How to Help a Lost Cat

Is it a Lost or Stray Cat?

After finding a lost cat and determining that they are not feral and are safe to approach, the next step is to figure out whether they are indeed simply lost or if they are a stray in need of a new home. If the cat is wearing a collar with ID, it's very likely that they are lost. In this case, simply call the number listed on the ID to let the owner know their cat has been found safe and sound. You can also call the veterinarian listed on the vaccination tag, who should be able to put you in contact with the cat's guardian.

Unfortunately, it's not always so simple. Many people don't put a collar or tags on their cats, so the fact that they don’t have them doesn't necessarily mean that they are homeless. You can take them to a vet or animal shelter to have them scanned for a microchip, which would have the guardian's contact information, but the lack of a chip also doesn't necessarily mean you're dealing with an abandoned cat.

With no easy way of identifying to whom the cat belongs, the next step is to check lost and found ads. It's also a good idea to ask around the neighbourhood to see if anyone is missing a cat, or if anyone has seen "lost cat" posters that describe the cat in question. Be sure to also check the lost and found on websites such as Gumtree, Facebook lost pet groups, local animal shelters, and lost pet databases such as Animal Search UK. People will often call their local shelters when a pet is lost, so there is a chance that the shelter will be able to help you reunite the cat with the owner.

If your search doesn’t turn up an owner, the final step is to place your own "found cat" ads. You can utilise your social networks in the hope that someone in your extended network knows where the cat belongs. If you call your animal shelter to let them know that you have found what you think to be a lost cat, they can contact you if the owner calls in. If you do not have the capacity to care for the cat while you search for the owner, make sure to call your local shelter and ask if you can bring the cat in. Never leave a cat at the door of a local shelter.

If You Have Pets

Dealing with finding a lost cat takes a considerable amount of time, and you may find yourself fostering your feline guest for several days or even weeks. If you already have pets in the home, keep your new guest quarantined either until you locate the owner or you can take the cat to the vet for a health check and vaccinations.

Once they get a clean bill of health, you can slowly introduce the new cat to your pets. On the other hand, if you have no plans to keep them, you may decide to keep the cat segregated for the remainder of their stay with you.

Helping a Stray Cat

If you've exhausted all your resources and failed to track down an owner, it's likely that the cat has been abandoned and is in need of a new home. In this case, you have a few options. You could, of course, adopt the cat yourself. If you do, your first step, if you haven't already done so, is to take them to the vet for a health check and to schedule vaccinations and spaying or neutering.

If you don't plan to keep the cat, you'll need to find them a new home. Call a reputable animal shelter or animal welfare organisation in your area (e.g. the RSPCA, Blue Cross, or Cats Protection in the UK) to see if they can help. You can also try the following steps to find your stray a new home:

• Advertise. Start by letting friends, family and co-workers know that you're looking for someone to adopt the cat. You can also try your social networks. If those avenues fail, place flyers in veterinary clinics and pet supply stores. You can also place classified ads in newspapers and online classified sites.
• Interview prospective guardians. A few questions to ask are whether they already have any pets and what kind, if those pets are vaccinated and spayed or neutered, whether there are children in the home, and if they live someplace that allows pets. If you haven't already taken care of vaccinations and spaying or neutering, ask if the prospective guardian is willing to commit to having these procedures done.
• Arrange a meeting. Allow the cat to meet the prospective guardian under your supervision to make sure they hit it off before agreeing to hand the cat over.

How to Help a Feral Cat

Feral cats are generally able to fend for themselves, so there is usually very little you need to do. However, it may be wise to contact a local animal welfare organisation about trap-neuter-return (TNR), a practice that helps to control the local feral cat population and reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission to domestic pets. Cats Protection explains that TNR involves trapping feral cats and kittens, having them spayed or neutered and vaccinated, and either returning adult cats to their environment or finding homes or shelters to take in kittens.

Finding a lost cat can be quite a commitment if you decide to be a good Samaritan, but it's often worth it for the peace of mind and overall good feeling that comes with helping an animal in need. Who knows? That stray cat on your doorstep just might end up becoming a cherished companion.