Is CatBib Effective and Are the Collars Worth Buying Too?
Updated
CatBib is a bib-style attachment that hangs from a cat's collar and is marketed as a way to stop cats from hunting and killing birds and other wildlife. According to catgoods.com, it is "university tested" and "proven to stop cat hunting & killing," with field trial results cited showing fewer birds attacked by cats. The site also sells a matching cat collar described as "a cat collar that stays on" with "the perfect balance of safety and effectiveness." If your goal is to reduce your outdoor cat's wildlife kills, the CatBib is the primary product to evaluate; the collar is a supporting purchase, not a standalone solution.
What CatBib Is and How It Works
CatBib is a patented product invented by a bird-feeding, cat-loving gardener in Springfield, Oregon, after collars with bells and other deterrents didn't work. It attaches to a cat's collar with Velcro and is made from durable neoprene with strong stitching, and it's designed to be highly visible.
The mechanism, as described by the site, is a physical bib that interferes with a cat's ability to stalk and pounce precisely. The site states it protects all wild birds (including songbirds) and other wildlife whenever your cat is outdoors. The site also cites these figures:
- Cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds every year
- Outdoor cats contribute to 33 extinctions globally
- The average house cat kills 2 animals every week (source cited: PetKeen)
- CatBib is estimated to have saved over 1.8 million birds
The core claim to weigh is "university tested" and "scientific proof." The site links to a scientific proof page and a field trial summary showing fewer birds attacked. If you want to verify the effectiveness claim before buying, those linked pages are the place to check the study details rather than relying on the marketing headline alone.
Is CatBib Effective? What the Evidence Shows
The site presents two categories of support:
| Evidence type | What the site says | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| University testing / field trials | "University Tested," "Proven to Stop Cat Hunting & Killing," field trial results in fewer birds attacked | Check the linked scientific proof page for study specifics |
| Customer stories | "1000s of customer stories and reviews" | Read a range of reviews, not just featured ones |
The field trial claim is the stronger of the two because it's a controlled observation rather than anecdote. Customer stories are useful for understanding real-world fit, durability, and whether cats tolerate wearing it, but they don't establish effectiveness on their own.
A practical way to judge: if the university-tested field trial results are specific about how much hunting was reduced and under what conditions, that's meaningful. If you can't find those details, treat the effectiveness claim as promising but not fully verified.
How to Choose the Right Size CatBib
This is the most common pre-purchase question, and the site's answer is counterintuitive: size is based on your cat's aggression, not the size of the cat.
So a small, mild-mannered cat that hunts aggressively may need a large CatBib, while a big but passive cat may need a small one. The site has a dedicated "Which Size CatBib To Choose" section and a "which size is best for your bird cat" guide. Before ordering, read that guide and match it to your cat's hunting behavior rather than its body size.
Available options shown on the site include:
- Small CatBib – Purple
- Small CatBib – Rainbow
- Large CatBib – Turquoise (listed as out of stock)
- Large CatBib – Rainbow
Note that stock varies by style and size, so check availability before deciding on a color.
Are the CatBib Collars Worth Buying Too?
The collar is sold as a companion product, and the site's pitch is narrow and specific: "A cat collar that stays on. The perfect balance of safety and effectiveness."
That framing matters for two reasons:
- Safety: A collar that stays on is only good if it also releases under strain. The site claims a balance between the two, but it doesn't publish breakaway force specs in the material provided, so if safety-release behavior is critical to you, look for that detail before buying.
- Effectiveness: The CatBib needs a collar to attach to. If your cat already wears a secure, well-fitting collar, you may not need the CatBib-branded one. If your cat regularly loses or slips collars, the "stays on" claim is the reason to consider it.
The collar is a reasonable add-on if you need a reliable mounting point, but it isn't required to test whether the CatBib concept works for your cat.
What to Check Before You Buy
- Read the scientific proof page to see how specific the university testing and field trial results are.
- Use the size guide and base your choice on aggression level, not cat size.
- Check stock for your preferred size and color, since at least one large option is listed as out of stock.
- Skim customer stories for notes on fit, durability, and whether cats adjust to wearing it.
- Decide on the collar separately — buy it if you need a collar that stays on, skip it if your current collar works.
The site also offers a FAQ and a "See the CatBib in Action" section, both useful for answering fit and use questions before ordering. Pricing isn't shown in the material provided, so check the store for current prices.