What is the Best Training Collar for Cats? Top Electric Cat Shock Collars for 2020
Ever since their appearance on the market, shock collars for cats have been surrounded by a lot of controversy. Often marketed as “innovative” tools for pet behavior correction, cat shock collars may seem appealing to some cat parents. But are they truly as effective and safe for cats as advertised?
At first glance, cat shock collars seem to make some sense theoretically. Some cats can be aggressive to other pets in the house or spoil things that their owners care about. And when nothing else works, some cat parents may be willing to use cat shock collars for negative reinforcement.
Top 5 Cat Shock Collars
The problem is, however, that the concept of negative reinforcement is not effective when it comes to correcting feline behavior. As carnivores by their nature, cats are very free-spirited animals and do not respond well to any form of punishment. In fact, cats often get very vindictive as a result.
Yet, despite their very effectiveness being in question, shock collars for cats abound on the market of pet accessories today. And sadly, the vast majority of them are designed with little to no consideration for the intrinsic feline behavior patterns. Some may even be dangerous to use on your cat.
In this guide, we will review six top shock collars for cats and analyze the advantages and drawbacks of each. Furthermore, we will explore various aspects of using cat shock collars, determining whether or not they are safe and effective. Finally, our guide will pick the best cat shock collar.
Best Cat Shock Training Collar List
① Indoor Cat Barrier by PetSafe
This avoidance system by PetSafe consists of the In-Ground Cat Fence receiver collar and the Indoor Radio Fence barrier transmitter. Working together, these devices make specified areas inside the house inaccessible to your pet.
In particular, the Indoor Radio Fence barrier transmitter produces a barrier range. This range is adjustable and covers the radius between 2 ft. and 10 ft. Requiring no mounting, this barrier transmitter also supports an unlimited number of receiver collars.
In its turn, the In-Ground Cat Fence receiver collar features four adjustable correction levels activated upon range trespassing. Furthermore, it can also operate in tone-only mode that uses a beep instead of static correction.
Pros
Pros
- Supports unlimited number of barrier transmitters and receiver collars.
- Features multiple types and levels of correction.
- Waterproof collar with an elastic safety strip.
Cons
Cons
- Requires an electric outlet nearby.
- Does not support ranges beyond 10 ft.
② AT-211D Remote Dog Training Collar by Aetertek
Designed primarily for dogs of small breed sizes, this collar is suitable for pets weighing between 10 and 50 lbs. On top of the receiver collar, the AT-211D set by Aetertek also includes a remote control that uses rechargeable batteries.
Providing an LCD display remote that is easy to use, the AT-211D by Aetertek features 10 adjustable levels of shock. Besides them, this shock collar is also capable of using a warning beep and vibration in place of static correction.
In addition, the receiver collar is made of sturdy material and can fit neck sizes between 3 and 13 inches.
Pros
Pros
- Claims to meet such US and EU standards as CE, FCC, RTTE, and ROHS.
- Works within the range of up to 400 yards.
- Provides beep, vibration, and 10 degrees of shock.
Cons
Cons
- Is not designed specifically for cats.
- The receiver collar is not waterproof.
③ Pawz Away Indoor Pet Barrier by PetSafe
Thanks to its adjustable range, this system by PetSafe can make indoor areas of almost any size unavailable to pets. As such, it can produce protective barriers that range between 2 and 12 feet in diameter. Once trespassing takes place, the system emits a static correction with a high-pitched tone.
Furthermore, the Pawz Away Indoor Pet Barrier employs progressive static correction. The system starts emitting static correction at the lowest level, increasing it to the maximum within 3 seconds. In 15 seconds, the system stops producing any correction.
Doing all of the above, the barrier transmitter has a compact low-key design.
Pros
Pros
- Waterproof, lightweight, and highly adjustable receiver collar.
- Easy to set up and simple in use.
- Suitable for cats that weigh 5 lbs and more.
Cons
Cons
- The maximum available range is 12 feet only.
- Both the transmitter and the receiver collar use replaceable batteries.
