Q: One of the simplest ways of avoiding looking like a cat lady is to simply not own that many cats. Limit yourself to one or two cats and make sure you can easily provide for the both of them.  Two cats is a great number to own. The cats will keep one another company when you are away from the house, dampening any guilt you may feel for leaving them alone. Too many cats running around the house tends to increase the chance of behavioral problems in the cats, such as fighting, spraying, or otherwise damaging the environment. Compassion for abandoned cats and other animals lead many to rescue an animal in need, or take one in from the street. Don’t let your compassion for such animals get the better off you. It’s easy to fall into a habit of taking in every abandoned animal you happen upon, and before you know it, you have far too many cats to support in a healthy manner.  Join an animal rescue group organization. There are countless cat rescue groups throughout the US. These groups are dedicated to finding homes for cats in need, and often guarantee a “no kill” policy for cats who are kept until they are adopted. Look for your local organizations to see how you can help better the lives of cats without necessarily owning them.  Many organizations also need volunteers to help socialize young abandoned kittens. This is a great opportunity to help cats in need without getting in over your head. Many cats (and dogs) find themselves without a home because pet owners fail to spay or neuter their pet. By doing your part and spaying or neutering your cat, you can ensure that more cats are not brought into this world that may not be able to find a home.  Getting your pet fixed also improves the long term health of your pet. Spaying or neutering reduces the urge for your cat to roam, show aggression, and otherwise get themselves into trouble. Reducing harmful and aggressive behavior will also reduce the overall costs associated with raising your cat over the duration of your time together. Failure to clean the box regularly can cause your cat to start relieving itself outside of the box! Litter boxes should be scooped at least every other day. If you have more than one cat, then you will need to scoop more frequently in order to keep the litter box clean, and your cats happy.  The type of litter box you use is up to you, but choose a size that gives your cat plenty of room to move around in the box. The location of the litter box should not be placed too close to your cat’s food and water, as they dislike being able to smell the litter while eating.  Use a fine, unscented litter. Scented litter is harsh on cat noses, and may drive them away from the litter box. Most cats enjoy the feel of a fine litter more than a thicker, chunkier litter. However, a variety of litter types are available to suit you and your cat’s needs, including natural and silica cat litter. Give them each a try to see what your cat likes best.  A litter mat placed underneath the litter box can help remove litter from the paws of your cat  before they track it all over the house.  Ask a friend if your house smells of cat urine. It's easy to get used to the smell of your cats and not even notice if something is out of the ordinary when it comes to how your house smells. Failing to clean after your cats is a sure fire way to be seen as a “cat person,” but can also lead to several health risks. Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that is found in raw meat, as well as cat feces. For those who are pregnant or are immunocompromised, toxoplasmosis can lead to severe infection, resulting in headache, confusion, poor coordination and eye problems. This infection can be passed to a mother’s unborn child as well, endangering the life of the child.  Wash your hands after changing cat litter to make sure no litter or feces remain on your hands. You wouldn't want a mouthful of litter! Don’t allow your cat to walk on the dinner table. Cats can drag litter and remnants of their feces around on their paws, potentially spreading toxoplasmosis throughout the house. Clean the dinner table prior to meals if your cat is prone to perching there on occasion. Toxoplasmosis activates after roughly 5 days, so regular vacuuming and household cleaning helps avoid infection risk from litter dragged throughout the house. If you are pregnant or immunocompromised, avoid changing the cat litter if possible – have a friend take care of the task. If you have no other choice, wear disposable gloves and make sure to wash your hands afterwards.  If you have a cat and plan on getting pregnant, or feel ill or not quite like yourself while owning one, consult your doctor and ask about toxoplasmosis. Clean up any mess your cat leaves, such as hair balls or any hair that they shed. This helps indicate a demarcation between the owner of the house and its pets. You own the house, not your cat!
A: Avoid owning too many cats. Rescue responsibly. Spay or neuter your cat. Clean out the litter box at regular intervals. Avoid toxoplasmosis through good sanitation.

Q: Neighbors may be willing to reveal important information about other owners that would be difficult to obtain elsewhere. If local residents are familiar with the owners of the property, you can learn if the owners are approachable people. Especially if the property is a home you want to purchase, assess the condition of the surrounding lots. If the entire neighborhood looks run-down and abandoned, the search may not be worth your time. Don't hang around too much or the neighbors may start to get suspicious. If you talk to anyone, or if anyone approaches you and asks you what you're doing, be up front about your intentions. Especially if you want to buy the property, you don't want to start off on the wrong foot with people who might one day be your neighbors. You may have to talk to neighbors to figure out the street address, particularly if there are several houses in a row with no visible street numbers. You will need the address to search public records for the property owner's identity as well. This is an unobtrusive way to introduce yourself and make your intentions known.  Send it through the mail, don't just leave it in the box or on the property. If the owners have moved elsewhere, it's possible they have the mail forwarded to a different address. If the property is truly abandoned, this isn't likely, but it's worth a shot. Include your name and a phone number on the post card, as well as the reasons you are contacting the owner. This survey system is most frequently used to parcel out subdivisions in suburban areas, or define property boundaries in a densely populated urban area.
A:
Ask the nearest neighbor if they know the property owner. Scope out the neighborhood. Get the property address. Send a postcard to the property's address. Determine the plat or lot and block of the property.