We have four cats that came to us from the great outdoors. We've tried to keep collars on all of them, but two, the males, keep getting out of theirs, so we've given up. There are cat collars that are 'breakaway', if they get snagged on something the clasp comes free. In my opinion, since your cats are microchipped, you don't need to force collars on them if they don't like them.

My inside cats have no desire to go outside, so I don't have collars on them.

I dont use collars ever since my one cat got hung up by a tree branch and I've never let any of my cats out ever since. I agree, if yours are micro chipped there is no reason for a collars. Your an angel for adopting 2 feral's
I know what a handful they can be....

I think the problems with collars on cats far exceed the advantages! You are just asking for trouble and the cats are inside????? Why collars????? If they are used to being inside and get outside for some reason, believe me they will be so scared that they will stay very close to the house. We have 5 outdoor cats that we moved here in TN from IL two months ago. They have been inside for two months are we are just now trying to introduce them to the new acreage. They are terrified and go out for 10 minutes at the most and then are crying to come in. We are hoping they will re-adjust to the outdoors soon since we don't want 5 indoor cats but we sure aren't worried that they will get lost!

I understand leaving collars off indoor cats, but not outdoor cats. Can you get a breakaway collar? the trick is to train them beginning in early kittenhood to accept the collar.

Where Im coming from - my cat was lost for 6 weeks once and I cant tell you how extraordinarily difficult it was due to the fact that without collar and tags, there's no way to know if the cat that someone has reported to you is lost or if its just a neighborhood cat. Seriously, we're talking 100+ reports of cats and you go check it out and more often than not it turns out to be some neighborhood cat.

ryseryse, why not build a cat enclosure? They can be secure, and youll know that theyll be OK (outdoor cats get lost too -injured, chased off by dogs or ferals, etc.)

It baffles me why people will spend untold $$$ on enclosures and all kinds of stuff for their dogs, but not cats. They'll spend all kinds of time and energy training dogs but not cats.

Thanks for all of the comments. I am extremely careful about not letting them out (on a busy road) so I think I will forgo the collars. They are only 5 months old still very rambunctious and curious, but they are learning mama doesn't like them near the front door so I think if I continue to be cautious we will be ok.