Escaping MC and Collars?

**catslave** · 15th August 2011, 01:44 AM

Sorry, this is two questions really but related so thought best in one thread.

Firstly, Buddy has become very headstrong of late and has turned into the feline Houdini. He wants to be outdoors and lose to roam. He's been done so its not that he is after that. No matter how careful I am he still manages to get out as and when he wants. Earlier I sat here feeling really chuffed that I had kept him in today when low and behold there was a now rather familiar scratching at the front door ... and yep he wanted to come in. The only window open was on the second floor and I didn't think it wide enough for a normal cat to through let alone a coonie, and its a sheer drop of about 30 feet to the ground so no cat could jump that. The only thing I can think of is that he is physically climbing down the brickwork. I saw him do this yesterday from the kitchen roof when he got a bit stuck when he escaped to chase a seagull up there (pic in another thread), but that's ground floor :s Can anyone offer any advice on this please? As you know Buddy is rescue and I am aware that he was previously living rough, and before that was allowed out at will. Should I keep him in? Or would it be better for him, given that I live on a very quiet road with about 2 cars a day passing to let him out? I'm getting quite worried that if I don't let him live as he wishes that one day he will escape and not come back. He is micro chipped. When he goes out I always find him in the same place, he is always in the graveyard about 20 meters from my house. Some of you know his story but I believe (and am checking) that his previous owner is buried there .....

This brings me on to my second question - collars? Given the above and his unmentionable "lodgers" recently (fingers crossed all evicted); I decided to buy him a flea collar with bells and id tags. Looking through the Gallery I don't see many other MC's wearing collars. Normally I hate them but after speaking to our Vet I bought one from the Reception. Silly idea. There is no way a standard cat flea collar was ever going to fit a 10 and a bit kg MC was there? The vet ordered some for me and put one him this evening, with bell and tags. He hated having it put on and tbh I hated the look, his mane was all flattened but I would be able to hear him, and others would know he had an owner who loved him very much. I had put on the ID tag "Don't give me cat food I have Medical Problems" along with contact details. It took him all of 4 hours to get out, kill the collar, lose the id tag and bell and offer the dead collar to me as prey! What are others thoughts / experiences with collars on MC's? Buddy is now on my bed and my door and window are locked and I've put another collar on him. Got a strange feeling it will be in my shoes by morning (that's where he likes to leave his little pressies like worms, frogs, *shudders* spiders etc - think he knows I'm not a morning person)

Any thoughts very very welcome x

**NekoChan** · 15th August 2011, 02:01 AM

None of mine are allowed outside because I live in the city and it is way too dangerous between cars, poison bait, dogs, coyotes/foxes and feral cats. I still have all my cats wear collars even though they are indoor only because I am afraid of them getting loose/lost.
It can be difficult for them to get used to wearing a collar if they are not but they do get used to it eventually. I don't use flea collars though because I've read they can be toxic to cats. I use Advantage Multi for fleas/ticks.

For their collars I usually like to use either embroidered collars with my info on them, or Beastie Bands and Boomerang Tags Collartags which are flat tags that sit on the collar like a nametag so there is nothing hanging from their collars. I do use a hanging tag for one cat I have who has severe food allergies.
I have also use a really thin collar for my Maine Coon so it doesn't flatten down her fur, I got it from Amazon here:
Amazon.com: National Leash Company - Home & Kitchen: Home & Garden

This is one of the embroidered collars, I got it from K9 Closet:

This is the tag I have for my cat with allergies:
(he's wearing the legwarmer due to allergies too, to keep him from removing a bandage over the spot he chewed his skin)

It says
MEDIC ALERT
DO NOT FEED
RX DIET ONLY

The other side says:
NEEDS MEDS
IF ALONE I'M LOST
Phone#
Cell#
Address

**jckkerrison** · 15th August 2011, 09:19 AM

Did you have a gift left for you this morning....? Made me chuckle,can just imagine Buddy thinking I am not wearing that spoils his street cred....!
I'm with you on not liking collars,seen too many nasty things,have even known the fast release ones to have some problems as they get older but sometimes they are a necessity & if he is going to get out then maybe that is good enough reason. I find you can always tell cats that have worn collars a lot because of the difference in fur even if they have not worn a collar for a long while it still seems to grow slightly shorter & have a courser feel to it & with MC's who really wants to spoil that super ruff.
You have a difficult choice there catslave,don't think I would want to risk the traffic but as you say could be worse of two evils,could you not get some screens made up to go on windows so he could get the fresh air but not escape.....? Or a play friend....?Furry one of course.....x

**Helen & John** · 15th August 2011, 05:22 PM

After seeing the photo on facebook may I suggest an ankle tag lol...........sorry could not resist!!!!!!

**cooncatbob** · 15th August 2011, 06:02 PM

When my Meme lived at the Warehouse where I worked and got locked out and lost for 2 days I got her a soft fabric collar with a tag, the hard woven nylon collar chafe her neck.

**catslave** · 15th August 2011, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by Helen & John

After seeing the photo on facebook may I suggest an ankle tag lol...........sorry could not resist!!!!!!

I'm just waiting for CrimeWatch

Seriously thank you all. Buddy's collar was on my pillow this morning; put it back on him, went to work got home and it was in the kitchen sink; put it back on him - 20 mins later it was in his litterbox ...... and yes he had before you ask. I'm going to leave it a few days then try a thin fabric one. I do like those embroidered ones but will wait to see if I can actually get him to wear one first. Fudge used to suffer with cold paws and wore kitty socks so I might attempt to put them on Buddy to stop him using his "thumbs" to take them off. How can a cat undo the buckle on a collar round his neck?

And Jackie why did I know I could count on you to suggest a playmate? I have decided who and where I will be getting my next MC kitten from (but will be this time next year :( ) I'm not saying I wouldn't give an older cat a home and do check Rescue Centres regularly x

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