Are bells bad for cats?, Do bells make cats deaf? Or do cats like bells? These are some of the most frequently asked questions on this topic. The truth is that cats have a highly developed sense of hearing and putting ourselves in the shoes of our cat companion will help us understand why bells are not a good idea.
Surely you are used to the bell for cats, we have seen them in famous cartoons and even in popular sayings "who puts the bell on the cat?". But, are you sure that this practice is he althy for our pet or do you have doubts. If the answer is yes, on our site we explain why bells are not good for cats
Origin of the use of the bell in cats
The famous phrase "who puts the bell on the cat?" comes from one of the most popular fables of the English poet Odo de Sherington in The Book of Cats written in the twelfth century It is told as a group of cats Desperate, they find the solution to their problems by putting a bell on the cat that harassed them to be able to locate it Even so, putting this idea into practice is somewhat more complicated. Therefore, we can say that this is the origin of the bells in cats.
In addition to this literary reference, we are constantly bombarded with images of adorable cats with bells such as:
- The famous magical cat Doraemon.
- Fluffy the cat from the animated series Rugrats: Adventures in diapers.
- The Chinese lucky cat or Maneki-neko.
Perhaps for this reason, we tend to associate the use of the bell as a necessary aesthetic arrangement for our furry friend when the truth is that bells hurt cats and they are usually not very happy. Despite all this, society is becoming more and more informed and today there are many who defend the he alth of cats explaining why the use of bells in cats is not good
Why are cat bells used?
We can't say that there are any advantages of the bell in cats, but it is true that there are three main reasons why some people They use cat bells. These are:
- Aesthetics: Having the historical precedent, we know that for many it is adorable to see their pets with a cute bell around their neck.
- Location: the bell is also used to keep cats located at all times, especially if our feline friend likes it take a walk next door or around the neighborhood.
- Warning: Cats are ste althy hunters and bells were used to help their potential victims, such as birds and some rodents. Upon hearing the bell, the prey had time to escape quietly, as the mice in the story wanted to do.
If you thought that this object could be good for your cat, we will help you find solutions so that both you and your cat are happy. Remember that the he alth issues of our feline will always be more important than those related to aesthetics.
Why are bells bad for cats?
Putting a bell on our cat has more disadvantages than advantages. Although it may not seem like it, the bells can be real torture for our dear friend.
First of all, keep in mind that the purpose of a bell is to make noise and it is precisely this aspect that makes it negative for cats. Felines have a keen sense of hearing, are ste althy and bold, and have a constant jingle nearby ears can disturb them
To imagine a current and practical example, the sound of the bell in cats is equivalent to the sound of the mobile every time we receive a notification. A permanent noise and so close to the ears has secondary effects on your feline. The most prominent are:
- Nervousness: cats are animals characterized by great tranquility, so the sound of the bell can lead to a change of attitude and mood.
- Stress.
- Hearing impairment: in some cases the cat could become deaf. We leave you this article from our site so you can discover how to know if my cat is deaf?
- Discomfort: the fact of having the bell tied around the neck will cause our cat to want to take it off to get rid of the sound that bothers him. This act can have risks to your he alth because that's when you can choke on the necklace or pull out a fingernail. In addition, it also does not allow them to scratch normally.
Cats like calm and silence, so deliberately altering this will only harm your feline's quality of life. So, yes: Rattles are bad for cats, as it can lead to the cat becoming much more skittish, stressed and apathetic.
Don't hesitate to take a look at this other article with 10 Things Cats Hate and You Should Avoid, here.
Alternatives to bells in cats
We have seen that one of the reasons why cat bells are used is their aesthetic function. The typical bell collar can be replaced by one that simply does not have this accessory, since there are many other types of collars for cats:
- Identifiers
- Antiparasitics
- Aesthetic
In addition to aesthetics, it is also important that the collar helps us to identify and locate the cat, so we can add its name and a contact number in case you get lost and someone finds you. Although from our site we suggest these alternatives for rattles in cats, do not hesitate to consult your veterinarian first to get a solution approved and reliable for your furry friend.
