Here we answer some of the most commonly asked questions about our cat collars. If you have a question not answered here, please get in touch!
How do safety / breakaway buckles work?
Instead of a normal 3-prong "male" part, the buckles in our safety cat collars have one outer prong which is smooth and so doesn't catch on the female part. This means that a tug or twist allows the buckle to come apart, it doesn't require squeezing both prongs.
How do I measure my cat for its new collar?
Our collars are offered in three size choices. Most cats will fit the regular size - please note that the small and large sizes will require an additional two working days for dispatch.
Measure your cat's neck with a tape measure or strip of paper, allowing room to fit 1-2 fingers between the tape / paper and the cat's neck. If you have big hands one finger should be enough! Alternatively if your cat has an existing well fitting collar, you can use that as a guide, but be sure to exclude any overlapping parts of the buckle, as in the illustration below.
How do I adjust a new collar to fit?
As above, you should be able to fit 1-2 fingers between your cat's neck and the collar. Too loose and it makes it more likely that the collar will get caught on something and consequently lost; it's also easier for the cat to get a paw or leg through - although the collar should break apart in this situation as the cat struggles, it will still be distressing for the cat. Too tight and it is likely to irritate the cat and may damage the fur and skin. Be sure to check the fit periodically as any weight changes can impact the fit of the collar. This is particularly important if your young cat is still growing - you should be checking once a week at least. All our collars are adjustable so you can alter the fit easily.
How do I help my cat get used to wearing a collar?
Some cats will wear a collar for the first time with no fuss at all, however for most it takes a bit of getting used to. The first time you put it on, they may manage to get it off minutes. So for the first few times, put it on when they're inside and you're there to keep an eye on them. Distract them from the unfamiliar feeling with a toy, treats or a fuss; this also rewards them for keeping it on. If they are clearly finding the collar annoying and cannot be distracted, take it off. Next time try and keep it on a little longer. Eventually they won't be bothered by it at all and you can then leave it on permanently. Our cats did the most amazing gymastics to get their collars off to start with, but after a week or so they were wearing them happily 24/7.
How do I know if your collars are right for my cat?
Ultimately, it is your responsibility to decide whether our collars are right for your cat. We give as much information as we can to help you reach your decision and we're happy to answer any other questions you may have - do feel free to contact us. We understand that breakaway buckles can vary from brand to brand in terms of stiffness, and that you may need to actually hold the collar in your hands and get a feel for it. If after buying you decide that it isn't right, or you need a different size, you can send it back with the packaging for a refund or exchange (see this page for details). Please note that the collar must remain in perfect, resellable condition so only try it on your cat indoors, and don't let him roll around in the dirt before you decide to return it!
The size or style I want is out of stock - have you got any more?
The short answer is "Maybe - get in touch!". The long answer is that because I have a day job as well as running Mog's Togs, in order to be sure that I can provide a top notch friendly service to every single one of our customers, I don't list an unlimited number of every style and size of collar on the website. Also, I don't get the time to update stock numbers every day. This means that sometimes sizes and styles may appear out of stock although I do have more collars available to send immediately, or I still have the fabric or ribbon available so I can make more within a few days. This is particularly the case with small and large sizes as these are usually made to order. So if you want 3 of a particular collar and only 2 are listed, or you want a small which is out of stock, please contact me and I will let you know what the situation is. I always endeavour to respond to queries within 24 hours, and usually within a few hours. Note that if an item is on Sale, this usually means that these are the last collars of that design so the stock numbers will be correct.
Can I order my collar(s) to come without bells / metal parts?
Of course! Just leave a note to me when you check out in the box for special instructions. Please let me know if you want the split ring kept on the collar, as this can be useful for attaching tags. If you don't mention the ring, by default I will include it as this seems to be what most customers want. If you want no metal on the collar at all due to having a magnet cat flap, but still want to be able to attach tags, I can remove the bell and also replace the split ring with a (non-removable) plastic "D" ring for no extra cost. Just let me know when you check out.
My cat keeps losing his collar - argh!
This is annoying, isn't it! There are a couple of possible explanations. Firstly, they may still not be used to wearing a collar so are trying to get rid of it at the first opportunity; if you think this is the case, try going back to square one and reward them for keeping it on, as in the previous answer. Secondly, it may not be fitted properly; in particular if it is too loose it will more easily catch on things and split apart; on the other hand if it is too tight and your cat finds it irritating or sore he may be losing it on purpose. Finally it could be that your cat is just very adventurous and is getting into scrapes and tight squeezes, and his collar is breaking apart (as it should) to allow him to escape. Squeezing under fences or through holes seems to be a common way to lose collars and the bottom of the garden fence is always the first place we look for lost collars. In this situation it's even more important that your cat is wearing a breakaway collar; it could save his life. Consider adding the first line of your address to your cat's ID tag, then if it's lost in a neighbour's garden, they'll be able to pop it back through your letter box. We've had a few returned this way.
