Bruce, you should see my kitty right now. Like a manic depressive, she waffles hourly between, "Ohmigod, there's boxes all over the place!" and "Ohmigod... there's boxes all over the place..."

I can't WAIT to drive all the way to LA with a howling cat.

As for the collar, get a new one and stick it on the floor near kitty's playthings. While playing with kitty, wiggle the collar and try to get him to bat at it. Rub with catnip if desired. Repeat for a month or so, until kitty is bored with collar as no longer an unusual item, then try CASUALLY placing the collar on him when he's in a good mood.

Mine had an irrational fear of harnesses that her previous guardian swore she had tried for years to cure, and this method did the trick. Now when she hears the harness, she comes running to go for a walk!