Keep Your Kitty Safe With an ID Tag From Arm & Hammer

MISSION, KS--(Marketwire - Jun 27, 2011) - (Family Features) With the warm weather in full swing everyone wants to go outside and play, including pets. With windows and doors now open to let in the fresh air, it's important to remember that your cat can easily slip out, even if it's an indoor cat. Therefore, it's imperative for all cats to wear identification tags in case they get lost.

While some lost cats may find their way back home safely, less than two percent of lost cats make it home, and 2.5 to 3.5 million cats end up in shelters each year, according to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy. A visible ID tag with a cat's name and owner's phone number vastly increases the chances of a lost cat being found and returned home safely.

"My cat, Wayne Sanchez, is a curious guy and although he's an indoor cat, I know there's a chance he could slip outdoors at any moment," said cat owner and former host of the lifestyle network for pet lovers, www.PetStyle.com, Jill Cordes. "To ease my mind I make him wear a comfortable collar with an ID tag to increase his chances of returning home safely if he were to get lost. I encourage all cat owners to do the same."

Identification for Your Cat
Tagging your cat is easier than you might think. Start by purchasing a specially designed elastic or breakaway cat collar that will adjust to your cat's neck and not get caught on any objects in and around the house. Cat collars are safe for them to wear and will not irritate or bother them.

As for ID tags, cat owners can receive a free customized identification tag with a purchase of any two ARM & HAMMER litters including its latest Double Duty Clumping Litter. You can find more information on this offer, along with cat training tips, at www.PetTagOffer.com.

If Your Cat Goes Missing
Stay calm and form an action plan:

• Ask as many people as you can to help with the search and spread the word quickly about your lost cat.
• Focus your search on a five to seven house radius. Most indoor cats that bolt don't wander further than that.
• Ask neighbors to check in small spaces around their homes and yards in which a confused cat would hide.
• If you find your cat but it won't come out, don't fret. Indoor cats in particular tend to go into a self-preservation mode in which they perceive everything as a threat -- including you. Rent or borrow a humane animal trap from a local shelter and set it in the area you suspect your cat is hiding. Put some food in a dish at the far end of the trap. Then go home and be patient.
• If you're unable to locate your cat within 24 to 48 hours, call your local animal shelter to alert them of your missing pet.
• The makers of ARM & HAMMER are also making a donation to ten local animal shelters across the country to support the critical care they provide lost pets.