④ Small Size Remote Collar by GoodBoy
Despite being small and lightweight, this collar by GoodBoy has an adjustable length that ranges between 8.5 and 26 inches. As such, it suits pets of various sizes that weigh more than 8 lbs. Yet, GoodBoy advises using only vibration and sound modes on pets like cats, that weigh less than 15 lbs.
Behind its simple design, this collar by GoodBoy contains a diverse number of modes and features. In particular, it comes with support for sound mode and 9 various levels of vibration and shock modes. On top of these features, it can operate within the range of up to 1000 ft.
Employing the latest lithium battery technology, the collar also has a long-lasting battery life.
Pros
Pros
- Has rich functionality.
- Fits various sizes.
- Supports solid range.
Cons
Cons
- The device is not specific to cats.
- Not suitable for pets that weigh less than 8 lbs.
⑤ Dog Training Collar by Dog Care
Devised for training canines, this shock collar by Dog Care is suitable for pets weighing between 15 and 100 lbs. Most cats, however, weigh less than 15 lbs. Because of this, the shock mode in the Dog Training Collar by Dog Care may not be safe for cats.
Featuring multiple channels, this collar allows for simultaneous management of up to 9 pets from the same one remote transmitter. At the same time, the Dog Training Collar by Dog Care offers multiple correction modes: warning beep, vibration, and shock.
Furthermore, the collar provides adjustable 0~99 level of static correction. It’s also size adjustable, being able to fit various neck sizes.
Pros
Pros
- Management of up to 9 different collars.
- Security keypad lock that prevents accidental shocks.
- Adjustable 0~99 static level.
Cons
Cons
- Dog training is its main intended use.
- May not be suitable for cats of smaller sizes.
⑥ Dog Training Collar by Puss and Pooch
This collar by Puss and Pooch has the capacity to function in four modes: beep, vibration, static shock, and light. On top of that, it provides additional control over the device through adjustable levels that range from 1 to 100.
Having a waterproof design, both the remote transmitter and the receiver collar can function during almost any kind of weather. And since the device is rechargeable, it is portable and can work without the need to replace batteries.
In addition, this collar by Puss and Pooch can work within the range of up to 300 meters. It is also size adjustable from 8 to 26 inches in length.
Pros
Pros
- Offers four training modes to choose from.
- Waterproof, size adjustable, and rechargeable receiver collar.
- 10 years warranty with replacement or refund.
Cons
Cons
- The device isn’t made specifically for cats.
- May not be safe for smaller-sized pets.
Conclusion & What is the Best Cat Shock Collar
Our guide doesn’t endorse using cat shock collars in any way. Anecdotal evidence suggests that cats don’t respond to the use of negative reinforcement and only get more vindictive. To make matters worse, most shock collars marketed as suitable for cats may harm your pet.
Yet, if you’re bent on using a cat shock collar, make the effort to choose the best one. Even though shock collars for pets abound, the ones designed specifically for cats are few and far between. And out of the shock collars our guide has reviewed, only one appears to be made for cats.
Including its In-Ground Cat Fence receiver collar, the Indoor Cat Barrier by PetSafe (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE) seems devised specially for cats. Furthermore, the system’s four correction levels and tone-only mode allow for additional fine-tuning based on pet’s peculiarities.
How Exactly Does a Shock Collar Work?
Just as the name implies, a shock collar is a device that delivers a mild electric stimulation to a pet. As such, it serves as a tool that helps to achieve a variety of pet training and behavior correction goals. In fact, a well-chosen high-quality shock collar, that is a fit for your pet, has a number of potential uses:
- Establishing off-limits areas for your pet When you want certain areas indoors to be unavailable to your pet, a high-quality shock collar can make them out-of-reach.
- Securing your pet inside the house If your little friend is an escape artist, a high-quality shock collar can help to keep him or her indoors.
- Forbidding your pet to indulge in bad behaviors A high-quality shock collar can be a helpful tool in conditioning your pet to avoid those behaviors you consider destructive.
- Keeping your pet out of harm’s way With the help of a high-quality shock-collar you can immediately stop your pet from doing something that is plain dangerous.
Most pet owners who contemplate getting a shock collar for their pet would like to reap some of these benefits. Yet, the extent to which a particular shock collar is able to deliver the above benefits depends on the type. As such, most shock collars differ mainly in terms of intended use.
