Diary of a Reluctant Cat Rescuer

Charles Darwin quote: The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.

Guest blog by Frank Weaver

“So first, your memory I’ll jog,
And say: A CAT IS NOT A DOG.”
~ T.S. Eliot, ‘The Ad-dressing of Cats’
from Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats

Perhaps it is due to a defect in my character, but the company of animals has for me often been preferable to that of human beings. Not that I am any sort of misanthrope. I like people, and get along well with practically all of them. It’s just that I find the complex machinations of the human mind—how to read it, how to respond to it, what to make of it—quite exhausting at times. Whereas the instincts, behaviors, and personalities of most animals lie much more at the surface, readily accessible if not always understood. Their innocence is profoundly appealing, and thus dealing with them is just easier for someone like me.

So yes, I love animals, all of them. I daresay, they tend to love me back most of the time. And how could it be otherwise?—given that my namesake saint is most famous for his inspiring rapport with birds and every other beast.

St. Francis with the Animals
Saint Francis with the Animals by Lambert de Hondt / Willem van Herp

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Why Your Cat Should Wear a Tag & Collar

cat_tags

According to catcaresociety.org, “most pet owners do not provide their cats with collars and identification tags or microchips.” Many cat owners have this idea that their cat will only stay indoors. And if it should slip out of the house, it’ll easily find its way back home.

If only that was the case. Cats are born with the natural instinct to run around, jump, hide, and hunt. And although your cat may love you, there’s no saying it will ever really come back if it leaves the house unattended.

Using Cat Tags and Collars

One of the most common problems with putting a tag and collar on a cat is that they reject it. That’s why it’s important to ease your cat into the process. Put the collar on and take it off a couple times throughout the day. Once they’re used to the collar, start applying the tags in the same fashion.

Once you have your cat tagged, it opens up the world to their identity. Lets be real – if your cat gets lost in the neighborhood, only few will know who it belongs to. With identification, there’s a much greater chance of your cat being returned home.

So What Should be on the Tag?

While it’s tempting to cram as much information as you can on a tag, it’s truly not necessary. The cat’s name and owner’s phone number is really all you need. A second phone number may be a good idea.

What About Microchips?

A microchip is placed in your pet’s neck to identify it. It’s not a hard thing to implement, and the use of them is quickly becoming a standard routine. But according to the Humane Society, “microchips are not foolproof, and you shouldn’t rely on them exclusively to protect your pet.” It’s always wise to keep a tag and collar on your cat.

Tag Maintenance

Once you buy tags and collars, you can use them forever, right?

Not quite. Pets lose and gain weight fairly easily, so the fit of their collar will need to be changed. Also keep in mind that tags can wear, fade, get scratched, etc. Your phone number or home address could change as well! And if the information on the tags is no longer readable, or incorrect, what’s the point of even having the tags?

Lisa Podwirny is the owner of Ketchum Mfg. Connect with her on Google+!

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