Cats are collared - or not collared for a variety of reasons

A survey showing most Kiwi cat owners refuse to collar their cats has sparked an SPCA call to collar them.

Results of research into New Zealand cats published in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal found just 35 percent of cat owners put a collar on their moggy.

SPCA Auckland chief executive Andrea Midgen said collars were important to let neighbours know a pet was not a stray while putting bells on the collar lowered the risk a cat would kill birds.

She said new technology collars removed the risks cats would strangle themselves if they had collars.

"Cats tend to get stuck and have trouble freeing themselves, now we recommend elastic/safety release collars that acts as a rubberband so the cat can wriggle free if necessary," said Midgen.

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New Zealand is known for having one of the highest cat ownership rates in the world. Approximately 50 percent of us own cats, according to various studies over the years.

They have sparked a campaign by Gareth Morgan to ban cats because of the number of native birds they kill.

The latest study, of 511 cat owners, showed most owners - 89 percent - allow their cats to roam outdoors, but usually collar less.

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Owners relied on microchipping to identify their cats - 53 percent have their cats chipped.

But the SPCA said collars were still important and should be used.

Collars can be taken to extremes though - another study, by Victoria University researcher Dr Heidy Kikillus, recommends using a collar with extra puffy collars (which some unkind critics have likened to dressing your cat up like a clown) may be the answer to stopping cats hunting.

In Auckland there is one wandering mog who has become famous for his collars - Kevin can be found meandering around Mt Eden cone and smooching with various visitors.

So people don't think he's lost his owners have kitted him with collars tags stating this name and the message "Hi, I'm very friendly and if I'm on Mt Eden I'm not lost" and "Tweet to say you saw me" with the Twitter handle @acatcalledkevin.