003. Pet Identification
Description
This article is from the Cats and the Outside World FAQ, posted to rec.pets.cats newsgroup. Maintained by Cindy Tittle Moore with numerous contributions by others.
003. Pet Identification
Every cat should wear ID tags, whether or not it is an indoor or outdoor cat. A "strangleproof" or "breakaway" cat collar with elastic section is safest; tags attached with small keyrings won't fall off and get lost.
When a kitten gets a new collar, it should be put on tighter than usual until she/he gets used to it. You should be able to slip 1 or 2 fingers under the collar, but it shouldn't be loose enough for the kitten to get its jaw hooked. Of course, this means the kitten also won't be able to get the collar over its head if it gets caught on something, so you need to supervise more closely - especially outside. Kittens grow fast, so you need to check the fit often. Once the kitty is quite used to the collar and no longer tries to play with it or get it off, you can loosen it up a bit. It usually doesn't take very long for a kitten to get used to a collar.
Most common way to get the tag: mail order services that advertise at pet shops and vet waiting rooms. Prices go from $3 to $8 per tag. The cat's name is the least important thing on the tag. The most important is your name and phone number. Home address and work number are desirable. Some areas offer cat licensing; consider it as another way of getting a tag. Another alternative is to write the name and phone number on a flea collar or on a cloth collar. Don't forget to update the information on the tag when you move! Tabby Tags offer a way to attach information to the cat's collar without dangling tags. Inquire at Tabby Tags, 4546 El Camino Real, B-10, Suite 340, Los Altos, CA 94022
ID's should be worn for the following reasons:
* In case the cat, even an indoors one, gets lost or strays.
* If your cat is injured outside and a kind stranger takes it to the vet, the vet is more likely to treat the cat if it has tags.
* People won't think your cat is a stray and take it home and keep it.
* Let your neighbors know whose cat is whose, and what their names are.
You can get your cat tattooed in the ear or the leg and register the tattoo number with a national registry. The basic problem with this approach is that few people will look for a tattoo and know where to call. Vets, though, usually know about this. Microchips are being increasingly used, but you need a scanner to be able to read this (although vets and animal shelters will check for these).
If you have found a stray cat that you are not sure is really stray, put a plastic collar on it and write your phone number and any message on it. If it has an owner, the owner may call you or at least remove the collar.
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