RSPCA issues warning after cat dies from collar injuries

Warning: Graphic pictures

The RSPCA has issued a warning over pet collars after a cat died when it was fitted with the wrong one.

The animal welfare charity issued the plea after a black female cat was found collapsed on the side of the road in Aston, Birmingham on 6 December.

The animal had got her leg stuck in her collar which had been cutting into the skin under her arm.

RSPCA Inspector Kate Levesley said: “This poor cat was suffering terribly and in a really poor state as a result of her collar injury.

“I think she had most likely been in this state for a while before someone spotted her.

“I rushed her straight to RSPCA Birmingham Animal Hospital but sadly she died just as the vet was about to bring her in. It was so incredibly sad.

“She wasn’t microchipped and no owner was ever found. These types of collars are such a hazard to cats who can so easily get stuck in them.”

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Elasticated collars or collars with buckles which do not release without human help can leave cats struggling to free themselves when their legs become stuck - causing horrific and sometimes fatal injuries, the RSPCA said.

Instead, the RSPCA recommends a quick-release collar which is designed to snap open when tugged with sufficient force and can ensure that a cat is released from its collar if they become stuck.

Cats enjoy pushing through tight spots, so it's important any collar is designed to free the cat should they become snagged and so they don't get their leg caught.

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In 2020 the RSPCA received more than 60 reports of cats who had been injured by their collars.

Tabby cat Ollie was rescued in Biddulph in July.

He was also suffering from a severe injury to his neck as his leg had become stuck in his buckle collar.

The collar was completely embedded into his neck and the wound was infected.

It is thought he had been injured for around three weeks.

Ollie underwent surgery and made a full recovery and was later rehomed.

Black cat Poppy was rescued in Sheffield in March, after being found with a severe collar injury under her right front leg.

She spent weeks at the vets having her wound intensively treated.

A vet fostered her for seven months while she recovered and then decided to give her a forever home.

Last January, grey longhaired cat Charlie was rescued by the RSPCA in West Yorkshire after he was spotted limping with his foot stuck in his collar.

The collar had become so embedded in his armpit it had caused muscle damage.

He underwent surgery the next day and recovered well.

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Alice Potter, the RSPCA’s cat welfare expert, added: “We would strongly advise against purchasing a collar with buckles that don’t snap open, or collars made from elastic.

“The majority of flea collars are also not advisable as they do not have safety buckles, so we would encourage pet owners to prioritise safety first and give your cat flea treatment another way.

“The most reliable way to identify your cat is to have them microchipped rather than having a collar and tag which may fade over time, or hinder them when they explore.

“It is also far better to have to pay for a new collar if your pet has lost theirs than to have to pay for urgent veterinary treatment when your pet becomes injured due to its collar.”

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