Image Credit by: Dexmac, Pixabay Where Is It Used?īreakaway collars are used almost exclusively for cats due to their curious nature and fondness for wandering around outdoors. Also, stretch collars are challenging to fit correctly on your cat due to their elastic nature. However, like a traditional collar, a stretch collar can cause the same dangerous and deadly entanglements. They’re designed to stretch if they get snagged on something and, presumably, allow your cat to get free. Stretch collars are made with stretchy material like you would find in a bungee cord. One other type of collar for cats you might encounter when searching is a so-called stretch collar. Yes, they come in different shapes and colors and have other slightly different design features, but all are made to come open when a quick tugging force is applied. The clasp on a breakaway collar is more or less the same from one manufacturer to another. You’ll find them in different sizes, too, and many breakaway cat collars are made with reflective material to keep your kitty safer at night. That’s why, even if it fits your cat, you shouldn’t give them a quick-release dog collar.īreakaway collars are made with various materials, including nylon, leather, cotton, and several others. They are called “quick-release” collars because you can open them quickly by squeezing the clasp with your fingers. Quick-release collars for dogs feature a clasp identical to the one you would find on the backpack we used earlier as an example. One important thing to note is that a quick-release collar made for a dog is not a breakaway collar. That way, if your cat is playing or squeezing through an opening with no problem, it won’t come open and come off from the slight force or pressure being applied. Over the years, breakaway clasps on cat collars have been redesigned and improved several times. A small amount of force won’t pull them open, but a quick, hard tug will, releasing your cat from its collar if it’s in trouble. Unlike a regular clasp, the two prongs on a breakaway clasp are designed to be weaker, and the ends are rounded instead of barbed. On a backpack, that would be a bad thing, but if your cat is stuck or snagged on something, a clasp that can pull apart and let them loose would be a lifesaver.Ī breakaway or quick-release collar comes apart thanks to the clasp’s unique design. Breakaway collars have a specialized clasp that’s very similar to the clip on a backpack, except that when enough force is applied, the clasp pulls apart. The breakaway collar prevents these damaging and deadly situations from happening. These situations can be deadly, causing your cat to choke, be asphyxiated, accidentally hang itself, or get mauled by a larger animal. Sadly, some cats have had their leg amputated after it was stuck in their collar for hours or days on end. In some cases, a cat can get its front leg (or both legs) stuck in its collar and be unable to get free. Traditional cat collars get snagged on tree branches, hooked on fences, and stuck on cabinet knobs or hooks. Cats love to squeeze into tight spaces, climb trees or high cabinets, and generally explore their surroundings. Read on to discover how breakaway collars work and why they could be a godsend if your cat’s in trouble.īreakaway collars were designed with one thing in mind: saving your cat’s life. While that might sound like it defeats the purpose of having a collar, a breakaway collar can save your cat’s life. A breakaway (aka quick release) collar is a collar with a special clasp that, as the name suggests, breaks away if your cat pulls on it hard enough. If you decide to give your cat a collar, one consideration is whether to purchase a traditional or a breakaway collar. Even if yours is strictly an indoor cat, most veterinarians recommend giving them a collar in case they accidentally get out. A collar holds your cat’s ID tag so your neighbor can return them to you should they ever wander off.

Although you will probably never take your cat for a walk on a leash, a collar is still essential.

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