Using Different Bell Sizes to Tell Your Dogs and Cats Apart

If you have more than one dog or cat, a different size bell on each animal can help you tell them apart by sound. Different bell sizes have different tones. Once you learn which sound belongs to which animal, you have a better idea of who’s moving, even when you can’t see them.

Cats Around the House

When I’m in the living room and hear a bell coming from the kitchen, I can tell whether it’s Goose or Princess Buttercup without seeing them. Sometimes it’s just nice to know who’s coming to join me.

Goose wears a Small bell, and Buttercup the kitten wears an Extra Small. I’ve become familiar with those two sounds just by having the cats around the house.

If you’d like to tell your cats apart this way, first find a comfortable size for each of them. Depending on the cat, that could be an Extra Small, Small, or Medium bell. And if you really have a large cat or a cat with a big personality, a Large could even work (just remember, the Large, as its name suggests, is quite big).

The weight of the bell itself isn’t necessarily a consequential factor. The difference between an Extra Small and a Large in terms of weight is several grams. These bells are also used on hawks and falcons that fly, and generally, a large hawk, such as a red-tailed hawk, will wear two of the Large bells.

One thing to note is that the size guide is really just a suggestion. If you have two or more cats that are the same size, you can still put different-sized bells on those cats. Larger bells are generally a little bit louder than the next size smaller, and if you have three cats that are all the same size, you could maybe size each bell to the cat’s personality.

You can compare the sizes and weights on our cat collar bells page. For one bell on each of two cats, choose a Single in each size. The Pair option is generally a two-bell configuration for one animal.

Dogs on Walks and in the Field

On walks with Finn and Mac, I listen to their bells as we head down a trail or through the woods. I’ve heard them enough that I don’t have to stop and think about which dog is making which sound. I can keep walking and still have a sense of where each one is.

Finn wears a pair of Large bells, and Mac wears a pair of Medium bells. Those different tones are what I recognize. Large bells, that’s Finn. Medium, that’s Mac.

Start with a size that suits each dog. Choose a comfortable bell size for each dog, and the difference in tone can help you tell them apart.

To find a comfortable fit for your dogs, you can compare the measurements and weights on our dog collar bells page. The suggested sizes for dogs run from Extra Small through Large.

Familiar Sounds

Over time, the sound of each bell becomes familiar, and you don’t have to think about it. You begin to recognize who’s nearby, where they are, and how far away they are, whether you’re at home or out for a walk. I find that it’s a nice way to feel more connected to my animals.

-Doug N.