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Best Cat Collars

Updated August 2023
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
GoTags Custom Embroidered Cat ID Collars with Breakaway Safety Release Buckle
GoTags
Custom Embroidered Cat ID Collars with Breakaway Safety Release Buckle
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

Big, accurate embroidery and a secure clasp are standouts for this design, which fits bigger cats.

Pros

Embroidered letters and numbers are good-sized. Owners like that the embroidery can replace an ID tag. Error-free customization. Comfortable and secure for most cats of different sizes.

Cons

Embroidery sometimes be difficult to read. Clasp can break easily. May be too big for smaller cats.

Best Bang for the Buck
Bemix Pets Reflective Cat Collar with Bell, Set of 6
Bemix Pets
Reflective Cat Collar with Bell, Set of 6
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Bargain Pick
Bottom Line

A 6-pack at an affordable price comes in a variety of appealing colors.

Pros

Nylon. Reasonably sturdy build. Multiple color choices for homes with more than 1 cat. Comes in classic and paw-heart styles. Reflective and easy to spot in low-light situations. Adjustable. Has bells.

Cons

Breakaway feature comes undone easily. Reflective strip develops cracks. Small for cats over 15 pounds.

Extodry 14 Pack Reflective-Breakaway Cat Collars
Extodry
14 Pack Reflective-Breakaway Cat Collars
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Safety Features
Bottom Line

Inexpensive bundle with safety features that is a great option for new litters or cats getting used to them.

Pros

Cat-face design with rounded ears. A reflective safety strap makes it easy to spot in the dark. Easy to adjust and put on. Lightweight and soft fabric. Breakaway feature that avoids cats getting stuck. Has 2 ID tags.

Cons

Some say the bell falls off easily. Breakaway feature comes off too easily.

Joytale Updated Breakaway Cat Collar
Joytale
Updated Breakaway Cat Collar
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Adorable Design
Bottom Line

Any feline will look their best in this cute, easy-to-adjust break-away collar.

Pros

Boasts an attention-grabbing bow tie design in a colorful plaid pattern. Simple to adjust for a perfect fit. Break-away clasp is an important safety feature. Includes a bell. Available in several color options.

Cons

Material is subject to fraying. Bow is fairly large and may annoy some cats.

Extodry 6-Pack Classic Plaid Cat Collars
Extodry
6-Pack Classic Plaid Cat Collars
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Colorful Plaid
Bottom Line

Adjustable, colorful breakaway collars with bells that come in a collection of 6 for a budget-friendly price.

Pros

Affordable pack of 6 collars that feature fun plaid patterns. Each collar has a bell and cute cat-face break-way clasp. They adjust to fit cats of various sizes.

Cons

A few reports of clasps that came loose with typical wear. Material frays easily.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Buying guide for Best cat collars

You might not need to walk your cat, but your feline friend can still benefit from a cat collar. Collars for cats can hold ID tags, provide better visibility when it's dark out, and identify your kitty as a cat with an owner rather than a stray. 

It's important to choose a cat collar carefully because the wrong type could be dangerous, especially for adventurous cats who roam freely outdoors. If this sounds like your furry friend, you might want to choose a collar with a breakaway buckle. You'll also need to consider factors such as the size of the collar, what it's made from, and whether it has the features you need, such as a reflective strip or a bell to alert the birds that somebody’s coming.

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It's wise to get your kitten used to wearing a collar early on so he won't object to wearing one as an adult. You may need a smaller kitten collar when he’s younger.

Key considerations

Breakaway buckle

Although relatively unlikely with a well-fitting collar, it's always possible that your cat's collar could catch on something — a branch, a protruding nail, a piece of home furnishing. With a standard fixed buckle, your cat runs the risk of strangulation or getting caught and being unable to break free. However, a collar with a breakaway buckle is designed to snap open under an appropriate degree of force. If your cat should get his collar caught on something, it would pop open as he struggled to get free, keeping him safe from harm.

Size

Since most cats fall within a standard size range, you can expect to find something that fits fairly easily. However, if your cat is larger than average, isn't yet fully grown, or is fully grown but smaller than average, a standard cat collar may not fit. Look for a manufacturer-provided list of neck sizes on the packaging. Measure your cat's neck using a cloth measuring tape, and compare this measurement to the collar size to make sure it’s the right fit. If not, you'll need to look for a different size. 

