Home is where the cat belongs, unless it's on a leash with its owner. And there are some very good reasons, not least of which is the safety of your cat. Each year, Animal Control picks up about 200 injured cats, and almost twice as many fatally injured cats on public streets. Lost cast cause worry and heartache for their families. They can get into fights with other animals. They get onto other people's property and cause a nuisance. They can pick up diseases. Lost cats are an expense to the community that must provide the Animal Control officers to pick them up, and they are an expense to the owner who must pay to get the cat back from the animal shelter. So do yourself, your cat, your neighbors, and your community a favor--follow these tips:

1. Neuter your cat. Unaltered cats often roam because they are more interested in breeding than in being pets. Neutering will relieve your cat of the breeding instinct the compels it to wander and fight. Neutered cats also cost less to license. To find out the other benefits of neutering, contact your veterinarian.
2. Have your cat wear a collar with current rabies and license tags at all times. Licensing and rabies vaccinations give Animal Control your name, address and telephone number, making it easier to notify you if your lost cat has been found. Tags are necessary, even if your cat is an indoor pet. It can slip out of a door or an open window and its chances of getting lost are greater if it is not used to being outside. The cat's collar should have a piece of elastic sewn to it, or some other safety feature, so that if the collar becomes caught on something, the cat can free itself.
3. Your cat and the great indoors. A cat can lead an active, happy and safe life inside if you provide plenty of "cat entertainment." Scratching post, toys, and a window perch will keep your cat stimulated and satisfied. Cats tend to sleep 80% of the day, whether inside or not.
4. If you feel you need to let your cat outside, supervise or confine it. Many owners take their cats on regularly scheduled walks with a harness and lightweight leash. Some owners make a run for their cats out of lightweight cable. Others keep their cats safe in a type of outdoor cage mad of wire fence or some other type of fencing. The cage should be tall enough to allow the cat to climb and long enough so it can run. Include toys and scratching materials and put the cage in a place where the cat will not feel threatened. Do not let your cat run loose outdoors.
5. If you have recently moved, keep your cat inside for a while. Three to four weeks will help your cat become more secure in its environment and realize that the move is not temporary. Make sure it's always wearing proper tags.
6. Do not get rid of your cat just because it tends to wander. All pets need permanency and consistency, and passing a wandering cat on to another owner is simply passing on the problem. Most behavior problems can be changed or worked around. A big part of responsible pet ownership is being patient and working with your cat.
7. Dress your cat for any occasion. A lost cat without a tag probably will never find its owner, but a cat wearing a tag can be returned quickly.
   Sadly, most lost cats don't have identification, and their owners may search long and hard with no success. Less than eight percent of cats brought to the shelter in Lincoln in the last five years were reclaimed.
   Don't take a chance on losing your cat forever! Tag it with your name, address and phone number. If a cat is allowed to roam, it must wear a current licensing tag. that is the law! Tags, if lost can be replace for no charge at Animal Control.
   Even if your cat never goes outside, it needs a tag. A majority of the lost cats reports in Lincoln are on cats that "never go outside". Someday, your cat could slip through an open door and easily become lost in territory that is unfamiliar to it -- even if it's your neighbor's back yard!