About Training Collars for Cats

Cats are inquisitive by nature. They often do things their owners would rather them not. Roaming far from home, killing birds and other small animals, and destroying furniture are things cats do instinctively. As a means to control and train cats, training collars have been invented. There are two main types of training collars: electric and aromatherapy.

  1. Electric Collars

    • You can find electric training collars in the training section of your local pet store. These collars work by emitting a low-level shock to the cat when it misbehaves. Most owners use these on cats that they allow outdoors. Electric collars can be used in conjunction with an invisible fence system that prevents the cat from leaving an area that you restrict. Other electric collars work with a remote control. Whenever the cat misbehaves, you can shock him.

    Aromatherapy Collars

    • Sly, the Cat Care Guru, mentions aromatherapy collars as a gentler means of training cats. These collars work by releasing scents that actually have a calming effect on the cat. These cats learn obedience because they begin to associate hyperactive behaviors with strong scents that they dislike.

    Possible Considerations

    • There are considerations to take into account when using training collars on cats. First, cats are not easily controlled and may not respond well to training collars simply because of their nature. If you plan to use an electric collar, you are trying to train your cat by inducing fear, and that may not work for all cats. Electric collars are designed to emit low-level shocks, but you do run the risk of the collar malfunctioning, especially if it gets wet, and jolting your cat with a powerful shock. Lastly, cats are curious and they like to climb and squeeze into tight spaces. Be aware that they can become choked if their collar is caught on something like a branch. Breakaway collars help prevent choking.

    Alternatives

    • If you decide a training collar is not for your cat, you can train him with positiive reinforcement. Offer treats to your cat when he does something right. Discourage your cat when he misbehaves. If roaming is the problem, consider keeping your cat indoors. If your cat is scratching your furniture, make sure you are providing a scratching post for him and encourage him to use it.