It is common knowledge that our pets are like family and that we would do anything to protect them. But what should we do if the unthinkable happens and somehow, our beloved pet manages to fly the coop?

There are some important precautions that we can take to protect our best friends in case the unthinkable ever does happen.

First of all, it is important that you provide your cat (or beloved friend) with a collar. A collar not only LOOKS snazzy, as Lilly can attest to, but it helps to identify your furry friend if they ever become lost.

These are breakaway collars by Whisker City that are available at PetSmart. They come in a variety of different colors and styles.

Lilly sports a beautiful collar we got at PetSmart. There are many types of collars you can get but one of the most popular is the breakaway collar, which will come off if the cat gets stuck somewhere. This is an added safety precaution and can be quite helpful if your kitty is out in the trees.

Lilly also has a pink heart on the collar that has her name, my name, and my phone number. On the back of the heart her microchip information is available. You can get id tags from a variety of different places. There are many online sites that you can order them from. Vet offices and humane societies often have ones you can buy. In addition, PetSmart has a place where you can make your own id tag for your kitty. Dress it up or dress it down, it is up to you!

Just one example of the many ID tags available. You should write all your information on there, not just the name of your pet.

If at all possible, get your pet micro chipped. Most humane societies automatically do this before they send a pet out. If your cat has not been micro chipped and you would like it to be, contact your local humane society. Sometimes vets also offer micro chipping services. You may ask, why get your cat micro chipped when they have an identification collar? A collar could fall off whereas a microchip isn't going anywhere. Plus, a lot of times humane societies will check incoming pets for microchips before processing them, meaning that if your pet has lost his or her collar but has a microchip, they will be able to identify him or her and contact you.

Why a collar too, then? For very much the same reason. If for some reason your pet is not scanned for a microchip the collar provides a readily available source of information for whoever finds them. It is also an outward sign to the world that this cat is a pet, not a stray. All of these elements will make it more likely that you will retrieve your friend.

In addition, it is important that you have a good quality photo of your pet just in case the inevitable ever happens. Make sure it is an easily identifiable photo that shows your pets most unique qualities! If your pet ever does get lost this will serve as a valuable sign that can be handed out to your community.

This may serve as a good picture because it shows Lilly's individual characteristics, such as her black tail with the white tip, her black eye patch, her green eyes, and her multi-colored paw pads.

And most importantly for the kitty community, keep your cat inside. We know some cats like to roam, but if they are kept inside cats tend to be much healthier and live a longer life. Lilly is a 100% indoor cat and she loves it. This is not to say that you can never take your cat outside! There are cat strollers, cat harnesses, and cat outdoor play sets that can allow them to access the outdoors safely. We at Lilly's Kitty Lounge prefer to keep the princesses in the castles! ;)

Hopefully these suggestions will help you be prepared if your pet ever does go missing. Hopefully that will never happen, but if it does it is good to know that you are prepared!