Make a Cat Collar

Store-bought cat collars can get costly, especially if you need to replace them frequently. Making your own collar for your feline friend can save you money while allowing you to customize it to match your cat's personality.

Pullover Collar

 * 1) Measure your cat's neck. Loosely wrap a soft tape measure around the base of your cat's neck. Keep the tape measure taut but not tight.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 1.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *You should be able to slip your thumb between the tape measure and your cat's neck without choking your cat.
 * 3) *Take this measurement and add 1 inch (2.5 cm) to it. The result will be used for the length of the collar.
 * 4) Cut suede to the appropriate length. Obtain 1/2-inch (1.25-cm) wide suede strip material. Using scissors, cut the strip down to match your measured length.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 2.jpg|center]]
 * 5) *If you are unable to find suede strip material, you can purchase any strong, flexible suede. Cut the length down to size, then trim the width down to about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm).
 * 6) *You could also vary the look of this collar by using nylon webbing, leather strip material, canvas strip material, or durable ribbon. Make sure that the material is strong enough to hold its form yet flexible enough to bend with ease.
 * 7) Cut 2 inches (5 cm) of elastic. Snip 1/2-inch (1.25-cm) wide braided stretch elastic down to a length of about 2 inches (5 cm) using sharp scissors.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 3.jpg|center]]
 * 8) *The elastic can be anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 inch (0.6 to 1.25 cm) wide, but it should not be wider than the width of the suede strip. Only use elastic band material; do not use elastic cords or elastic thread.
 * 9) Glue the elastic to both ends of the suede. Using super glue, adhere one side of the elastic strip to the "wrong" side of the suede strip at one end. Glue the other side of the elastic strip to the "wrong" side at the opposite end.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 4.jpg|center]]
 * 10) *Overlap the elastic and the suede by about 3/4 inch (2 cm) on each side. When finished, there should be about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) of excess elastic showing between the ends of the suede.
 * 11) *Allow the glue to dry completely before you handle the collar further.
 * 12) Write your contact information on the collar. If desired, write your phone number on the side of the collar using permanent marker.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 5.jpg|center]]
 * 13) *This will enable anyone who finds your cat to call you and report your cat's whereabouts should it ever go missing. Make sure that you can read the printed information on the side of the collar, then let the ink dry.
 * 14) Slip the collar onto your cat. Once the glue and marker are completely dry, stretch the collar over your cat's head and around its neck.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 15) *Check the fit. You should be able to fit two fingers in between the collar and the cat's neck once the collar is around the neck.
 * 16) *Note that the elastic should stretch enough to fit over your cat's head, but it should not need to stretch at all once the collar rests around your cat's neck.

Breakaway Clasp Collar

 * 1) Cut a strip of fabric. Cut a piece of fabric measuring about 15 inches (38 cm) long and 1-1/2 inches (4 cm) wide.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 7.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *To save some time, you could use 1/2-inch (1.25-cm) wide double-fold bias tape instead of regular fabric. Cut it to a length of 15 inches (38 cm). Skip the folding step of the process, and proceed directly to the stitching step.
 * 3) Double fold the fabric strip. Fold the long edges of the fabric toward the center until the meet along the lengthwise middle. Fold the strip again along this lengthwise center, hiding the raw edges inside.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 8.jpg|center]]
 * 4) *The first folds should be made with the wrong sides together and the right sides facing out.
 * 5) *Use an iron to press and crease each fold after making it. This is important; if you don't press the material, it won't lie flat around your cat's neck.
 * 6) Stitch the length. Using a sewing machine, top stitch along the open length of the strip. A standard straight stitch should suffice.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 9.jpg|center]]
 * 7) *Place the line of stitching as close to the open edge as possible.
 * 8) *You can stitch down both the open and folded sides of the length for the sake of uniformity, if desired, but doing so is not necessary to hold the collar together.
 * 9) Attach an adjuster bar to one end. Weave one end of the fabric strip around the bar of an adjuster ring. Pull about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of material through the ring, and sew it to itself on the opposite side.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 10.jpg|center]]
 * 10) *Essentially, you're folding the end of the strip over by 1 inch (2.5 cm) and positioning the adjuster bar inside the fold.
 * 11) *Fold the raw edge in between the overlapping layers of material by about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm), then stitch the overlap in place at the open end.
 * 12) *If any raw edges are still visible from beneath the fold, dab a small spot of seam sealant over them to prevent the edges from fraying.
 * 13) Slide one clasp piece down the length of the strip. With the "wrong" side of the collar facing up, slide the hooked end of the breakaway clasp through the opposite end of the fabric strip.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 11.jpg|center]]
 * 14) *Weave the end up through the portion of the clasp closest to the teeth, over the bar, and back down through the opposite side.
 * 15) *Pull the clasp along the length of the fabric strip until it is 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10 cm) away from the adjuster ring.
 * 16) Slide the strip through the adjuster ring. Pull the free, unattached end of the fabric strip through the adjuster ring.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 12.jpg|center]]
 * 17) *The strip should come up from beneath the ring, over the bar and the attached material, and back down through the other open end.
 * 18) *Slide the fabric strip through the adjuster ring until only 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10 cm) of material remain. This remaining material will overlap the material attached to the adjuster ring bar. Note that the threaded half of the breakaway clasp should sit at the center of this doubled material.
 * 19) Attach the ring and other clasp half to the opposite end. Slip a metal D-ring down 3 inches (7.6 cm) of the open strip end. Thread the opposite end of the breakaway clasp 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) above it at the same end. Sew that end in place.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 13.jpg|center]]
 * 20) *The rounded portion of the ring should face toward the "right" side of the fabric.
 * 21) *Fold the strap "wrong" sides together so that the end overlaps around the bar of the clasp. Fold 1/4 inch (6 mm) of the raw edge between the two layers, then stitch the layers down.
 * 22) *Use seam sealant to secure any visible raw edge that remains, if applicable.
 * 23) Put the collar on your cat. The collar is finished, and you should be able to snap it around your cat's neck. Adjust the length to size by pulling material through the adjuster ring.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 14.jpg|center]]
 * 24) *You should be able to slip two fingers between the collar and your cat's neck when the collar is sized correctly.

