Stray Cat

How to tell if a cat is stray

When you see a new cat around or even one you keep seeing but your neighbors don’t know their owner, it can be tricky to tell whether the cat is a stray, owned, or feral.

It can be particularly difficult to spot the difference between a stray and a feral cat. Feral cats live outdoors away from people and are not domesticated. Some things to look out for to identify a stray cat rather than a feral cat include:

Appearance. A stray cat might look a little skinny or underweight. If the cat looks well-groomed and healthy, try asking neighbors or checking lost and found groups as they may have an owner
Company. Stray cats are usually alone (whereas feral cats tend to live in colonies). They may be shy and timid at first but might come to you over time whereas a feral cat is unlikely to come near you at all
Location. Stray cats tend to stay near houses and people, so you might find them in your garden or trying to get into your house
They’re new. A stray cat may have just appeared and seemed confused. Feral cats will usually be very familiar with the area they live in

What do I do if I’ve found a cat?

Most cats are, by nature, inclined to roam the area surrounding their home. You’re likely to come across a stray cat on your travels, although it might be tricky to find out whether it is a stray cat, a feral or is in fact an owned cat with a sense of adventure. So what should you do if you’ve found a cat?

What to do if you find a stray cat

If the cat seems friendly enough to safely get them into a cat carrier yourself, take them to the nearest vets for scanning in case they are just lost. You can also take the cat to a nearby animal shelter as they will be able to check to see if there are any matching reports of lost cats in the area and possibly scan the cat for a microchip. If the cat is just visiting you occasionally then a paper collar is a great way to potentially find out if there is an owner.

Printable paper collars for cats

If you’ve found a cat and you’re unsure as to whether it has an owner, use our handy paper collars. These are good to attach to a cat to contact a possible owner if there is one. Here’s what to do:

Print out the template
Write your contact telephone number in the space provided and cut out one collar
Ensure the fitted collar allows for two fingers to be placed between the collar and the cat’s neck, to make sure the cat isn’t harmed
If you get no response from the owner of the cat paper collar, post a photo of the cat on Facebook at Lost and Found Pets-Livingston County https://www.facebook.com/groups/1350175045721932/

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN

Stray cats are socialized domestic cats who don’t appear to have an owner. Be wary; even if they ‘stray’ they might be a neighborhood cat who’s worked out that if they look hungry they can bag themselves another meal!

Stray cats are likely to be:

More friendly – if they’re a little shy they will often approach cautiously with some time and encouragement
Found alone
Without an ear tip – won’t have their ear ‘tipped’, even if they have been neutered
Appear near houses – either in people’s gardens or near homes
Microchipped – if they are a missing pet, they may have a microchip
Recent in their appearance, looking lost and disorientated

Feral cat

Feral cats are the same species of cat as our pet cats but are not socialized to humans or the domestic environment. This means they behave like wild animals.

Feral cats are likely to be:

Not friendly – unsocialized to humans, feral cats find people threatening and can be hard to spot. They won’t come close, even with encouragement
Living alone or with others – sometimes, they might live in a colony with other feral cats
Ear tip – they may have their left ear ‘tipped’ to show they have been neutered and returned
Away from houses – they’ll avoid human contact and often have a hiding spot away from populated areas
Not microchipped – most feral cats don’t have a microchip
Permanent – they are more likely to have set up a permanent home or shelter
REMOVING a feral male from its colony will only cause another male to come in with more females.

You can find your local branch by typing in your postcode on our Find us page

Should I feed a stray or lost cat?

It can be really tempting to feed an unfamiliar cat if you think they are lost or a stray, but it’s best not to. Some cats might be on a special diet or have a medical condition that needs a particular type of food. Feeding them something different might seriously upset their tummy or stop them from getting all the important nutrients they need.

Feeding an unfamiliar cat can also keep them coming back to you. If they are owned, this will upset their owner as it means the cat won’t be leaving in a hurry to return home! If you already have a cat, it will be unsettling for them too, and might cause them to become stressed.