While Sir David Attenborough’s latest series might enrage cat lovers by recommending that cats wear bells to reduce wildlife mortality (‘We didn’t want to be preachy’: David Attenborough’s unexpected new show – which might enrage cat lovers, 31 March), a bigger question is why pet organisations including Cats Protection and the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) don’t do the same.
Even though quick-release collars have been available for years, these organisations recommend that cats should not wear collars. They claim – without statistical evidence of significant risk – that collars can snag, rub or trap paws. A study in the US found that only 3.3% of cats experienced these problems with collars, and these issues can be addressed by ensuring the collar is correctly fitted and the cat is given time to adjust to it. There was no evidence of actual serious injury or death.
Contrast this with the biggest single cause of domestic cat mortality: road traffic accidents. This caused 45.6% of cat deaths in a large cohort study of cats in Bristol, with no mention of collar-related mortality at all. Reflective collars reduce the risk of cats being run over, and this massively outweighs the risk posed by a collar.
It should not be left to Attenborough to explain why cat collars are important. Veterinary organisations that claim to care about cats need to get a better grasp of risk and update their policies, for the sake of cats themselves.
Trevor Lawson
Haddenham, Buckinghamshire
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