Shirt-Style Collar

 * 1) Remove the collar from a small button-down shirt. Use fabric scissors to cut away the collar portion of a toddler's button-down shirt.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 15.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Lay the unbuttoned shirt face-down on a flat surface. Pop the collar up.
 * 3) *Carefully cut just beneath the seam on the side facing the body side of the shirt (not the collar side). Cut as close as possible to the seam without cutting through it.
 * 4) Apply seam sealant to the raw edges. Dab a thin line of seam sealant over the raw, cut edge of the collar to prevent any fraying.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 16.jpg|center]]
 * 5) *Let the seam sealant dry completely before you continue.
 * 6) Cut a strip of nylon webbing. Cut a 1/2-inch (1.25-cm) wide strip of nylon webbing to a length 1 inch (2.5 cm) wider than the circumference of your cat's neck.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 17.jpg|center]]
 * 7) *You can measure the nylon webbing directly against your cat's neck or use a soft measuring tape to take the measurement. Either way, the cut piece of nylon webbing should be wrap around your cat's neck loosely, allowing you to fit two fingers between it and your cat.
 * 8) *Alternatively, you can skip the nylon webbing and use an old collar that has been previously fitted to the circumference of your cat's neck.
 * 9) Glue the collar to the webbing. Draw a line of fabric glue or hot glue down the length of the webbing, then press the webbing to the inside of the shirt collar.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 18.jpg|center]]
 * 10) *Lay the unbuttoned collar on a flat surface with the "wrong" side facing up and the folds pointing down.
 * 11) *Place the glue on the nylon webbing, then press the webbing onto the wrong side of the collar adhesive-side down. The ends of the webbing should lie just to the insides of the button and button hole.
 * 12) *You can pinch and fold the collar to match the length of the webbing, if necessary, but you should not fold the webbing to match the length of the the collar.
 * 13) *Let everything dry completely before continuing.
 * 14) Button the collar around your cat's neck. Once the glue dries, wrap the collar around your cat's neck with the webbing-side facing in. Button the front together to hold the collar in place.[[Image:Make a Cat Collar Step 19.jpg|center]]

Pullover Collar

 * Soft tape measure
 * Suede strip material, 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) wide
 * Braided stretch elastic, 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) wide
 * Scissors
 * Super glue
 * Permanent marker

Breakaway Clasp Collar

 * 1/4 yd (1/4 m) fabric
 * Iron
 * Ironing board
 * Sewing machine
 * Coordinating thread
 * 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) adjuster ring
 * 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) two-piece breakaway clasp
 * 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) metal D-ring
 * Seam sealant (optional)

Shirt-Style Collar

 * Button-down toddler shirt
 * Fabric scissors
 * Seam sealant
 * 1/2-inch (1.25-cm) wide nylon webbing
 * Fabric glue or hot glue

Sources and Citations
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