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Although you may never take your cat for a walk on a leash, a collar is still essential. It can hold your cat’s ID tag so your neighbor can return them to you should they ever wander too far off your property. Even if yours is strictly an indoor cat, most veterinarians still recommend giving them a collar in case they accidentally get out.
If you decide to get a collar for your cat, one consideration is whether to purchase a traditional or a breakaway collar. A breakaway (a.k.a. quick-release) collar has a special clasp that as the name suggests, breaks away if your cat pulls on it hard enough. While that might sound like it defeats the purpose of having a collar, that function can save your pet’s life. Read on to learn how breakaway collars work and why they can be a godsend if your cat gets into trouble.
How Does It Work?
Breakaway collars were designed with one thing in mind: saving the cat’s life. Felines love to squeeze into tight spaces, climb trees or high cabinets, and generally explore their surroundings. Traditional cat collars get snagged on tree branches, hooked on fences, and stuck on cabinet knobs or hooks. In some cases, a cat can get their front leg (or both legs) stuck in their collar and be unable to get free.
These situations can be deadly, causing your cat to choke, be asphyxiated, accidentally hang themselves, 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.
The breakaway collar prevents these damaging and deadly situations from happening. It has a specialized clasp that’s similar to the clip on a backpack, except that when enough force is applied, the clasp pulls apart. 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 is a lifesaver.
A breakaway or quick-release collar comes apart due to the clasp’s unique design. Unlike a regular clasp, the two prongs on a breakaway clasp are designed to be weaker, and the ends are rounded instead of barbed. A small amount of force won’t pull them open, but a quick, hard tug will, releasing your cat from their collar if they’re in trouble.
Over the years, breakaway clasps on cat collars have been redesigned and improved several times. Essentially, if your cat is playing or lightly squeezing through an opening, it won’t come open and fall off from the slight force or pressure being applied.
One important thing to note is that a quick-release collar made for a dog is not a breakaway collar. Quick-release collars for dogs feature a clasp identical to the one that you would find on a backpack. These are called “quick-release” collars because you can open them quickly by squeezing the clasp with your fingers. A hard tug won’t be enough to cause it to open. That’s why, even if it fits your cat, you shouldn’t give them a quick-release dog collar.
What Are the Types of Breakaway Collars?
Breakaway collars are made with various materials, including nylon, leather, and cotton. 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.
The clasp on a breakaway collar is more or less the same from one manufacturer to another. 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.
One other type of collar for cats that you might encounter when searching is a so-called stretch collar. This is made with stretchy material, like what you would find in a bungee cord. It’s designed to stretch if it gets snagged on something and then presumably enables your cat to get free. However, like a traditional collar, a stretch collar can cause the same dangerous and deadly entanglements. Also, it’s challenging to fit correctly on a cat due to its elastic nature.
Where Is It Used?
Breakaway collars are used almost exclusively for cats due to their curious nature and fondness for wandering around outdoors. Cats are great climbers, but that ability can get them into trouble. Even indoors, your cat’s collar can get stuck, hooked, or otherwise jammed on something that could hurt or even kill them if they can’t get free.
Since the advent of breakaway collars, you’ll find that most veterinarians and cat experts recommend using only this type for your cat and not using traditional collars at all. Too many cats have been hurt and/or killed while wearing a standard collar.
That said, if you have a cat that likes to go on walks with you, like a Bengal, you need to use a traditional collar that won’t break away if there’s a sudden, sharp pull. That could be bad if you’re stopped at a busy intersection. After arriving back home, however, you should remove the traditional collar and put your cat’s breakaway collar back in place.
Advantages of Breakaway Collars
The major advantage of a breakaway collar is that if your cat gets hung up, stuck, or entangled in their collar, the clasp (buckle) will come open, releasing the collar and your cat with it. This advantage is the only one that a breakaway collar provides, but it’s also the biggest. Whether indoors or outside, if your cat gets into a situation that would hurt or even kill them if they were wearing a traditional collar, a breakaway collar could save their life.
