat owners for a long time. The debate gets even more intense when the subject of collar bells is being discussed. 

Read on to learn more about these two accessories and get an idea of how important they are to your feline.

Should Cats Wear Bells on Their Collars?

should cats wear bells on their collars

Besides the collar, there is also a debate among cat owners on whether or not a cat should wear a bell on its collar. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of cat bells that will help you make an informed decision.  

1. Helps Track Your Cats

Kittens are easy to lose track of as they get into tiny little spaces and oftentimes don't know how to get out. Installing a bell on their collar will help you know exactly their whereabouts in your house and save them immediately as they get stuck.

2. Keeps Bully or Aggressive Cats Away

If you have a cat that's been constantly bullied by other cats in the house, a bell on its collar can be of great help. 

The bell will ring when the bully attacks, making them run away knowing that the owner is about to come to save the victim.

3. Warns Wildlife That There is a Predator Around

When the cat is roaming outside, the ring will let vulnerable potential prey, such as birds and rodents, know that a predator is closing in. 

If your cat is a professional hunter, though, it will know how to walk so the bell is not triggered or causes just a faint sound. 

Some cat owners want to minimize the number of birds and small mammals their cats catch and research done by the RSPB has shown that attaching a tinkly bell to the cat’s collar can help lower reduce the number of birds that cats catch. 

However, please note that Cats Protection advises:” While you might want to attach a dangling item, like a bell or ID tag, this isn't advised. 

Cats are at risk of trapping small items in fences or small areas, often resulting in injury.”

Speaking of cons of bells, the bell's noise might be irritating to sensitive cats and frighten timid cats up to the point where they avoid moving around. 

4. Alerting Large Predators To a Cats Location

On the other hand, many cat owners worry that as well as alerting prey, a bell can actually also alert large predators to a cat’s presence. 

This will actually flip things around with the cat now becoming prey!

Types of Cat Collars Available

cat collar with bell

1. Buckle collar

This collar is equipped with a buckle closure that doesn't release when pulled. 

Only the owner can unbuckle it. 

This makes this collar a bad choice for cats who roam outside without the owner's supervision. If the buckle gets caught on something, becoming a choking hazard and the feline could get hurt while trying to escape.

2. Elastic collar

These safety collars have elastic inserts and are easy to put on and remove. 

If the cat gets caught on an object, the collar expands allowing the cat to slip out of it, yet the help of the owner might still be needed. 

It lowers the risk of strangulation

cat breakaway collar with bell

3. Breakaway collar

This type of collar has a buckle that releases upon being pulled. 

Even a tiny amount of force triggers a quick release. These quick release' collar designs help to avoid injury when the feline gets the collar caught on something.

If like the majority of cats, you let your kitty play outside without your supervision, you are best off putting a breakaway collar around its neck. 

Playful and curious, cats love climbing, jumping, hiding, and exploring mysterious places always at risk of getting stuck. Unlike traditional buckle and elastic devices, the breakaway collar is highly sensitive and releases immediately after the cat begins the struggle to escape.

Please note, that breakaway collars are not made to walk the cat on a leash and keep it under your control. If you want to keep your kitty on a leash, you will have to use a harness. 

The design of the breakaway collar is made to carry only an ID tag.

4. Flea Collar

Flea collars are designed to kill fleas. 

Some collars target only adult fleas, whilst other types of flea collars may kill some of the younger stages of fleas, too. Such as eggs etc.

Some designs repel fleas which is vital as if a flea is repelled, they can't bite and pass on diseases. 

cat bell collar

5. GPS Cat Collar

Yep, it is a nightmare when our furry friends go missing and GPS collars assist us with this. A GPS cat collar is simply a tracking device attached to your cat's collar. 

The GPS company you buy the collar from can follow your cat's unique tracking ID and display the location on a map you can view online or with a smartphone app.

Should Indoor Cats Wear a collar?

You can put a breakaway collar on your cat if you let it explore the outside world on its own from time to time. 

Even if you don't allow your kitty to go outside, it's still recommended to equip them with a collar as they can stealthily escape when you are busy with your household duties. 

Don't forget to attach an ID tag to the collar which includes your contact information. In case your pet gets lost, you will find it easier to get it home.

The disadvantage of breakaway collars is that they come off easily so the cat can lose the ID tag when it gets the collar stuck in a tree branch or picks a fight with a stray cat. 

That is why you might be wiser microchipping your feline. 

A microchip is installed under feline's skin so there is no way it can lose it. If your cat loses its collar, people who find it will scan its microchip and contact you to take your pet home.

Should Cats Wear Bells on Their Collars? Summary

So, should cats wear bells on their collars? In short, no. Cat collar bells are not a vital accessory for domestic cats. 

However, the decision to equip their feline with a bell should be individual to each owner and depend on the cat's personality and circumstances.

About the author

Dexter Jones has been a solid member of the ‘Mad Cat Dad’ club since time began! Dexter has been a keen cat writer for many years and lives in Croatia. He lives with his two tabby cats, Milly & Marly, who also flew in from the UK to start their new Adriatic island life together.

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