If you've found a stray cat, what to do first is simple: don't scoop it up straight away. Most cats you meet outdoors aren't lost: Alley Cat Allies, citing a 2007 study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, says more than 70 percent of lost cats are found in their own neighborhood or come home on their own. So first work out what kind of cat this is, then get a friendly one scanned for a microchip and tell the neighborhood before you move it anywhere.

Is this cat really lost? A 5-point checklist

International Cat Care sorts cats found outside into three rough groups: owned cats roaming their normal home range, lost or stray cats, and feral cats born without human contact. These five checks usually point the right way.

  1. Body and coat. Woodgreen Pets Charity says strays often look thin and ungroomed, while feral cats are skilled hunters that tend to look well fed. Thin isn't proof, though: an owned cat can be thin from an illness its owner already knows about.
  2. How it reacts to you. A cat that rubs your legs and tries to follow you indoors is used to people. A cat that's very fearful of humans is likely feral, says International Cat Care.
  3. Collar, tag or ear tip. A tag with a phone number settles it. No collar proves nothing, because many owned cats are microchipped instead. A small flat section missing from the tip of the left ear is an ear tip, done during neutering, according to International Cat Care.
  4. Its pattern. A cat that shows up in your yard, then disappears for hours, is probably going home. Cats roam widely, Woodgreen says, especially unneutered toms looking for a mate.
  5. Its condition right now. Injured, weak, very old or clearly unwell? Skip the detective work and go to the injured cat section below.

A calm, healthy cat with a routine is most likely a roamer. A thin, friendly cat crying at doors may be lost or a stray.

What to do on day 1

Take a photo first, from where you're standing. You don't need to touch a nervous cat to get it.

Check for a collar only if the cat seems calm, the RSPCA advises. Then ask your neighbors. Cats Protection's Bedford branch warns that some cats get taken in by kind people when their real home is a couple of doors away.

Hold off on feeding. Woodgreen advises against it unless you know the cat's a stray, because it may have an owner to go home to, and feeding makes it keep coming back to you. A bowl of water is fine, and in extreme weather Woodgreen suggests a small shelter too. Never give cow's milk, since cats are lactose intolerant.

And don't carry a healthy roamer off to a shelter. Edmonton's animal services say lost cats left where they're found are reportedly 10 times more likely to get home than those taken in. Alley Cat Allies reports only 7 percent of lost cats are found through a shelter.

Days 1 to 3: the paper collar trick and a microchip scan

A paper collar is the simplest test there is. Write your phone number and "Is this your cat? Please call" on a strip of plain paper and fasten it around a friendly cat's neck. The Mayhew suggests leaving it on for a few days. If nobody calls, the cat probably isn't traveling to and from a home.

  • Use plain paper, not strong or shiny paper, and a small piece of tape, so it tears if the cat gets caught (The Mayhew).
  • Fit one or two fingers under it, and leave part of the paper untaped (International Cat Care).
  • Release the cat where you found it. Woodgreen has a printable template.

At the same time, get a microchip scan. Vet hospitals, shelters and animal control offices have scanners, according to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), and UK charities say vets scan for free. Use a secure carrier. If you're unsure how to handle the cat, call a rescue.

It's worth the trip: Alley Cat Allies cites a JAVMA study finding microchipped cats were 20 times more likely to be reunited with their owners. If there's no chip, Cats Protection Bedford says you'll likely return the cat to where you found it.

Post the photo, a description, the location and the date in local groups, and tell nearby rescues, shelters and vets (International Cat Care, AAHA). On posters, The Mayhew suggests a general description only, so the real owner has to give specific details.

Week 2: no owner yet. Now what?

There's no universal deadline, and Woodgreen doesn't set one. Two weeks is just a sensible point to decide.

  • Keeping it while you search? International Cat Care suggests a quiet room away from your own pets, with food, fresh water, a litter tray and a bed.
  • Can't keep it? Contact local rescues. Cats Protection notes most have limited space, so they may not take the cat right away.
  • A friendly stray with no owner? The RSPCA says you can rehome it. Kittens can be rehomed from eight weeks old.

What about feral and community cats?

Leave them where they are, but help get them neutered. International Cat Care says moving a feral cat may harm its welfare. If it isn't ear-tipped, a rescue can trap it, neuter it and return it to the same spot (TNR). Woodgreen says this helps stop colonies growing.

Don't try to trap a feral cat yourself, The Mayhew advises, and never separate a mother from unweaned kittens. In Australia, PetRescue suggests joining a community cat desexing program if you care for an urban stray.

Found kittens without their mom?

She's probably out finding food. The RSPCA says to keep your distance and watch: about two hours for very young kittens with closed eyes, about four hours for older kittens that walk. Leave them where they are unless a vet advises otherwise.

If they're wet, cold or sick, call a vet or rescue right away. Alley Cat Allies says kittens four weeks or younger need constant care, which shelters usually can't provide, so look for a rescue with a foster program. If kittens aren't nursing, a vet can advise on kitten milk (Woodgreen).

Found an injured cat?

Look for limping, bleeding or trouble breathing, AAHA says. If the cat lets you near it, the RSPCA advises containing it and taking it to a vet. If it's aggressive or badly hurt, call animal control or a rescue. Don't try to treat a found cat at home. Talk to your vet.

Do you have legal duties when you find a cat?

It depends on where you live. International Cat Care says cats count as property under UK law, so taking an owned cat can be treated as theft, while reasonable efforts to find the owner protect you. In Australia, PetRescue calls taking cats to council facilities a last resort. Check with your local animal services or council, and note when and where you found the cat.

Reporting a found cat on Paw Alert

When you post a found cat on Paw Alert, the photo and the spot where you saw it go on a map alongside lost pet reports nearby, with local shelters, rescues and vets on the same map. If the cat is too nervous to approach, a photo is enough. Paw Alert is free on Google Play and has no ads.

Frequently asked questions

Should I feed a stray cat that comes to my door?

Not until you know it's really a stray. Woodgreen warns that the cat may have a home, and feeding makes it keep coming back to you. Water and, in bad weather, a simple shelter are fine.

How can I tell if a cat is feral or just scared?

A feral cat is very fearful of people and won't let you near it, yet it often looks well fed. A tipped left ear means it's already been neutered.

Can a vet scan a cat for a microchip for free?

In the UK, International Cat Care, Woodgreen and The Mayhew all say vets scan found cats for free. Shelters and animal control offices also have scanners. Call ahead and bring the cat in a secure carrier.

How long should I wait before keeping a found cat?

There's no single rule, and laws differ by country and city. Run a paper collar for a few days, get a chip scan and post locally first. Then check with your council or animal services.

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