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Disadvantages of Breakaway Collars
There are two significant disadvantages of a breakaway collar. The first is that if your cat’s collar breaks away when you’re not around and don’t know where it happened, you will lose it and need to purchase another.
The second disadvantage is that if your cat’s breakaway collar breaks away and is lost, their ID tag will also be lost. If your cat then starts roaming around the neighborhood, the person who finds them won’t know how to get in touch with you. For this reason, most vets recommend having your cat’s ID chipped or their ear tattooed as a backup safety measure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
| Q: Are all breakaway collars the same? |
| A: Like any product, some breakaway collars are of higher quality than others. Be sure to do your due diligence, read reviews, and check to ensure that the breakaway collar you purchase is made with quality materials. |
| Q: Should all cats wear breakaway collars? |
| A: While most vets recommend breakaway collars above traditional collars, in some cases, a conventional collar will be okay. For example, an older cat that’s not as mobile would probably be fine with a traditional collar. |
| Q: Are quick-release collars and breakaway collars the same? |
| A: Yes and no. Some manufacturers refer to their breakaway collars as quick-release collars. However, a traditional cat collar can also be referred to as a quick-release because with two fingers, you can release it quickly. The type of clasp that this collar uses will not break away when force is applied, though. In short, be sure to check that the clasp is a breakaway and not a traditional quick-release clasp. |
| Q: Can you use a breakaway collar to walk your cat? |
| A: No, a breakaway collar is not recommended if you have a cat that likes to be walked. For those cats, a traditional collar is advised while walking. After the walk ends, your cat’s traditional collar should be replaced with a breakaway collar. |
| Q: Can breakaway collars be adjusted? |
| A: Some breakaway cat collars can be adjusted like traditional collars, but others can’t. Therefore, it’s best to measure your cat’s neck to ensure a proper fit or purchase an adjustable collar. |
| Q: How much force is needed for a breakaway collar to work? |
| A: Typically, the force needed is about 4.5 pounds (2 kilograms). For this reason, a kitten would need a breakaway collar designed for kittens that requires less force. |
| Q: Do veterinarians recommend breakaway cat collars? |
| A: Most vets recommend cat collars because of the extra safety that they provide. |
| Q: Are breakaway collars that stretch recommended? |
| A: Most vets and cat experts do not recommend stretch collars, even if they have a breakaway clasp. The reason is that the elasticity of the collar can cause the same problems as a traditional collar. |
| Q: Can you use a bell on a breakaway cat collar? |
| A: Using a bell on a breakaway cat collar is just as safe as using one on a traditional collar. |
| Q: Do I need to have my cat chipped or their ear tattooed if I have a breakaway collar? |
| A: Veterinarians recommend ID chipping or tattooing your cat no matter which collar they wear. That way, if they lose their breakaway collar (which happens often), anyone who finds your cat can still identify them and bring them back to you. |
| Q: Are breakaway collars considered the safest for an adult cat? |
| A: Most veterinarians and feline experts consider breakaway collars the safest choice for all adult cats. |
A Quick Reference Guide
Here, you will find the differences between breakaway, quick-release, stretch, and traditional collars.
| Type of Collar | Recommended by Vets? | Breaks Away With Forceful Tug or Pressure? | Recommended for Walking? |
| Breakaway Collar | Yes | Yes | No |
| Quick Release Collar | Yes | Some yes, some no | Some yes, some no |
| Stretch Collar | No | No | No |
| Traditional Collar | No | No | Yes |
Final Thoughts
Does your cat need a breakaway collar? Most veterinarians would agree that they do and that a breakaway collar is much safer than a traditional one, especially if their collar gets entangled or stuck on something. With about 4 pounds of pressure, a breakaway collar’s clasp will open, releasing the collar and your cat with it. The only drawback of breakaway collars is that they are sometimes lost when they open and fall off your cat.
As a cat parent, you know that it is essential to keep your cat as safe as possible. By using a breakaway collar with its special clasp, you do just that, as your cat can escape if they find themselves trapped, stuck, snagged, or otherwise entangled.
Featured Image Credit: Graziegranata, Shutterstock
