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Most of the collars you find for cats have little jingle bells on them. We all know them well. Sometimes it can be challenging to find a cat collar that doesn’t have this feature. But does that mean that cat collars should always have bells?
Luckily, this feature is entirely optional. You can also find many collars on the market that don’t have the bell. But we will still explain why bells have been used on cat collars for years.
A Little About Bells on Cat Collars
You might think adding a bell on the collar will keep your cat safe, telling us their whereabouts. What is interesting is the bell was designed for indoor/outdoor or strictly outdoor cats. Cats are incredible hunters posing a danger to certain native species.
Domestic cats are the top killer of birds outdoors, which can impact the ecosystem. If your cat has a bell on their collar, it may warn potential prey that the cat is approaching, giving them ample opportunity to escape.
This method doesn’t work in certain instances, but it can often decrease mortality rates in cat-inflicted deaths. The effectiveness lies somewhere between 30 and 40%.
The reason bell collars aren’t as effective as one might hope is because cats are ambush predators; the bell may not “sound the alarm” as the cat is slowly approaching their prey. If a cat is close enough to where they can capture their prey in a short sprint, the bell’s call might be too little, too late.
Why Are Cat Attacks Serious?
Cats are natural-born hunters. So what makes it so bad that feral and domestic cats track down so many birds (and other animals) yearly? Decreasing the population of native fauna can seriously impact the ecosystem. This is further compounded by the fact that cats have an unfair advantage over their prey as they are fed and taken care of by their owners. As such, they have greater access to the basic resources that their prey do not always get by default – food, water, and shelter.
For instance, if a wild cat were to consistently fail in their hunting attempts, it would be very dangerous for their survival as they would go hungry and possibly become too weak and eventually starve. This isn’t the case for a pet cat who fails in a hunt; they could be fed by their owners the very same day and then be let out again to once again hunt at their leisure.
Rural and suburban areas are also big targets for cats to kill animals because many residential citizens feed them. People have birdhouses, bird feeders, bird baths, and other means to attract birds or other animals (such as squirrels) to their yards.
Because wild animals may be less on guard with the plentiful food supply and ample entertainment around, they might be less keen to notice a predator at hand. The same neighbors who take pride in birdwatching now have to worry about a cat snatching up the animals they’re trying to help.
Other Positives of Bells on Cat Collars
The purpose of bells might be to warn prey of their presence, but they serve other purposes as well. It is beneficial if you need to figure out where your cat is. If they have a bell to sound when they are near, you can quickly locate your cat anywhere in the house or even outdoors if they’re close enough. So you can easily hear them approaching the next time they’re being called to a meal or for cuddles.
Potential Dangers of Bells on Cat Collars
Everything has benefits and downfalls. If your cat has bells on their collar, it definitely might warn their prey. However, it could also attract other potential predators, making your cat their prey. This is especially true of coyotes, foxes, or bobcats.
This jump of revolt rolls between predator and prey can have dire consequences for your cat. So it’s not always the best idea to have a collar on, especially at night when most predators are active.
Should Cats Wear Bells on Collars?
Whether or not you add the bell to your cat’s collar is completely up to you. You should use your best discernment and use these collars if you have an outdoor cat. This feature might not be as useful indoors, though some people enjoy the jingle, letting them know when their kitty is around.
Just make sure to consider risk factors and benefits alike. For example, if you have an indoor/outdoor kitty in a rural area—bells might draw predators to your cat. But a bell might be a good idea if you live in a calm residential neighborhood where there are very few risks for both your cat and the animals in the environment.
Also, it is not essential unless you like knowing your cat’s whereabouts if they are in the house.
Best Cat Collars
There are several different types of collars for cats. As you search, you’ll see bells are the classic look for the most part. But many collars have bells that can easily pop off, so you aren’t bound to them. But here are the primary collar types.
Standard
Standard collars are typically made out of nylon or polyester webbing and usually have a plastic buckle with an adjustable point. Most of these collar types come with a bell, and some are easily removed. These are the most common kind you will find in-store and online and are generally sufficient to do the job.
Breakaway
Breakaway collars are designed to come apart with resistance. This is a safety feature to protect cats from strangling or choking. This design can be useful indoors, but it is especially beneficial for outdoor cats. Such collars are often considered mandatory for outdoor cats, as it lets them escape if their collars snag onto a potentially dangerous object or surface (such as a tree branch).
The best cat collars are sturdy, comfortable, and safe. Our favorite is Hepper's Breakaway Collar, a well-designed collar made from 100% natural hemp webbing that softens as your cat wears it. Featuring a quick-release buckle, adjustable slip-locks, and a jingle bell, this collar is as practical as it is stylish!
At PangoVet, we've admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Reflective
Reflective collars are another great option for outdoor cats. If you have an outdoor cat, these reflectors can let others know about your cat’s whereabouts to prevent accidents. Just about any type of color can have reflective strips.
Buckle
Buckle-style collars are similar to the way you would adjust a belt. They fit much the same and are generally more geared toward aesthetics than function. You might see lots of this style of collar made of genuine or synthetic leather. These collars are not suitable for outdoor cats (unless they have a breakaway feature too).
Martingale
Martingale collars are designed to teach your cat how to walk on a lead. These are not intended for everyday use, but they serve a purpose if you want to teach your cat basic manners when you go out on the town. They are made with a slip design, which applies pressure to the right areas to guide and direct.
Conclusion
ConclusionSo now you know why cat collars are so valuable if your cat is going outdoors. But keep in mind your surroundings. If you live in a highly predatory environment, you might want to protect your cat and keep the bell off. But if you live in any residential neighborhood, the bell is always the best option to help potentially save your fluttery backyard friends.
In any case, if the bell annoys you or your kitty, you can permanently remove it – permitting they are safe and sound, of course.
Featured Image Credit: JoeSang, Pixabay
