Our Final Verdict
We give Birdsbesafe Cat Collars a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Quality: 4.7/5
Variety: 4.8/5
Safety: 4.7/5
Value: 5/5
There’s nothing quite as relaxing as an early summer morning, listening to the songbirds sing, the chipmunks chutter, and…is that a cat?! Fly bird, fly!
Cats, whether they are domestic or feral kill over 3 billion birds annually (not to mention the number of amphibians, rabbits, and mice as well).1 Cats are natural-born hunters, and they’re mighty good at it with stealthy movement, the capability of short bursts of speed, high jumping from a standstill, and the ability to almost always land on their feet.
While birds do have relatively fast reflexes, they still need a little help outsmarting our feline friends.
Birdsbesafe offers collars with bells and vibrant collar covers that assist our flighty friends in escaping. In keeping birds safe, Birdsbesafe also kept the cats in mind with their safe, breakaway design options.
If your cats can’t stay indoors, keep the songbirds out of harm’s way by outfitting your feline with an early warning sign. Also, I think you’ll agree that Toby, Mo, and Sno make quite the fashion statement in these brightly colored collars.
At a Glance: What We Reviewed
About Birdsbesafe
The idea for Birdsbesafe collar covers was born in the Vermont woods, when the resident cat, George would often bring birds into the house after a catch.
Knowing a little about Songbird’s eyesight, Ms.Brennan decided to test a brightly colored strip of fabric around George’s collar. With a dramatic decrease in the number of birds George brought home, Ms.Brennan knew she was onto something, and testing began.
A number of studies were conducted around the globe to note the total number of birds brought in by a cat wearing a Birdsbesafe collar. Each study is an intriguing read, but if you’re looking for the Spark Notes, the collar-wearing cats displayed a drastic decrease in the number of birds killed.
The collars are made in the USA and are helpful for all cat lovers who have roaming pet cats (or even those who occasionally visit a balcony where a bird feeder sits).
Key Features
We know they look great, and studies show they effectively reduce the number of birds cats catch; now we’ll look at a color breakdown, safety features, shipping, returns, and more.
Color Choices
Full Stretch Breakaway Cat Collar
Red with matching bell
Blue with matching bell
Green with matching bell
Nylon Breakaway Cat Collar
Black with matching bell
Pink with matching bell
Green with matching bell
Yellow with matching bell
Red with matching bell
Blue with matching bell
Collar Covers
Geodelic
Funky
Wavy
Crayon
Rainbow Sally
Tribal Stripes
Celtic Wind (Note* – This one comes in a long-haired cat option, too.)
Batik
Puzzle
Quality & Care
Birdsbesafe uses quality cotton material for all of their collar covers. This lightweight material can be hand-washed or machine-washed in the same way you would any cotton garment.
We know cats don’t typically love the water, but if your feline friend is out exploring in the rain, Birdsbesafe recommends you remove the wet collar cover and allow it to dry (or replace it with a second collar cover). Waterproof fabrics have been found to be irritating to a cat’s fur, therefore Birdsbesafe sticks with the safer cotton option.
Safety
If you’re looking into purchasing a Birdsbesafe collar, you’re already conscious of bird and cat safety. While we value the songbird and lizard populations, we don’t want to see our cats getting hurt. Birdsbesafe has conducted extensive research to ensure your cats stay just as safe as the prey animals they (hopefully) don’t catch.
The collars are designed to assist songbirds with seeing the brightly colored patterns and provide them with the ability to take flight before the cat gets too close. Birdsbesafe stays away from floral patterns that may attract hummingbirds, bees, and other flower-loving creatures.
The breakaway design of the collars and lightweight fabric does not impede or cause any strain on the cat.
So, we know the colors highlight the cats for the birds, but do they draw any predators?
There is always a risk to a cat’s safety when they go outside, but Birdsbesafe collar covers (based on studies) do not further attract the usual predators such as dogs, owls, coyotes, mountain lions, etc.
Where to Buy, Shipping & Returns
Birdsbesafe collars and covers are available on the Birdsbesafe site and Amazon.
Birdsbesafe offers a 100% money-back guarantee if you receive the item and decide it’s not for you. The collar and cover must be in their original condition and packaging.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need to purchase a breakaway collar and a collar cover?
Yes. Birdsbesafe recommends you purchase a breakaway collar with your collar cover. The collar cover tube is approximately 20” long and 2” wide. If the collar cover gets snagged on a branch, the breakaway collar will pop open, ensuring your cat doesn’t get stuck.
