We frequently receive emails and Facebook messages from individuals who have found a cat they believe is homeless or in need of help, asking if we could take it in.

As much as I would love to take in every cat in need of help, there are certain variables that we have to remain mindful of – most specifically the requirements of our rescue partner LYFF and the agreement we have in place with them.

So I thought it might be useful to share the same advice we’ve given others here in this blog post, should you happen across a cat in need and aren’t sure of the best course of action. 

Coming Across A Cat

Many people choose to let their cats outside to roam which makes it possible that a “found cat” is really just a neighbor’s pet out hunting for mice. Personally speaking, I don’t condone house cats being allowed outdoors. A cat which is born and raised indoors doesn’t have the same awareness of external predators as a wild animal does. Coyotes, owls, red-tail hawks, dogs, cars… all can inflict significantly injure or kill any cat. Our own cats are our kids, so I do everything I can to make sure they remain happy and comfortable – inside the safety of my house.

If you come across a cat you haven’t seen before and you find yourself wondering if you should do something, take a moment to listen to your intuition. Does the cat readily approach you as though it’s hungry? Does it seem to find comfort in your presence yet show uncertainty towards its surroundings? Cats that know their environment tend to act like it. Those who are lost, have been dumped by their owner, or left behind after a move will often hide. But if they’ve been raised with humans providing food then they know humans to be a food source, and when a stable food source is no longer available it’s been my experience that cats in need have an uncanny knack of knowing which human will help them.

Microchips

If the cat will let you approach it, pet it, pick it up, etc. then your best bet is to take it to your local Humane Society (or local veterinarian) to determine if the cat has a microchip. The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine conducted a recent study of microchip effectiveness as part of their Indoor Pet Initiative, and they found the following in a study of 53 shelters who recorded information on animals entering a shelter with a microchip:

• 63.5% of owners of stray cats (with microchips) were found
• 61% of the owners actually wanted their cats back
• The median return to owner rates for shelters were 21.4 times higher for cats with a microchip than all stray cats (38.5% vs. 1.8%)
• The main reasons that an owner wasn’t found included incorrect or disconnected phone numbers (35.4%), owners failure to return phone calls or respond to letters (24.3%), unregistered microchips (9.8%) or microchips registered in a database that differed from the manufacturer (17.2%)

All this goes to show if the cat is microchipped then there is a good chance a shelter can help them get back home more effectively than you can by yourself. And if they can’t locate the owner, reputable and well-funded shelters are equipped to give the cat a chance at finding a new home via their adoption and foster programs. If you volunteer for a local rescue group, they may be able to work with the shelter to keep the found cat on a “watch list” in the case that it’s owner is not found and too much time passes without it being adopted directly from the shelter.

Take Caution

You can also use social media and neighborhood networks to post “Found Cat” notifications. When advertising a found cat, its best not to provide all the details. For example, you might want to only post a photo of the cats face (rather than some other distinguishing feature) because by leaving out some details you can better test people who claim the cat is theirs, thereby making sure the cat goes back to its rightful owner instead of cat-napping strangers.

Take Action Yourself

And finally if all else fails and you can’t add the fur kiddo to your permanent family member roster, you can put it up for adoption yourself. You might be surprised to find trusted friends or family members willing and wanting to add a cat to the family. Just remember to follow a few smart practices if you decide to orchestrate an adoption:

1. Don’t advertise a “free” cat. You run the risk of attracting someone that might have bad intentions. $50 (or more if you covered vet care for the cat such as spay/neutering, vaccinations, etc.) is a common starting place.
   
2. Draft up a written adoption agreement similar to what is common for shelter and rescue adoptions. Here’s a good example for reference.

Got any tips of your own? Share them in the comments section!

With Love and Light,

Caroline