Suddenly Doesn't Want To Wear Collar Anymore

TobiDaDog

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When I found Reese back in July, one of the reasons why we thought that she may have been someone's pet was that she never protested a collar. Every other kitten that I've ever encountered had to get used to it first. They flipped and flopped and tried to lick it off. Not Reese. She didn't even notice that it was there. We figured she must have worn one at some point. She's always been excellent about wearing her collar.

Which is so odd, because this past week she just wants it OFF! She gets her teeth under it and chews on the buckle until it comes off. I can keep it on her for a while, but the next thing I know I'm hearing that plastic creaking under her teeth again. :yelling:

It's a breakaway of course, so I'm not too worried about her getting her jaw caught in it or anything, but I don't understand why she has suddenly decided to reject the collar that she's worn for five months?! The collar is a bit worn out because it was cheaply made (just something I picked up from the local grocery store one day) and it's NOT too tight.

In our neighborhood we leave doors unlocked. If a pet gets out, a total stranger will come and put your pet back in for you if you're not home. It's just common courtesy where we live. It's very nice, but they need the address on the tag to do so. It's a lot faster than taking them to the vet to get their chip scanned!

I've been waiting for a new custom made collar and tag to come in the mail recently and I don't want her chewing it up or feeling uncomfortable. Little diva.
 

FeebysOwner

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Hi. It could just be because the collar is worn, and she is feeling that it is coming apart. Maybe if there are pieces coming off, she can feel them - sort of like a human can when a hair has fallen from your head and is laying on your arm??
 

DreamerRose

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Reese may be very, very tired of that collar. When I got Mingo from the humane society, he was wearing a break-away collar. It had a tiny bell on it, and I loved it because I knew where he was all the time. A year later, he started scratching it until it broke off. I kept putting it back on, but he scratched it off again. I found it lying around the house everywhere.

I finally stopped putting it back on him when I realized he really didn't like it. It must have been irritating his skin, although I routinely checked to make sure it wasn't too tight. Now, a couple of years later, he has a ring of white hairs around his neck. So it really must have been irritating him. He doesn't have any white hairs anywhere else.

Maybe the collar is irritating Reese, too.
 

danteshuman

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I take all bells off cat collars because cats have excellent hearing and it must bug them. Perhaps a collar without tags (your street address written or embroidered on it?)The same reason I never made my cats wear tags. The jingling bugs them.

Since she used to wear it without complaint I would get her a new nicer collar. I would also let her go without a collar for a couple of weeks to heal up any irritation that might be there.

Can you find a way to keep her inside? I used penny cans to train my past cats to not rush the front door. It worked! Much how I hate scaring them; it beats them sneaking out. They learned to wait 3 feet from the door. Years later I could have the front door open and they would sit by the door.... if they got to close I would say their name in a warning tone, they would look guilty and scurry away from the door a foot or two (or walk slowly away with a pout then come ask for snuggles.)

With my current kitten I open the door a crack and pick my kitten up before he crosses the doorway. I'm making him a penny can to train him to stop that.

:goodluck:
 
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TobiDaDog

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I take all bells off cat collars because cats have excellent hearing and it must bug them. Perhaps a collar without tags (your street address written or embroidered on it?)The same reason I never made my cats wear tags. The jingling bugs them.

Since she used to wear it without complaint I would get her a new nicer collar. I would also let her go without a collar for a couple of weeks to heal up any irritation that might be there.

Can you find a way to keep her inside? I used penny cans to train my past cats to not rush the front door. It worked! Much how I hate scaring them; it beats them sneaking out. They learned to wait 3 feet from the door. Years later I could have the front door open and they would sit by the door.... if they got to close I would say their name in a warning tone, they would look guilty and scurry away from the door a foot or two (or walk slowly away with a pout then come ask for snuggles.)

With my current kitten I open the door a crack and pick my kitten up before he crosses the doorway. I'm making him a penny can to train him to stop that.

:goodluck:
I've already ordered her a new one, this one is supposed to be much better quality. I don't put bells on mines' collars! I had a cat years ago that swallowed one and nearly died from it. Never again. And I can count my lucky stars that Reese never wants to go outside. She's not interested in going outside at all. (Quite unlike Sir and his door darting butt) But I like to take any precautions I can in case she decides to get a wild hair one day.

Especially since I once had a nasty, nasty run in with a shelter over my dog not having a tag on his collar. I'm guessing it had just broken off, but he wasn't wearing one when he was brought in. I actually battled with the shelter for two weeks straight to get my dog back and eventually had to involve the police.
 

kittyluv387

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Some cats just wont do collars. :/ My youngest boy will take them off of himself and the other cats! But they're all microchipped so there wouldn't be a mix up.
 
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