For instance, the shock collars designed for use at home work within smaller ranges that usually don’t exceed 10 ft. On top of that, such avoidance systems deliver the correction automatically and progressively, essentially doing all the work for you.
Conversely, some shock collars are made for the use outdoors, functioning within much bigger ranges of up to 300 meters. Furthermore, such shock collar systems typically require manual operation through a remote transmitter, which delivers exactly the correction you specify.
Shock Collars May Not Be Helpful in Cat Training
Without doubt, cats are notorious for indulging in a whole slew of behaviors that are destructive and sometimes plain dangerous. Below are just a few of them:
- Chewing high-voltage power cords.
- Being aggressive towards other pets in a multi-pet home.
- Spoiling furniture and other items.
- Attempting to escape from the house.
- Eating plants that are toxic.
- Trying to eat inedible objects.
Because the above behaviors are undesirable, ensuring they don’t take place is a common concern of nearly every cat parent. Why not just use a shock collar?
Based on what we have mentioned before, shock collars seem like a potent tool for pet training and behavior correction. But when it comes to cats, they appear so only in theory. Because felines are carnivores by their very nature, they don’t respond well to the use of punishment system on them.
In fact, when cat parents decide to employ punishment in an attempt to train their cat, two scenarios may happen. As some cats may take punishment very painfully and become neurasthenic, other cats may become only more aggressive and vindictive.
As negative reinforcement tools that rely on punishment, shock collars are very likely to invoke the above responses in cats. Because of this factor, the use of a shock collar may have no positive effect on your cat’s behavior whatsoever.
Is It Safe to Use Shock Collars on Cats?
Most cat parents find the very idea of using a cat shock collar on their pet totally unacceptable. And they have compelling reasons to believe so. Surely, a high-quality cat shock collar is unlikely to cause immediate damage to your cat. But can we say the same about its consistent use? Not at all.
As several studies suggest, regular use of a shock collar on your pet has the following dire consequences:
- Your pet starts to suffer from pain No matter how strongly advertising portrays cat shock collars as painless and safe, they still cause physical pain to cats. And no loving cat parent would ever want to deliberately subject their pet to the pain of their own making.
- Your pet becomes a lot more anxious The more you use a shock collar, the more you make your pet fear that you will use it again. With time, living in such constant fear results in anxiety disorders, making pets neurasthenic and preventing them from enjoying life.
- Your pet begins to feel very unsafe If you’re a caring cat parent, chances are your pet has grown to feel very safe and comfortable around you. Inflicting pain on your cat with the use of a shock collar has strong potential for destroying this special relationship.
- Your pet’s entire welfare takes a dive It’s next to impossible to imagine your pet enjoying his or her life as you consistently use a shock collar. As some research points out, regular use of shock collars on pets tends to have negative influence on their welfare.
As if the above issues weren’t enough, using a shock collar on your pet results in one more nasty outcome. It destroys the precious bond that you and your pet can form and enjoy. After all, if you were your pet, would you love someone who’s zapping you with electric currents here and there?
How to Tell If a Shock Collar is Suitable for Cats
As you can see, cat shock collars may often appear as safe and effective in theory. Yet, when it comes to practical applications, shock collars for cats are not only inherently ineffective but also potentially unsafe. Because of this, the majority of cat parents see using shock collars on pets as wrong.
If you still intend to get a shock collar for your cat, though, you must become a very selective buyer. To keep your pet safe and to ensure your purchase is worth your money, take a closer look at features. If a cat shock collar is of high quality, chances are that:
- It is made specifically for cats You will be wise to distrust any shock collar that is not designed with exclusively cats in mind.
- It is designed for use indoors Indoor avoidance systems are more likely to be designed for pets of smaller sizes, such as most cats.
- It has tone-only mode Shock collars that allow you to use warning beeps instead of static correction are the most cat-friendly.
- It includes multiple correction levels The more control you have over the use of static correction, the less is the chance of harming your pet.
The presence of the above features does not guarantee that a given cat shock collar is completely safe or effective. These features only keep to the minimum the risk of a cat shock collar harming your pet in any way. In this respect, which one of the reviewed shock collars does our guide consider as the best?
