To us, the image of a cat wearing a bell is almost natural. Although for many years it has been seen as a nice accessory and, in a way, necessary for a cat that is out and about in the wilderness, there is a growing argument against putting this noisy article on your cat's neck. At OneHowTo.com, we explain why you should not put a bell on your cat, as it is not as good an idea as you thought.
Firstly, the main reason is the noise. And not just because it is repetitive and annoying for you, but because it is harmful to your cat's health. The bell is too close to their ears and in the long-term, this powerful and constant noise will impair your cat's sharp hearing. It could even turn your cat deaf if the bell were a big enough size.
The bell's ring can alter your cat's mood. Of course, having a perpetual ringing sound coming from their neck will make your feline very nervous. Think of the calm and silent stealth that cats, by nature, ooze. Moving skilfully, with indifference, and above all, are the image of relaxation and Zen. With a bell, you are putting your cat and yourself on edge, leading to a stressed cat.
A collar with a bell ringing is all but convenient. Indeed, many cats try to get it off, or even try to bite it to stop the ringing. There have been many cases of injured cats, as many catch their bottom jaw with the bell when trying to get it off.
It is possible that your cat has grown used to it, but nothing is at all natural about carrying this around its neck.
The reasons in favor of putting a bell on your cat include that the cat will catch less wildlife, as the sound of the bell will warn possible prey. However, studies by Barrette from the Mammal Society have proven that cats with a bell catch as much prey (or even more) than those without one. Take a look at everything you need to know on the actual figures in AnimalWised's article Cats killing birds: separating fact from myth.
Birds and other wildlife will be aware of a cat's presence not by the noise of the bell, but because of physical viewing, so a bell will not make a difference in this sense. Another reason that makes a bell useless in this sense is that, over time, cats have learnt how to walk without the bell ringing.
If this is the reason you want to put a bell on your cat, then a Cat Bib may be an alternative your cat could adapt to instead.
If despite all this, you cannot resist from putting a bell on your cat, try to only put it on from time to time or at least, buy a small one. We know that collars serve many purposes: identifying, flee-removal, being aesthetic-pleasing, a tracking device, etc. While wearing a collar might be necessary, it does not need to have a bell. Put yourself in your little furry friend's position, just because it seems funny or cute does not mean you should go a step further and ruin your cat's hearing and peace. For more useful advice on raising cats, we recommend consulting our cat section on OneHowTo.com
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