A cat lover my whole life, I can’t imagine living without my feline friends. At one point in my life, I did have to give two beloved cats to family members when I brought my baby home from the hospital on oxygen, and it was a tough choice. But now that she’s a preschooler, we’ve got two huggable fur balls rolling around the house, and she loves them just as much as we do.

If you’ve been thinking about getting a cat, or you once had one and miss the company, now is the perfect time to adopt a new pet. Shelters tend to overflow with new litters in the summertime, and these cats and kittens could certainly use a new home. To find a shelter near you, click here.

Before you adopt a cat, there are some things to keep in mind. While you veteran cat lovers probably know all of this information, you still may want to take note and share it with potential cat people you meet.

• Keeping your cat indoors is the safest bet, as they can get all kinds of diseases from other cats—not to mention scrapes and cuts from fights.
• Cats need fresh, clean water at all times—but don’t give your adult cats milk, as they don’t need it and it can make them sick.
• Your cat needs an ID whether he’s an inside cat or an outside cat. Most cats are clever enough to sneak out at least once in their lives, so an ID will help in finding your friend if it comes to that.
• Like dogs, cats need to eat at least once a day. Some may require more; check with your vet or the shelter you adopt from to see what your specific cat needs.
• Declawing cats is not always the best route. This can leave them defenseless if they ever end up in a precarious situation.
• Cats are great at using their litter boxes. Multiple cats need multiple boxes, and you will want to keep the litter clean by scooping out leavings daily and changing the litter completely as needed—usually one to three times weekly.
• For your cat’s safety, never leave him in a room with an open window, and always check household plants before buying them to see if they are poisonous. Cats will chew on poisonous plants!

And remember, while kittens sure are cute, older cats need love too!