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C.A.T.S
Are you concerned about a cat?
Cats may visit your house or workplace for a variety of reasons. They may be out for the day and be curious or want company. Some are after an extra meal, even though they are well looked after at home.
Does the cat look injured? Depending on the severity, you may need to take steps to get it to a vet as a matter of urgency.
If it is always in your garden, doesn't leave, seems hungry or is in poor condition it may be a lost or stray cat. There are steps you can take to help find its owners.
Is the cat injured ?
If you find an injured cat, the top priority is to get the cat to the vet and try and find the owner.
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Approach the cat slowly and calmly. Speak to it in a soft voice and avoid sudden movements. Keep in mind that the cat may be scared and could act aggressively, as it may well be in pain.
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Only try to catch the cat if you are confident to do so. Make sure you have a suitable cat carrier nearby and use a towel if needed.
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You can phone the RSPCA emergency line 0300 123 4999 . Tell them you have found an injured cat and are taking it to a vet. They should provide you with a reference or log number that you give to the vet on arrival.
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Take the cat straight to a vet and phone ahead so they know to expect you.
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The vets will be able to give the cat immediate help and scan it for a microchip.
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Then knock on doors, go on social media and see if you can find the owners to tell them which vet is looking after their cat.
Stray or lost cat? Here are a few things you can do to help:
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Stray cats often look thin and unkempt, sometimes with matted fur. They may be nervous, fearful or hiss at you. This does not mean they are feral, just frightened.
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Look for a collar or identification tag on the cat. If you find one, try contacting the owner to see if the cat is lost.
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Take a photo of the cat and post it on social media or online platforms to see if anyone recognizes the cat. Check 'pets lost and found' websites as curious cats can jump into delivery vans so they may not be from the immediate area.
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Ask your neighbours if they know anything about the cat. They may recognise it, or know some history about it. They may be regularly feeding it as well.
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If the cat is friendly, see if you can attach a paper collar around its neck, asking owners to contact you. If the cat has the paper collar on for several days and there is no message from the owners, it may well be lost.
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There is great information about making a paper collar on the cat's protection website.
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If you can, take the cat to the vet and they will scan it to see if it has a microchip. This is often a free-of-charge service but check first.
Alternatively, you can ask on social media or go to Scanangel to find a volunteer near you who has a scanner and can scan the cat for a microchip once you have contained the cat.
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If you're able to keep the cat safe while you attempt to find the owner that is great. There are many resources online to help you make 'found cat' posters and there may be people in your area who can help.
You want to help a stray cat that has been visiting you.
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If a stray cat has been visiting you for a while and you have not been able to find an owner locally or on social media. If you have used a paper collar, but the cat keeps returning with the collar still on and the cat has been checked for a microchip and none found, then you have found a stray cat. If you like the cat visiting and can provide him with food, and shelter and even encourage him into your home, then you can officially become his/ her owner.
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We suggest taking the cat to your vet, so they can health check, neuter and microchip the cat before welcoming your new family member.
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This can even be done with a nervous stray, but you may need our help to catch them so you can get them to a vet.
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Alternatively please find a rescue space for the cat
We are always happy to offer help and advice.
Never take a healthy stray cat off the street unless you have checked extensively for owners, secured a place for the cat in a local rescue, or plan to adopt the cat yourself.
Why scanning for a chip may not help.
Not all cats are microchipped: it will become law to have cats microchipped in 2024, but at the moment it is not required.
Not all microchips have been correctly registered: The cat's owner needs to have correctly registered the microchip with the microchip company and kept their contact details up to date. They also need to notify the chip company if the cat goes missing.
Many cat owners don't understand this so chips often aren't registered correctly and the owner can't be found.
What are feral cats.
Feral cats are very different from stray cats. Stray cats may run from you, hiss and spit and be aggressive when cornered and injured. That's often because they are very frightened. Stray cats are often by themselves, around people in built-up areas, living in sheds and gardens and scrounging for food. Feral cats are very different.
Feral cats live in groups or colonies on farmland, near outbuildings or sometimes on industrial estates.
They have been born in the wild and will avoid people at all costs. They won't want to be around people or houses at all.
We can help people with feral colonies of cats on their land. This work is essential to stop colonies of cats from getting out of hand with population explosions, fighting and inbreeding.
Please contact us if you are interested in our help.