Cat owners are often reluctant to put collars on their pets, a factor that can make it difficult for lost cats to be returned home. As today’s Observatory column reports: “Less than 2 percent of cats in animal shelters make it back to their owners, whereas about 15 to 19 percent of dogs are returned, and one reason is that more dogs wear collars.”
One reason cat owners resist putting collars on their pet is that they are worried it might pose a choking hazard if the animal gets tangled in branches. A new study published in The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association tested the theory by tracking collar-wearing felines. The study concluded that collars are not a safety risk.
To learn more, read the full column, “Helping Cats to Make Their Way Back Home,” and then please join the discussion below.