Helping Stray Cats

If a stray cat has befriended you or you have caught one then very important to make sure that it doesn’t belong to someone. If you rehome the animal without checking its ownership then you’re rehoming someone’s cherished friend.

The following are steps you can take to find an owner:

• See if it has an ID tag on a collar with details that you could call.
• Take to your local vets – they can microchip scan the cat to see who its owners are.
• Call all vets in the area to give a description of the cat and your contact details in case someone contacts them looking for the cat.
• Door knock with a photo of the stray cat.
• Post on Social Media lost and found pet pages and local suburb pages relating to your area.
• Put posters up in your neighbourhood – lamp posts, local shopping centres, letter box drops and traffic light poles.
• Put an ad in the local paper of your area. Include a brief description of the cat, where it was found and when and your contact number.

What if I can’t hold onto them?

You have several options if you are unable to hold onto the cat while you try to find the cats family. These include:

• Ask a friend or family member if they can mind the cat.
• Contact us and if we have foster carers available we will put them in care until the owners are found. Should they not be found then we can help you to rehome them.
• Go to your local vets. Most vets will be willing to hold the animal for a time while you try to find their owners. You can also enlist their help in finding your strays family.
• Contact Cat Haven as they can impound the cat so that the owners can have 7 days to reclaim them.

Have you found the real owner?

Should someone contact you in regards to the stray cat then you need to make sure they are the real owner. When putting up posts leave out a couple of important details that only the owner would know – such as distinguishing markings. Ask them these questions when they enquire. You can also ask them to bring a photo of the animal they are claiming is theirs. Watch the way the cat interacts with them when they come to collect them.

If you aren’t sure then ask them for the details of their vet.

You can contact them to confirm if the animal does visit them and match it up with any ID the person has with them. Never hand over a cat to someone who claims that it is theirs without proof of ownership, or their real owners may never see them again.

What if the owner isn’t found?

If no one comes forward to claim the cat after a long period of time then it is safe to say that they have been abandoned.

Contact a rescue like ours to assist with rehoming the cat so that proper screening for a new furrever home can be done.