Ozzi Cat. Australian National Cat Magazine & Cat Behaviour Consulting. Solutions for Cat Problems. How to Keep Cats Happy.
OZZI CATTM · WHERE CATS ARE FAMILY · Helping Cats Live a Happy Life!

OZZI CAT MAGAZINE

#1 BELOVED INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CAT MAGAZINE

Cat Care & Stories · Products & DIY · Cat Behaviour, Cat Training, Cat Enrichment
Helping and Donating to Rescue Cats in Need.
THE CAT HELPERTM: Cat Behaviour Consulting. Cat Behaviour Problems Solved. Cat Clicker Training.
Helping People Understand Cats.

Cat Info

What To Understand Cat Behaviour? Read Ozzi Cat Magazine! Click to Get Your Copy >

If products are mentioned in the page below,
we might get a small commission if you choose to order through the links provided

What To Do If You Find A Stray Cat

Editor’s Note: Although the advice given in the article can be applied in Australia, I want to pay attention that it is the British RSPCA mentioned in the article, not the Australian one. For Australians the advice would be to consider contacting Cat Rescues first. As usual, opinions and advice mentioned in the article may not be the same of the Editors.

Cute Kitten in Grass - Cat Lover's Pick - Featured in Australian National Cat Magazine Ozzi Cat

If you live in an area where there are a lot of cats kept as pets it can sometimes take a while before you realise that the one that keeps appearing in your garden does not have a home. Sometimes it is only when that cat appears injured and does not seem to have been given veterinary care that you realise that no-one is looking after it.

If you find a cat in your garden or nearby that appears to be unkempt and hungry and it does not have a collar, your first step could be to contact your local vet to ask for it to be scanned for a microchip (for free). Sometimes cats get lost or go missing but are much loved and much missed by their families – who would be very happy to have that cat returned to them.

If there is no microchip then your next steps rather depend on whether the cat has been injured or not. If you ever find an injured cat and do not know or cannot contact the owner, call the RSPCA and they will direct you to your nearest emergency vet. If possible, please take the cat in a safe container to the vet for treatment – the RSPCA will make arrangements with the vet for payment and to arrange to collect the cat to be taken to a shelter and try to find its owners or get it rehomed.

If it is not possible to take the cat yourself, perhaps because it is too badly injured to move safely or appears very scared at the prospect of being picked up by you, ask the RSPCA for advice – they may send one of their trained staff to assist.

If the cat is not injured and cannot be traced to its owner through a microchip, contact the RSPCA, local vets and cat protection charities to give a description of the cat so that it can be placed on lost and found registers or noticeboards. If possible, make a poster including the cat’s photo and brief description (leave something unstated, to ensure that if someone calls they are the cat’s real owner) and a way of contacting you – put copies of the poster up in your local post office and anywhere else that might be seen by the owners.

If no owners come forward, speak to the RSPCA again as well as cat protection charities to see if anyone can help to rehome the cat and care for it in a foster home or shelter in the meantime. If you think that you could care for the cat in the short term, speak to the RSPCA for advice on how best to care for the cat and what to do next in terms of finding a forever home. If you want to keep the cat and no-one has come forward in response to your attempts to find the owners, there is no reason why you should not care for the cat. If the owners later turn up, you will probably have to hand the cat over, but if you think that the cat would not be well cared for you should seek legal advice as to your position.

About the Author and Contributor to the Ozzi Cat Magazine:

This is a guest post by Claire Chat a new Londoner, travel passionate and animal lover. She blogs about Pets and Travelling in Europe. If you want Claire to write you specific content, you can email her or contact her on Twitter (Claire_Chat).

Photo by: Nick Perla

Share With Cat Parents and Cat Lovers!
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Tagged , , , , , ,

Related Posts

Sign Up For FREE Cat Newsletter!

Join hundreds of Aussie cat lovers and be the first to read amazing cat stories and news, learn practical health, care, and cat behaviour tips. DIY, cat product reviews, giveaways, + more!
Sign Up for a free Ozzi Cat Newsletter here now:

or Jump Straight to Full Sign Up

JOIN CAT LOVERS!
Sign Up For Ozzi Cat Newsletter: It's FREE!

Get our cat blog updates by e-mail: cat stories, news, DIY, cat care tips, giveaways, and more! Sign up now:

or Jump Straight to Full Sign Up
SHOP: CUTE CAT NOTEPADS
SPONSORED
Cat Colouring Therapy, Cat Calendar & Cat Planner Inserts

ColourMeow: Anti-Stress Cat Colouring Therapy & Cute Cat-Themed Planners Stationery

Cat Colouring Pages and Cat Drawings for Adults and Kids. Colouring Anti-Stress Therapy & Cute Cat-Themed Planners Stationery

Join Cat Colouring Club to Get Free Printables

Adopt A Rescue Cat
Looking for a cat? Choose a cat or a kitten from a cat rescue or a shelter. Rescue cats are adorable - open your heart and give a loving home for them! Adopted a cat? Share a cat photo and the story with us!
Be An Angel For Cats!

Be an Angel For Cats - Donate $5+, so it will be added to the donation that Ozzi Cat regularly sends to cat rescues and cats in need! Your money will be donated for cats in need IN FULL (we don't use them for anything else). Your $5+ helps with cat emergencies, vet bills, food, litter, and bedding.

Donate $5+ for Cats In Need

Learn more

Help Us Help Cats
Let's make more cats live a happy life, so none would end up in a street or shelter! (Ozzi Cat mission). Help cat parents learn and understand cats better!

Tell cat owners and cat lovers about Ozzi Cat Magazine, spread the word! (We donate money from Ozzi Cat Magazine to help rescue cats in need.)
Ozzi Cat Magazine Sponsorship
Would you like to get Ozzi Cat Magazine copies for your special fundraising, cause, or event? Contact us with details. Please allow time for responding and shipment.
Search for Cat Article or Topic
Advertise With Us
Want to promote a cat product or service? Contact us with details.

(To be notified on potential partnership opportunities, join our Business Partner Circle.)