Naturally, you want to help a lost cat that you come across. However, how can you assist and how can you tell if it’s a pet or a feral cat? Making the correct decisions in this situation is crucial because you don’t want to assume that a stray or lost cat is feral. Additionally, since a feral cat that wasn’t socialized as a kitten is unlikely to ever adjust to living with humans, you shouldn’t bring one into your house or give it to a shelter. Therefore, it’s critical to ascertain what you have so that you can devise the optimal course of action.
Is it a Lost, Stray, or Feral Cat?
Determining if the cat you’ve found is feral or just a stray or lost cat will be your first task.
A domestic cat without a human caregiver is known as a feral cat. Although it may be tempting to “rescue” a feral cat, they are quite capable of surviving on their own. Feral cats have either never seen humans or have only seldom interacted with them.
A domestic cat that had a caregiver but has moved out or lost its home is considered stray. Although they may turn feral as their human contact decreases, strays have previously interacted with people. However, stray animals tend to be a little more tolerant of people, and the majority can regain trust.
A pet that has escaped is considered lost. It’s common for the owners of lost cats to be actively searching, which is why you might come across signs. The cat might also have a tag and a collar, but this does not imply that it is not lost.
Although it’s not always simple to distinguish between these different kinds of cats at first, Alley Cat Allies, a cat advocacy group, offers some guidelines for determining whether a cat is feral or stray. You can then proceed to the steps in the following section if the cat isn’t feral.
Diagnosing a Feral Cat
- When you approach it, it will not come near you and will instead flee or hide.
- It stays out of your line of sight.
- It doesn’t vocalize itself or meow at you.
- It appears tidy. (Stray and lost cats are not as likely to “look” homeless as feral cats are because they can take care of themselves.)
It is usually worthwhile to get in touch with your local cat rescue group if you come across a cat that you believe to be feral. Many people participate in the trap-neuter-return (TNR) program, which entails capturing feral cats, neutering or spaying them, and then releasing them back into their natural environments.
Discovered a wild kitten? It’s worthwhile to take in and either keep a feral kitten or take it to a shelter for care and adoption if it’s young enough to be socialized and make wonderful pets.
How to Proceed If You Discover a Lost or Stray Cat
Cats that are stray or lost can and should be rescued, unlike feral cats. This is what you ought to do.
- Place the feline in a secure area. If the cat comes to you easily, get some food that is safe for cats to eat. Should that occur, carefully remove it and carry it indoors. Lost and stray cats should be housed apart from any other pets you may have; place them in a bathroom or spare bedroom, for example, or any other area where they won’t come into contact with other animals. Add food and fresh water, then pack litter into an empty aluminum baking pan. Try placing some food in a carrier and closely monitoring the cat if you have to trap it.
- Look around to see if any cats have gone missing recently. Check out websites like Tabby Tracker and Lost My Kitty to see if a lost cat has been reported in your area, and give your local animal care and control and rescue groups a call. If so, it should be fairly simple to reunite the cat with its caregiver. If not, take the cat to a vet clinic or shelter so its microchip can be checked. Microchip data is kept in national databases along with contact details for the owners.
- Advertise a “found cat” listing. Even if you are unable to locate your lost cat, you might still be dealing with one. You can report when you find a cat on the same websites that let you check if it has been reported missing. Post a “found cat” advertisement on as many pertinent websites as you can, such as neighborhood social media pages. Bring the cat to animal care and control if you are unable to keep it in your house during this time. Inquire as to how long the cat can remain there before being picked up, and make sure to check in often for updates. Pick up the cat again and take it to a shelter if it hasn’t been claimed within the allotted time.
- If the cat needs a new home, find one. The cat will probably need a new home if you’ve tried every procedure and are unable to get it back with its caregiver. You have two options: either adopt the cat yourself or see if any local rescues can take it in by calling them. It’s best to leave the job of finding the cat a home to a shelter; don’t use Craigslist or other social media sites.
When all other options have been exhausted, the decision of whether or not to keep the cat is obviously personal and situation-specific, but it’s always something to think about. It might have been meant to be if you have a strong bond with the cat, are able to keep cats in your house, and have the desire.
