HOW YOU CAN HELP STRAY CATS
Like many others, you have probably encountered stray cats and wondered what to do and how you can help. The first thing to keep in mind is that not every cat you encounter is actually an unowned, stray or feral cat. Some cats may simply be owned outdoor or indoor-outdoor cats, or could be a lost pet cat. When you encounter a wandering cat, you want to first assess the cat’s condition and behavior; try your best to determine if the cat is a pet, stray, or feral.
There are two different categories of cats: (1) pet cats and (2) unowned, community cats.
Community cats can be broken down into two sub-categories: stray cats and feral cats.
Use the guide below to help learn and identify the differences in pet cats, stray cats, and feral cats.
Pet cats are any cats that have an owner; they may live indoors, indoor-outdoor, or outdoors. Pet cats are generally friendly, healthy, and may even approach strangers or ask for a snack.
However, pet cats may become lost for a variety of reasons. The best way to determine if a cat belongs to someone is to:
(1) Ask your neighbors.
(2) Post on NextDoor and local Lost & Found pages.
(3) Bring the cat to a veterinarian, rescue or shelter to scan for a microchip.
A stray cat is a cat who lived indoors and was socialized to people but was left behind, abandoned or lost their home, and no longer has regular human contact. Over time, a stray cat can become feral as their contact with humans decreases.
A stray cat may be friendly and socialized enough to allow people to touch them, but they will generally become less socialized or even feral given too much time without positive interaction with humans.
Under the right circumstances, a stray cat can also become a pet cat once again. Stray cats that are re-introduced to an indoor home after living outdoors may require a period of time to re-acclimate; they may be frightened and wary after spending time outside away from people.
A feral cat is an unsocialized, outdoor cat who has had little to no interactions with humans, or human contact has diminished over enough time that they are no longer accustomed to it. Most feral cats are fearful of people and are unlikely to ever become a lap cat or thrive living indoors.
Feral cats should NOT be taken from their outdoor home and brought to animal shelters or rescues. Not only do feral cats suffer from being caged and in close contact with humans, they are often the first to be euthanized. Many shelters & rescues will turn away feral cats for this reason.
Sometimes young, feral kittens can be socialized and adopted to indoor homes, but only if people have the time, resources, and means to foster, socialize and adopt. Feral cats live outdoors in groups called colonies. Cats in a colony are usually bonded, and may even be related.
Feral cats can thrive outdoors and it is their home. The best way you can help feral cats is to Trap, Neuter, and Return them. Additionally, you could provide them with winter shelters and daily food. But, keep in mind, many feral cats may already have a caretaker or may belong to a colony of cats!
* COMMUNITY CATS = Stray & Feral Cats *
It’s important to know the difference between an owned cat and a community cat. Community cats includes any unowned, free-roaming cats that live outdoors. Community cats may be feral or friendly; the only difference being that feral cats are not socialized to people. Sometimes friendly, community cats can be acclimated and adopted into homes when rescues & shelters have space to intake, but that unfortunately is not always the case due to the cat overpopulation problem.
Stray cats are community cats, since they no longer have an owner. But stray cats are also a bit of a gray area. This is mainly because they were once socialized to people and therefore have become reliant on humans for food. The socialization of a stray cat can dwindle over time. A stray cat may even join a colony of cats. However, a cat colony of managed, fixed cats can reject or scare away a newcomer.
It’s important to know the difference between an owned cat and a community cat. Community cats includes any unowned, free-roaming cats that live outdoors. Community cats may be feral or friendly; the only difference being that feral cats are not socialized to people. Sometimes friendly, community cats can be acclimated and adopted into homes when rescues & shelters have space to intake, but that unfortunately is not always the case.
Stray cats are community cats, since they no longer have an owner. But stray cats are also a bit of a gray area. This is mainly because they were once socialized to people and therefore have become reliant on humans for food. The socialization of a stray cat can dwindle over time. A stray cat may even join a colony of cats. However, a colony of managed, fixed cats can sometimes reject or scare away a newcomer.
Is the cat friendly or frightened towards people?
A friendly cat is most likely either a pet or a stray. A frightened cat is most likely a feral cat. However, occasionally there may be a scared cat who is actually a lost pet; lost pets may even be too afraid to come out. Lost pet cats as well as stray cats are more likely to have a dirty or disheveled coat.
Friendly cats can be taken to a shelter or vet office to check for microchip.
Does the cat have an eartip?
Cats that are eartipped are more likely to be feral. However, some strays or even owned pet cats can also be eartipped. An eartip simply signifies a cat that has been spayed/neutered and vaccinated through a TNR program. Cats that aren’t eartipped are more likely to NOT be spayed or neutered.