I saw this tip on the Pet Forums website from a very wise user called Paddypaws. She wanted her cats to wear breakaway collars but was getting a bit fed up of them always being lost. Her solution is to tie a thin elastic thread to each side of the buckle, with some slack; as in the photo below.
This doesn't interfere with the normal breaking of the collar if it gets caught; however instead of falling off completely, it is stopped by the elastic and instead sits loosely around the cat's neck. Because of the weak stretchy nature of the thin elastic, if the cat gets in further bother the elastic will unravel, break or stretch out so there's no further danger. Note that this method probably won't stop the collar being lost if the cat gets caught vertically - on a tree branch or similar - and falls out of the collar; but these are the most serious situations a cat can get into so you probably won't be worrying about a lost collar in these circumstances! It should however work better at stopping the collar being lost when the cat squeezes under a fence, or scraps with another feline.
My cat is losing hair under his collar
I'm not a vet, so please, if you have concerns about your cat's skin you must ask your vet in the first instance. One of my cats (Lila) is prone to thinning hair under her collar, but it does stay just like that - thinning, not bald, so I'm happy to keep her wearing collars. When she goes to the cattery and has her collar off for a week or too, it starts to thicken up again. Mia's fur is very thick and although she gets a collar "parting", she seems to not get any thinning. I know that some cats do have very sensitive skin and can lose hair and sometimes also get sores or broken skin under the collar. If your cat does develop a proper bald patch under her collar, be sure to keep a close eye on the situation. Some cats do fine even with bare skin under the collar, while some might progress to irritation or redness and eventually broken skin and sores, and obviously you want to avoid the situation progressing this far. If your cat's skin seems to be becoming irritated by the collar I suggest you remove it, for at least some time each day - you need to weigh up the risks of your cat being collarless against the risk of developing sores. If the skin does get broken you must go to the vet and keep the collar off in the meantime. If your cat has a bald patch or sensitive skin, or is prone to fur loss, you might want to consider a fabric collar, rather than a webbing style, as the fabric will be smoother against the fur and skin than the weave of the webbing.
What are your softest collars?
Our fabric collars are the softest we have. One customer whose cat's neck fur had started to be rubbed away with a supermarket collar reported that after wearing one of our cotton collars the hair has started growing back. However if your cat has had a collar-related bald patch for many years, it's unlikely that the fur will grow back completely with a softer collar as the hair follicles may be damaged; but they may grow back some "peach fuzz" which looks better and should be more comfy for the cat. If you're particularly concerned about having the most comfortable collar for a sensitive cat, then I can sew the collar "inside out" so that the end of the strip at the front comes to the outside of the collar rather than the inside, avoiding a possible source of irritation. Please contact me first if this is vital - as I will need to custom make the collar for you in this case.
My cat stays indoors, does he need a collar?
While hopefully your cat will never need ID, it's not impossible for an indoor cat to escape either due to human error or just plain old cat cunning. An indoor cat who suddenly finds himself outside may be confused and disoriented; a collar and ID tag should help him to be returned quickly and safely home to you. It also helps people know that your cat is not a stray.
My cat is microchipped - does he need a collar?
Well done - microchipping is one of the best things you can do for your cat; every cat should have a chip! However upon finding your cat where he shouldn't be, many people won't necessarily be aware of microchipping; and even if they are they may not have the means (eg a cat carrier) to get your cat safely to the vet to be scanned. It's usually simpler if your address or phone number is attached to a collar too, then they can get in touch with you directly.
The Feline Advisory Bureau says that kittens can have a suitably sized collar put on them from about 5 months, but only under supervision. Then, they should be used to the feeling and able to wear a collar permanently without a problem once they are 6 months or older. If at 6 months your cat is still rather small and light, you may prefer to wait until they are a bit heavier before they wear a breakaway collar permanently.
Are Mog's Togs collars washable?
Yes! Take off the bell first, and put the collar in a mesh bag (or trouser pocket) to avoid damage to the buckle or your machine, and also to make sure it doesn't disappear like those socks... Wash on a cool 30C or 40C wash, and to dry just leave it somewhere warm. Make sure to check the collar's fit again on your cat, as the adjuster may have moved in the wash. Webbing collars may begin to look a little fuzzy after a few washes, so don't go washing it every week (although this shouldn't affect the function of the collar, just its appearance).
Unfortunately I don't make dog specific collars because I don't have a dog to test them on. If you have a small toy or lap dog who will fit our cat collars, I can make one for you with a non-breakaway buckle. However I'm unable to test these with a lead and don't know how they would stand up under normal doggy behaviour so they must be considered as decorative items only.