My cat is lethargic and won't eat with his new collar. Is this normal?

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The collar may be a little itchy which may explain why is does not enjoy wearing it. As far as the decreased eating goes, there can be many reasons for this. Dental or oral disease, pancreatitis, parasitic infections, organ dysfunction and other causes can all be possibilities. Anxiety may be a cause but I would recommend ruling out all medical causes with Oreo's veterinarian first. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If your cat is not used to wearing a collar, he may be a little annoyed or upset by having a collar placed on him. However there are several things you can do to help him feel a little more comfortable wearing it. The first is to make sure the collar fits appropriately- you should be able to slip a finger between the collar and your cat's neck to ensure the fit is good but not too tight. Most cat collars have some stretch to them as well, or a clasp that will easily break away to prevent choking if caught on something. The second step is to gradually get your cat used to the collar and to associate it with something positive. If your cat has a favorite snack or treat, give him the treat when you place the collar on, and continue distracting him with treats for a few minutes as he wears it. If it gets uncomfortable, or he bothers with it, take it off for a bit, then try again with treats and wearing it. He will quickly learn that the collar means good stuff! Your cat may still sometimes attempt to lick or scratch at the collar, but he should begin to get used to it over time.

Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that Joey hasn't been feeling well. Since you suspect that the Seresto collar may have been causing his issues, you did the right thing by taking the collar off and bathing him. However, his lethargy, eye discharge, and loss of appetite could also be due to a virus (gastrointestinal or causing an upper respiratory infection), kidney disease, or many other health conditions. I'm glad to hear that he's going to the vet tomorrow because his vet will be able to examine him and perform any necessary diagnostic testing. In the meantime, continue offering small frequent amounts of Pedialyte or water, as well as trying to tempt Joey to eat with either meat baby foods, boiled chicken breast, or canned cat foods. Warming up any of these foods for a few seconds can make their aroma more noticeable, which can be enticing to some cats. I hope this helps and that Joey feels better soon!

By collar, do you mean the elizabeth collar? It is very important to make sure this is not related to an illness so have Minnie examined by the veterinarian if needed. Otherwise, some pets will become subdued when they wear the collar until they get adjusted to it which can take a few days. It is OK if she is subdued as long as she is eating and drinking. Most pets will get back to their normal selves quickly. The main thing is to keep her calm. I hope this helps.

Hello. I would definitely take the collar off for a bit & see if he relaxes without it. You can always put the collar back on if he will not leave the biopsy site alone. If he truly needs a collar, check with your local Petco or other pet supply to purchase one of the soft, cloth-like collars. They are much more comfortable & Whisker's may do better with one of these. But if he leaves the site alone, he may not need to wear anything at all. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Fleas are never a fun surprise! Indoor cats can acquire fleas if they come inside on your clothing, through open windows, or on other pets in the household. Even though you have removed all of the adult fleas on Daisy, those adults have likely already laid eggs that will be impossible to remove. Flea collars (with the exception of the Seresto collar) tend to be very ineffective. It is possible that the collar may be affecting her negatively. Since Daisy has been relatively lethargic since you put the collar on, consider taking the collar off and using a high quality flea preventative medication, such as Advantage, Bravecto, or Revolution. Be sure to use one of these preventatives regularly for at least the next few months to break the fleas' life cycle, but preferably year-round. Cats can acquire tapeworms by eating fleas infected with tapeworms, so it may be worth taking a stool sample to Daisy's vet. If Daisy remains lethargic, stops eating and drinking, or develops any vomiting or diarrhea, she will certainly need to go to her vet for further evaluation. I hope that all goes well!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Buddy. Oh no, that's not good. It sounds like he is experiencing toxic symptoms from licking this collar, and I'm concerned about him. I think it's best he sees a vet immediately. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.