Article: Once you bring a cat home and name it, you should get it some identification. This can be in the form of a tag on its collar, but you can also get it microchipped at its veterinary office. Even if you plan on raising the cat to live indoors, having identification is important -- remember, if it gets out, it will have no experience finding its way home.  Your cat's collar tag should include its name and your phone number. Keep this phone number up to date, so that someone who finds your cat can contact you easily. Be sure to secure the tags to a collar with a quick-release buckle. That way, if your cat gets caught on something, the collar can break off without harming the cat. Having both a collar and a microchip would be best. The collar would allow for quick identification, while a microchip will be a backup in case the collar gets lost. When raising a cat, you will need to teach it to use a litter box. For most cats, this is a relatively easy process. Once you bring a cat home, keep it contained in a small space with food, water, a bed, and its litter box. The cat may naturally head towards the litter box to go to the bathroom, as they are naturally clean animals that like to pick specific bathroom areas.  Keep the litter box in an area that is easily accessible and close to your cat's daily activity. This will help ensure that the cat actually uses it instead of a handy corner. Ensure that the litter box is in a quiet, private area. If there is too much traffic or noise, your cat may be too stressed or scared to use it. If the cat doesn't use the litter box automatically, move any feces or urine into the litter box and clean the areas where the cat went to the bathroom outside of the box. If the cat smells feces and urine in the litter box, it will know that is where it should go.  If your cat approaches the litter box, but refuses to go in it, try a different litter. Your cat might understand that it needs to use the box, but it might not like the texture of the litter. Cats are intelligent animals. If your cat continues to refuse to use the litter box, consult your veterinarian; there could be an underlying health issue. To ensure that your cat uses its litter box, you should make sure to keep it clean and tidy. Remember to remove solids daily. You should also empty it completely, clean the box, and put totally new litter in weekly. If you do not clean your cat's litter box regularly, it is likely to find somewhere else to go to the bathroom. When raising a cat you should make sure to give it a cozy place all its own, where it can take a nap or just get some alone time. Typically, this is done by giving it a bed all its own and placing that bed in a quiet and warm corner. This can be difficult to achieve if you live in a hectic or crowded home, but your cat may even pick the spot itself and all you have to do is provide the cushioning.  Many cats love warm, sunny spots with views of the outdoors. Even on cold days, the feeble sunlight will be enough to suit your cat's needs.  Some cats like to rotate their sleeping places. One month they may like to sleep next to the window, while another month they may prefer to nap under the bed! Don't force your cat to sleep in a specific spot. This will only make the cat averse to the location and avoid it. All cats need to scratch once in awhile in order to keep their claws healthy and agile. In order to allow them to do this without destroying your furniture, you should get them a scratching post or scratching pad. If your cat likes to scratch a lot, you may even need to buy or make one for every room.   Teach your cat to use it by placing it in front of its favorite scratching spot. Place your cat's paws on it, or scratch it yourself! Make scratching posts and scratching pads more attractive by rubbing catnip on it. Each cat is different. If your cat doesn't like a scratching post, try a scratching mat or a cardboard scratching pad. Try to raise a cat to stay indoors, especially if you live in a city. Living indoors greatly increases their lifespan due to lower risks for disease, injury or abuse. It also helps keep wildlife in your area , such as birds, safe and healthy. For entertainment for an indoor cat, provide boxes, cat toys, and sunny window perches for it to lounge in. You may also want to consider having at least two cats, so they can keep each other occupied when you are away. Make sure that all doors are kept closed and that all windows and window screens are secure if you are trying to keep your cat indoors. If you really want your cat to experience the sights and smells of the outdoors, consider building it a "catio," which is a cat patio. This is an enclosed outdoor area that is typically attached to your home, and which allows your cat to get some outdoor time without letting it roam freely. A catio allows your cat the stimulation of being outside but limits its ability to get lost or kill wildlife in your area. Depending on the breed, you may need to brush your kitty more often, but all breeds need to be brushed at least weekly. For example, Persian cats need brushing  3 to 4 times a week but American shorthair cats only need to be brushed once a week. Weekly brushing eliminates tangles and reduces spare hair that would rub off on furniture or floors, or form hairballs in your cat. Cats don't need baths unless they get into something foul and can't clean themselves off. The exception to this is Sphinx cats, which are bald and need bathing once a week to keep skin oils under control. Choose nail clippers made for cats, which come in a guillotine type or a scissors type, or human nail clippers. Put the clippers perpendicular to the claws. Trim only the tip of the nail. The quick of the nail, which is the back part of the nail with a blood vessel in it, should not be cut.  Begin clipping your cat's claws every week when it is young. This will get it used to the process and will make it less resistant to it when it becomes an adult. Trimming a cat's nails is particularly important if the cat does not regularly go outside, where it might wear down the nails with vigorous activity. If you are having troubles trimming your cat's claws, ask a veterinarian or cat groomer to show you how to do it.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Provide identification. Provide and teach the use of a litter box. Keep trying if litter box training is problematic. Clean the litter box regularly. Give your cat a cozy place to sleep. Provide a place to scratch. Keep your cat inside. Build your cat an enclosed patio. Brush your cat regularly. Remember to clip your cat's claws.