Cats that are eartipped should generally be left where they are.
Is the cat sick?
A cat that is sick may have an unkept coat, and is likely to show signs that they are struggling & need help.
Crusty or goopy eyes, runny nose, and trouble breathing are all signs of an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (feline herpes) is a highly contagious and common virus that is one of the major causes of URIs. Some mild URIs will clear on their own given some time, but more severe cases require antibiotics.
Is the cat injured?
A cat that injured may look similar in appearance to a sick cat, as many injuries can also lead to infection.
Common injuries that require medical attention include: abscesses, serious or deep wounds, infected wounds, and broken bones. If a cat has a broken bone, they are unlikely to put any weight on it, even after several days. Cats are masters at hiding their pain, so if a cat is showing signs of pain then they are likely to need medical attention from a veterinarian.
KITTENS!
When you find a kitten, you should first: (1) estimate their age, (2) assess their condition, and (3) check the area for more kittens and cats.
Follow the guide above to help you determine the best course of action when you discover kittens. Use your best judgement to determine if kittens are in critical condition and get them help. Your best resources for helping kittens are rescues, shelters, and vet offices. Below are some tips & helpful reminders to keep in mind when determining what to do.
- Kittens are much less likely to have an owner than adult cats.
- Where there is one kitten, there is likely to be more nearby. Search the area for more kittens. A kitten that is truly alone may be a lost pet, a stray, abandoned by a mama cat, or the only surviving kitten of a litter.
- Kittens less than 6 weeks old are fully dependent on their mother for survival. They should remain with their mama cat if at all possible.
- Just because you don't see a mama cat, doesn't mean she isn't nearby.
- Young kittens (8 weeks old & younger) that are able to eat on their own are excellent candidates to bring to a local shelter or rescue.
- Feral or skittish kittens older than 8 weeks old may not be candidates or even accepted at your local shelter, as resources to socialize feral kittens are limited.
- Kittens that are sick or injured should always be taken to a shelter, rescue, or veterinarian for medical care - especially if they are very young.
Mama Cat + Kittens
When you encounter kittens, it’s important to always check for a mama cat. She may very well be in the bushes nearby, keeping a watchful eye on you, or may be out hunting for food to feed her and her kittens. If the kittens appear healthy, they most likely have a mama cat in the vicinity. But if the kittens appear sick, weak, or injured, then intervention is usually required.
Friendly Mama Cat + Kittens < 8 weeks old: These families are excellent candidates to go to a local shelter or rescue! Remember – kittens under 6 weeks old have a lower chance of survival without their mom.
Feral Mama Cat + Kittens < 6 weeks old: Feral cats are NOT normally good candidates for a shelter or rescue, as they are not socialized to people & will not thrive in an indoor environment. Kittens under 6 weeks old who are fully reliant on their mama best chance of survival is to stay with mom.
Feral Mama Cat + Kittens between 6-8 weeks old: Once the kittens are at least 6 weeks old, they can wean & eat solid food. The perfect age to “rescue” kittens and get them to a shelter or rescue is between 6-8 weeks old. Feral mama cats should always be Trapped, Neutered, & Returned.
Feral Mama Cat + Feral Kittens 8 weeks old & older: Once kittens have reached 8 weeks old, they are less likely to be able to be socialized & adopted into home. Sometimes the best thing you can do for these families is to Trap, Neuter, & Return both mama and kittens to prevent future litters.
Friendly Mama Cat + Kittens 8 weeks old & older: You can first reach out to rescues and shelters to see if anywhere can intake kittens and mama cat. If nowhere can intake and you do not have a resources or means to take them in, get them vetting, and find them homes, then the best option (and maybe the only option) is to Trap, Neuter, & Return both mama and kittens to prevent future litters and help them live longer, healthier lives.
A helpful trick to determine if a mama cat is still taking care of her young kittens is to place flour in the area leading to or surrounding the kittens and then return to the area after an hour or two to examine for paw prints. If you notice food bowls or other evidence that the family of cats is being cared for, you may want to leave note to get in touch with the caretaker.
It’s important to know the difference between an owned cat and a community cat. Community cats includes any unowned, free-roaming cats that live outdoors. Community cats may be feral or friendly; the only difference being that feral cats are not socialized to people. Sometimes friendly, community cats can be acclimated and adopted into homes when rescues & shelters have space to intake, but that unfortunately is not always the case due to the cat overpopulation problem.