Material

Many cat collars are made of polyester or nylon webbing. Both of these materials are strong, lightweight, and affordable. Bear in mind that not all polyester and nylon webbing is of equal quality; high-density versions of these materials are generally the best.

Leather and faux leather cat collars exist and are durable, but they are heavier and bulkier than polyester and nylon. They also tend to cost more, and they're less likely to feature a breakaway buckle which, as we’ve stated, you may prefer for safety reasons.

Features

Reflective materials

Many cat collars feature reflective strips, piping, or stitching around the full length of the collar. This reflective material increases your cat's visibility in low-light conditions. For example, oncoming headlights will shine brightly on it as light reflects off the collar, alerting drivers that a pet is near. Ultimately, it's safest to keep your cat indoors from dusk to dawn, but if this isn't an option for your feline friend, we highly recommend a collar with reflective material. 

Bell

A large metastudy from the Journal of Nature Communications suggests that free-ranging domestic cats in the U.S. kill between 1.4 billion and 3.7 billion birds in a single year. Though some critics dispute these figures, cats still kill huge numbers of birds in addition to mice, squirrels, chipmunks, and other small mammals. A simple bell on your cat's collar can reduce the number of creatures caught by up to 41%. 

Color or pattern

Your cat might not have any interest in what color his collar is, but you probably do. Anyone who wants a cat collar that's both practical and stylish needn’t look far. You can find collars in every solid color of the rainbow and a wide variety of patterns, including florals, leopard print, and camouflage. 

Personalization

It's possible to get a collar that has been personalized with your name or your cat's name, your phone number, and even your address. This information can be printed directly onto the fabric or engraved on an attached metal plate. Whatever you prefer, this is an alternative to having a separate ID tag. Note that a personalized collar may cost more than a plain collar and ID tag separately. 

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For your safety
Although an ID tag is a great feature that can help lost pets return home quickly, it isn't an alternative to microchipping your feline friend. To protect your cat, invest in both safety measures.
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Cat collar prices

Inexpensive

Inexpensive cat collars cost less than $1 each, but you'll usually need to get a pack of five or more to get the low price. In this price range, color and pattern choices are limited. 

Mid-range

Mid-range cat collars cost between $2 and $4 each. These are generally more durable than the cheapest options and are available in a wider range of colors and patterns.

High-end

High-end cat collars cost between $5 and $10 for a single collar. Collars in this price range tend to have the most attractive designs and are crafted from high-quality materials. 

Tips

  • Avoid cat collars with elastic inserts. Although it may seem like a good idea to allow your cat to wriggle out of the collar if he gets caught, elastic inserts can be dangerous. They have enough give for cats to get their paws or jaws stuck in the collar, which could lead to serious injury.

  • Consider a multipack of collars. Cats are likely to lose collars every now and then when they're out and about. Not only are multipacks of collars often cheaper than getting them separately, you'll have spares ready to go when your feline friend arrives home with a naked neck. 

  • Choose a cat collar that's highly adjustable. You may find it easier to get a good fit with a collar that uses sliding hardware than one with a loop and pin buckle.

  • Get your kitten a collar. While they'll likely outgrow their kitten collar fairly quickly, getting your newly adopted kitten used to wearing a collar from the start can save you and your cat stress later on.

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Avoid spending too much on a single collar for a cat who roams outdoors. It's likely to get lost sooner than later.

FAQ

Q. Why should my cat wear a collar? 
A. There are multiple reasons to put a collar on your cat. If your cat gets lost or injured and is wearing a collar with an ID tag, it will be easy for someone to find you, and your cat won't get mistaken for a stray. Even if your cat is microchipped, don't discount the fact that some people might not think to take a cat they found to the vet to check for a microchip.

You can also use collars to hold bells, GPS tracking devices, and tags that unlock cat flaps (so that strange cats can't come in). Another reason to put a collar on your cat is to make him more visible in low light. Choose a reflective or light-up collar for this purpose.
 

Q. How tight should my cat's collar be? 
A. It's important a cat collar isn't too tight (and therefore uncomfortable) but also isn’t loose enough that it could snag objects or allow your cat to get his jaw or paw stuck. You should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and your cat's neck.