Reviews of the Birdsbesafe Products We Tried
1. Nylon Breakaway Collar
The cat face clasp, reflective band, and matching bell are great options for cats who frequently go out at night. The reflective band is the largest on this collar. My cat Mo has always assisted keeping the mice out of the chicken feed, and rodents out of the garden, I sleep better knowing her nighttime prowess is made safer by the reflective band.
I live on a farm with my cats, so there is no shortage of things for them to get caught on. Therefore, I love the breakaway collars. With the bright band, even if it does break away, it’s much easier to spot on a walkabout.
Safest option for breakaway collar
Large reflective band
Multiple color options
Easy to lose on a large property
2. Full Stretch Breakaway Collar
This collar comes with a traditional buckle, reflective thread, and a removable, matching-color bell. This breakaway collar requires moderate pressure, so if your cat remains mostly in your yard without many obstacles, it’s the perfect choice. The full-stretch design allows for some give before the collar unbuckles but still keeps your cat safe in the event of a hang-up. The collar easily slides inside a collar cover.
Stays on longer requires moderate pressure
Reflective thread
Bright colors make it easier to spot
Harder to see on long-haired cats
3. Collar Covers
There are countless testimonials describing the ways in which customers’ ferocious bird-killers go from multiple birds a week down to 0 while using the Birdsbesafe collar cover. The biggest plus, is these collars work for long and short-haired cats alike.
The collars work in conjunction with the bell collars and the reflective stripe around the outside of the collar cover makes them safe for evening prowlers.
The covers are reviewed to be reasonably priced, and the bundling options are affordable, ensuring you don’t go without a cover if one were to become lost or wet.
Affordable
Great for long-haired cats
Fit easily around the breakaway collar
Effective
Not waterproof, so multiple are needed or frequent drying in wet weather
Our Experience With Birdsbesafe Collars & Covers
Our cat Mojave (Mo, for short) is our resident old lady and has been a killing machine (especially in her younger years). We had tried wild bird feeders in the past, but even with the elevated platform and cleared below, I didn’t find it fair to subject unsuspecting sparrows, robins, stellar jays, and songbirds to her constant hunting. She has worn bells, which helped a little.
When we brought her home, we lived next to an orchard with tons of birds all spring, summer, and fall, and her bird count was so high that we stopped letting her out during the day. Fast forward to receiving the Birdsbesafe collar cover, we placed it on her and sent her outside. She has not brought in a bird since she’s been wearing one full-time. Yay! The collar has returned home safely despite her gallivanting around, and she sleeps peacefully with it on, confirming it doesn’t impede her natural movement.
Our younger cats, Sno and Toby, have grown up on the farm and become excellent hunters with the elder mother hen, Mo, teaching them all the tricks. We keep several animals here on the farm, including chickens, ducks, rabbits, turkeys, dogs, and sheep, which all require small pelleted food at times, which can lead to rodents.
Many rodents carry diseases or otherwise spoil food for our livestock. Here is where the really neat part comes in – while wearing the collars and covers, they have both caught a mouse, but there are no bird feathers to be seen anywhere. I’ve always allowed the cats into the coop area with me to ensure there aren’t any rodents attempting to make a home, I have started quickly popping the bell off for the coop search and then fastening it onto the collar again for them to continue their daily walks around the property.
Each cat didn’t seem to mind when I had put the collar on, and keeping with Birdsbesafe’s recommendation of a finger-width space between the collar and the cat’s neck, all cats were unable to get a paw into the collar to remove.
I thoroughly enjoy seeing a cat outdoors, whether scaling a tree at breakneck speeds, chasing a fly off of a flower, basking in the sun, or surveying the garden for rodents. The enrichment a cat receives from being outdoors is wonderful to watch, and I’m even happier to do it at no cost to our local bird population.
Conclusion
I love to see a company go above and beyond the standard. Breakaway cat collars with bells have been around for quite some time, but Birdsbesafe has taken a great product and expanded on it using research, fact-based conclusions, and expert recommendations to guarantee harmony in this specific predator-prey relationship.
I was pleasantly surprised with each aspect of the products we trialed, beginning with value, safety, quality, variety of colors, and purchase options.
If you have an outdoor cat that is known to hunt, you’ll be surprised at the difference in casualties while your feline friend sports the collar and cover.