Stray cats are community cats, since they no longer have an owner. But stray cats are also a bit of a gray area. This is mainly because they were once socialized to people and therefore have become reliant on humans for food. The socialization of a stray cat can dwindle over time. A stray cat may even join a colony of cats. However, a cat colony can reject or scare away a newcomer.
- TNR
Like many others, you have probably encountered stray cats and wondered what to do and how you can help. The first thing to keep in mind is that not every cat you encounter is actually an unowned, stray or feral cat. Some cats may simply be owned outdoor or indoor-outdoor cats, or could be a lost pet cat.
There are two different categories of cats: (1) pet cats and (2) unowned, community cats. Community cats can be broken down into two sub-categories: stray cats and feral cats.
When you encounter a wandering cat, you want to first assess the cat’s condition and behavior; try your best to determine if the cat is a pet, stray, or feral.
Use the guide below to help learn and identify the differences in pet cats, stray cats, and feral cats.
Pet cats are any cats that have an owner; they may live indoors, indoor-outdoor, or outdoors. Pet cats are generally friendly, healthy, and may even approach strangers or ask for a snack.
However, pet cats may become lost for a variety of reasons. The best way to determine if a cat belongs to someone is to:
(1) Ask your neighbors.
(2) Post on NextDoor and local Lost & Found pages.
(3) Bring the cat to a veterinarian, rescue or shelter to scan for a microchip.
A stray cat is a cat who lived indoors and was socialized to people but was left behind, abandoned or lost their home, and no longer has regular human contact. Over time, a stray cat can become feral as their contact with humans decreases.
A stray cat may be friendly and socialized enough to allow people to touch them, but they will generally become less socialized or even feral given too much time without positive interaction with humans.
Under the right circumstances, a stray cat can also become a pet cat once again. Stray cats that are re-introduced to an indoor home after living outdoors may require a period of time to re-acclimate; they may be frightened and wary after spending time outside away from people.
A feral cat is an unsocialized, outdoor cat who has had little to no interactions with humans, or human contact has diminished over enough time that they are no longer accustomed to it. Most feral cats are fearful of people and are unlikely to ever become a lap cat or thrive living indoors.
Feral cats should NOT be taken from their outdoor home and brought to animal shelters or rescues. Not only do feral cats suffer from being caged and in close contact with humans, they are often the first to be euthanized. Many shelters & rescues will turn away feral cats for this reason.
Sometimes young, feral kittens can be socialized and adopted to indoor homes, but only if people have the time, resources, and means to foster, socialize and adopt. Feral cats live outdoors in groups called colonies. Cats in a colony are usually bonded, and may even be related.
Feral cats can thrive outdoors and it is their home. The best way you can help feral cats is to Trap, Neuter, and Return them. Additionally, you could provide them with winter shelters and daily food. But, keep in mind, many feral cats may already have a caretaker or may belong to a colony of cats!
It’s important to know the difference between an owned cat and a community cat. Community cats includes any unowned, free-roaming cats that live outdoors. Community cats may be feral or friendly; the only difference being that feral cats are not socialized to people. Sometimes friendly, community cats can be acclimated and adopted into homes when rescues & shelters have space to intake, but that unfortunately is not always the case.
Stray cats are community cats, since they no longer have an owner. But stray cats are also a bit of a gray area. This is mainly because they were once socialized to people and therefore have become reliant on humans for food. The socialization of a stray cat can dwindle over time. A stray cat may even join a colony of cats. However, a colony of managed, fixed cats can sometimes reject or scare away a newcomer.
Is the cat friendly or frightened towards people?
A friendly cat is most likely either a pet or a stray. A frightened cat is most likely a feral cat. However, occasionally there may be a scared cat who is actually a lost pet; lost pets may even be too afraid to come out. Lost pet cats as well as stray cats are more likely to have a dirty or disheveled coat.
Friendly cats can be taken to a shelter or vet office to check for microchip.
Is the cat sick?
A cat that is sick may have an unkept coat, and is likely to show signs that they are struggling & need help.
Crusty or goopy eyes, runny nose, and trouble breathing are all signs of an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (feline herpes) is a highly contagious and common virus that is one of the major causes of URIs. Some mild URIs will clear on their own given some time, but more severe cases require antibiotics.
KITTENS!
When you find a kitten, you should first: (1) estimate their age, (2) assess their condition, and (3) check the area for more kittens and cats.
Follow the guide above to help you determine the best course of action when you discover kittens. Use your best judgement to determine if kittens are in critical condition and get them help. Your best resources for helping kittens are rescues, shelters, and vet offices. Below are some tips & helpful reminders to keep in mind when determining what to do.
