My kitten hates her bell collar. How can I get her to accept it?

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.

Hello, It can sometimes take weeks for cats to get used to their collars or tags. A flat tag that affixes to the strap of the collar may be more comfortable for her. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Nala! I'm sorry she's upset! First of all, if there is any noise making part of the collar (a bell, a jingle, or even a tag hitting against a buckle, etc) that may be freaking her out. Secondly, if she is a strictly indoor cat, its reasonable to not worry about keeping a collar on her at all, though I would recommend that she be [microchipped](https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-importance-of-microchipping-your-pet/) in case she ever does get out. The feel of this color, or maybe the smell, could also be the issue. If its the smell, you can set the collar out in your house for a few days, put it in her bed, or under your pillow, and try again in a few days.[ Feliway spray](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/feliway-spray) may also help--this is a pheromone product that you can spray on the collar, which should help it have a more soothing effect. If it is the feel of the collar you can either decide to give her time to see if she gets used to it, or just punt the idea of a new collar. Again, for what its worth, its not wrong to NOT have a collar on an indoor only cat. I hope that is helpful for you! Thanks for asking PetCoach!

Unfortunately there is no clear cut answer either way. On the plus side, bells can be used to locate your cat indoors or to warn wildlife if your cat cat goes outdoors. On the negative side, it can give away your cat's location to predators or may get snagged on something which could lead to neck injury or strangulation. This last issue can be avoided with a breakaway safety collar, but that leaves your pet without identification. As you can see, it is a difficult question to answer! If your cat tolerates a collar with a bell and you have no issues with her wearing one, then it is your prerogative to use one.

He should be fine with a collar. Make sure it is a safety, or break away, collar in case he gets hung up somewhere. An example can be seen at the link below.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like you are doing everything right. Normally, if you are able to fit 2 fingers then yes that should be ok. You can try to give her a treat when you put the collar on so that she starts associating the collar with something positive. They do get used to it relatively quickly within days to weeks. It may just take a bit longer for her. Good luck!

While I always think a trainer is a good idea, I think you might be able to get Piper used to the collar by putting it on her at meal time or when she is playing with a favorite toy. Use it for short periods of time multiple times a day and take it off is she seems very upset. She’ll figure it out with time.