Collar Bells: Should I Put One on My Cat?
Cats are silent, independent animals. Most of the time we don’t know where they are or what they’re up to. For this reason, there are many people out there who put collar bells around their cat’s neck. But who came up with this dumb idea?
Perhaps, the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of a cat is a vision of a cute furry animal wearing a collar bell. However, this isn’t common practice and, in fact, it’s dangerous for the animal. Don’t even get me started on how annoying it must be.
Collar bells for cats?
So, how do you think a cat may feel wearing this accessory? (Put one around your neck and you’ll find out.) Will it lead to deafness, as many people claim?
Let’s start from the beginning. Where does the idea of putting a collar bell around your cat’s neck come from? Well, apparently, it comes from the work of an English poet entitled The Book of Cats. It tells the story of a group of cats that were harassed by an evil pussycat. So, to know where he was at all times, the rest of the cats conspire to place a bell on him.
As if that wasn’t enough, do a simple search online and you’ll see how many images and videos of cats with bells there are. There are even cartoons such as Doraemon, where felines have added sounds.
For all of these reasons, we tend to think it’s normal for cats to wear collar bells. Well, it isn’t.
Why would anyone put a collar bell on a cat?
There are several reasons why many people think it a great idea to put a collar bell around their cat’s neck. This is their reasoning:
- Aesthetics. It’s definitely true that cats look cute wearing a collar bell.
- Location. As we said at the beginning, it’s a way of knowing where your cat is at all times, especially if they’re in the habit of wandering away from home. (If they do, what a great way to alert possible predators to the presence of a tasty cat.)
- Alert. Cats are silent, and if there are other animals at home such as birds or rodents, which are usual cat prey, then the bell will alert them of the cat’s presence and they’ll have plenty of time to get out of harm’s way
In spite of all of this, put yourself in your cat’s paws and think how you’d feel with a bell dangling from your neck at all times. Yes, it sounds like torture! Especially when you consider how the feline ear is much more sensitive to sound than ours.
Having a bell constant ringing around their neck, very close to their ears may not only lead to deafness but also to psychosis. In addition, it’ll most likely annoy them so much that they’ll take it out on us.
Is it true what they say about collar bells?
There are many beliefs and superstitions around this noisy adornment, but are they true? Let’s see.
They’ll make your cat deaf
Well, this isn’t necessarily true, although it can definitely cause irreparable damage to an animal’s eardrum. Just to put it in context, it’s as if you were wearing headphones at full volume all day.
Are they dangerous for cats?
Yes, they are. They aren’t only dangerous and harmful to their hearing, but also to their emotional well-being. Furthermore, cats are quite strong-willed and determined creatures and if something bothers them, they’ll do what it takes to yank it off. Even if they hurt themselves in the process.
Are collar bells bad?
Collar bells are quite cute as long as they stay away from an animal’s neck. Your cat will definitely love playing with them if you offer them as a toy –the bigger the better. It’s delightful to watch a cat running behind them, trying to discover where the sound comes from.
In conclusion, if you’re thinking of tying a bell around your cat’s neck, then think twice. You may come up with a number of arguments but, we assure you, it’s not a good idea. If you love collar bells so much then wear one yourself!