Question:
My six-month-old kitten Lucy absolutely refuses to wear a collar. Every time we put one on her, she goes absolutely mental, running around and acting bananas.
I’ve not been brave enough to let her outside yet, as I don’t want to let her out without a collar. I’m also not sure how to go about letting her outside without her running off. Can you help?
Meri-ann
Answer:
Meri-Ann,
I can totally relate to this experience, both of my cats reacted in a similar way when I first put collars on them. Don’t worry, they do get used to it, it just takes a bit of practice and pussycat psychology…
Start by making the collar a bit bigger so you can quickly slip it over her head and only leave it on for a few minutes so she can get used to the feeling of it. Start playing a game or feeding her straight away so she is distracted. Next time, leave it on a bit longer and keep repeating this until she doesn’t react.
You can then adjust the collar to the right size — not so loose that she can get it off, not so tight that it strangles her: you should be able to get a few fingers underneath it. Cat collars also have an elasticised section, so if it’s caught on something, it has enough give that your cat can wriggle free. You’ll have to expect to lose a collar occasionally. My neighbours used to find Scooter’s and put it in my letterbox!
It is important your kitten wears a collar with an ID tag, with her name, your contact number (preferably a mobile you have with you all the time) and your vet’s number on the back in case of emergencies. A bell is also a good idea to protect wildlife.
On the subject of going out, let her out for short periods when you are out with her to supervise and gradually she can stay out longer once she gets to know her territory (so she doesn’t get lost). Start by only letting her out when she’s hungry, so she doesn’t wander far and will come when called for dinner.
Always reward her with food and praise when she comes when you call her name. This teaches her it’s worthwhile returning home! She might get into a few scraps while trying to get her own piece of territory, so listen out for cat noises and call her in before dark. Cats fight more at night.
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