- Kittens are much less likely to have an owner than adult cats.
- Where there is one kitten, there is likely to be more nearby. Search the area for more kittens. A kitten that is truly alone may be a lost pet, a stray, abandoned by a mama cat, or the only surviving kitten of a litter.
- Kittens less than 6 weeks old are fully dependent on their mother for survival. They should remain with their mama cat if at all possible.
- Just because you don't see a mama cat, doesn't mean she isn't nearby.
- Young kittens (8 weeks old & younger) that are able to eat on their own are excellent candidates to bring to a local shelter or rescue.
- Feral or skittish kittens older than 8 weeks old may not be candidates or even accepted at your local shelter, as resources to socialize feral kittens are limited.
- Kittens that are sick or injured should always be taken to a shelter, rescue, or veterinarian for medical care - especially if they are very young.
Does the cat have an eartip?
Cats that are eartipped are more likely to be feral. However, some strays or even owned pet cats can also be eartipped. An eartip simply signifies a cat that has been spayed/neutered and vaccinated through a TNR program. Cats that aren’t eartipped are more likely to NOT be spayed or neutered.
Cats that are eartipped should generally be left where they are.
Is the cat injured?
A cat that injured may look similar in appearance to a sick cat, as many injuries can also lead to infection.
Common injuries that require medical attention include: abscesses, serious or deep wounds, infected wounds, and broken bones. If a cat has a broken bone, they are unlikely to put any weight on it, even after several days. Cats are masters at hiding their pain, so if a cat is showing signs of pain then they are likely to need medical attention from a veterinarian.
Mama Cat + Kittens
When you encounter kittens, it’s important to always check for a mama cat. She may very well be in the bushes nearby, keeping a watchful eye on you, or may be out hunting for food to feed her and her kittens. If the kittens appear healthy, they most likely have a mama cat in the vicinity. But if the kittens appear sick, weak, or injured, then intervention is usually required.
Friendly Mama Cat + Kittens < 8 weeks old: These families are excellent candidates to go to a local shelter or rescue! Remember – kittens under 6 weeks old have a lower chance of survival without their mom.
Feral Mama Cat + Kittens < 6 weeks old: Feral cats are NOT normally good candidates for a shelter or rescue, as they are not socialized to people & will not thrive in an indoor environment. Kittens under 6 weeks old who are fully reliant on their mama best chance of survival is to stay with mom.
Feral Mama Cat + Kittens between 6-8 weeks old: Once the kittens are at least 6 weeks old, they can wean & eat solid food. The perfect age to “rescue” kittens and get them to a shelter or rescue is between 6-8 weeks old. Feral mama cats should always be Trapped, Neutered, & Returned.
Feral Mama Cat + Feral Kittens 8 weeks old & older: Once kittens have reached 8 weeks old, they are less likely to be able to be socialized & adopted into home. Sometimes the best thing you can do for these families is to Trap, Neuter, & Return both mama and kittens to prevent future litters.
Friendly Mama Cat + Kittens 8 weeks old & older: You can first reach out to rescues and shelters to see if anywhere can intake kittens and mama cat. If nowhere can intake and you do not have a resources or means to take them in, get them vetting, and find them homes, then the best option (and maybe the only option) is to Trap, Neuter, & Return both mama and kittens to prevent future litters and help them live longer, healthier lives.
A helpful trick to determine if a mama cat is still taking care of her young kittens is to place flour in the area leading to or surrounding the kittens and then return to the area after an hour or two to examine for paw prints. If you notice food bowls or other evidence that the family of cats is being cared for, you may want to leave note to get in touch with the caretaker.
It’s important to know the difference between an owned cat and a community cat. Community cats includes any unowned, free-roaming cats that live outdoors. Community cats may be feral or friendly; the only difference being that feral cats are not socialized to people. Sometimes friendly, community cats can be acclimated and adopted into homes when rescues & shelters have space to intake, but that unfortunately is not always the case due to the cat overpopulation problem.
Stray cats are community cats, since they no longer have an owner. But stray cats are also a bit of a gray area. This is mainly because they were once socialized to people and therefore have become reliant on humans for food. The socialization of a stray cat can dwindle over time. A stray cat may even join a colony of cats. However, a cat colony can reject or scare away a newcomer.
- TNR
TNR, Trap-Neuter-Return, is the only method proven to be humane & effective in controlling and reducing the unowned, free-roaming cat population. Cats are humanely trapped and taken to a veterinarian to be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, & ear-tipped. After given a day to recover, the cats are returned to their home.
