Help! A stray cat has arrived in my garden. What should I do?
Don't feed or encourage it
Usually the first instinct of an animal lover upon discovering a stray pet is to offer it food and a safe place to sleep. While kind, this gesture can actually cause more confusion and long-term distress to an animal that has been straying. After all, it might not even be a stray!
A lost animal is less likely to find its way home if it is offered food and shelter elsewhere. Cats tend to stick around anywhere their needs are being met, so unless you are willing to offer this cat a home long-term (if an owner can't be found) it is kinder to encourage the cat to return to its rightful home.
Still hanging around? Next step is a vet visit
Is the cat still hanging around despite not being fed? Providing you're able to pick it up* the next step is to visit a local veterinary practice to see if the cat has a microchip implanted. Most vets and rescue centres will check this for you free of charge. If a chip is found, the veterinary practice will arrange a reunion between cat and owner.
*If you aren't able to handle the cat, most rescue centres and even some veterinary practices will be able to loan you a humane trap in order to check for a microchip.
No chip? Time to contact your local rescue centre
Nearly all rescue centres have access to databases of pets that have been reported missing or lost. Even without a microchip this is still a great way of reuniting a stray with their owners.
Rescue centres will also be able to offer further advice on finding an owner such as sending out a paper collar for the cat to wear, advertising that it has been reported as a stray and is in the process of being rehomed should an owner not come forward.
If this is starting to sound like a lot of hard work for a stray cat, remember that cats are classed as "property" under the Theft Act 1968, and any person who knowingly rehomes an animal without searching for an owner could face up to seven years in prison for theft! Now that is a lot of hard work!
Still no sign of an owner?
It's time to decide if you have room in your life for a cat. If the answer is no we recommend putting them on the waiting list for rehoming through a recognised rescue centre. We will list some possible options for you at the bottom of this article.
If you do decide to rehome the cat yourself we advise getting him/her microchipped (or updating an existing chip with your details), having them vaccinated and neutered if they aren't already.
Cats Protection: https://www.cats.org.uk
Celia Hammond: https://www.celiahammond.org
Battersea: https://www.battersea.org.uk
RSPCA: https://www.rspca.org.uk