Most feral cats can't be adopted because they're too afraid of people. One sign that a cat is a spayed or neutered feral is a tipped or notched ear if the tip or section of an ear has been surgically removed.
A stray cat who is spayed or neutered may also have a tipped or notched ear. Food and water are important parts of caring for community cats. But some people who are new to looking after these cats often don't realize that if they don't find a way to have the cats spayed or neutered, the number of hungry cats may soon become unmanageable as more and more kittens are born. If you're already feeding community cats, you may soon find yourself overwhelmed by kittens, kittens and more kittens—unless you take quick action to get them spayed and neutered.
Use our community cat resources to get these cats spayed and neutered while their numbers are still manageable. Outdoor cats can often be the cause of complaints; from a cat who stalks birds at a neighbor's bird feeder to a group of community cats known as a colony on a neighbor's property.
If you are helping people keep cats off their property or resolve nuisance complaints, we suggest the following resources:.
If you're really lucky, there is an organization or agency in your area that can help you TNR the feral cats you're feeding. They may also be able to help find homes for friendly strays and kittens. If this help isn't available in your community, you may still be able to find veterinarians who are willing to provide low-cost services for community cats. Organizations and agencies that care for community cats need all the assistance they can get.
Even if you've never seen a feral or stray cat, it's likely that they are in your community. You can make a big difference by doing the following:. If there's no local group helping community cats, you may decide to start one. Talk with others in your community and find some like-minded individuals to help share the workload.
How individuals can help community cats. What do I do if I've found a cat? How do I know if the cat is feral, stray or an owned cat? Download the stray and feral cats guide. Stray cat? 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 socialised to humans or the domestic environment. Feral cats are likely to be: not friendly - unsocialised 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.
The vet will be able to scan for a microchip, which is vital in locating an owner and may also lead to finding the location of any kittens If safe to do so, go back to the area where the cat was found and have a look around the area for any signs of kittens.
In the post, remind people to check their gardens and any outbuildings, as well as asking the owner to get in contact. Keeping the cat safe If the found cat is friendly, you might be able to check for an identification tag - if it belongs to someone, give them a call and let them know. 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.
Here's what to do: Print out the template here 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 cat's neck, to make sure the cat isn't harmed If you get no response from the owner, call your local Cats Protection branch.
You can find your local branch by typing in your postcode in our Find us page For more advice on what to do, download our checklist. Using paper collars during the coronavirus crisis If you're usi ng paper collars, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before and after using them. Find out more about cats and coronavirus. Found a cat? Follow our checklist Feral cat, stray cat or owned cat with a sense of adventure?
Once the procedure is finished, the kitties are safely returned to the neighborhood — plus they'll get a health check while at the vet. It's easy to assume a cat outside without a collar is a stray, but that furry feline might just be someone's pet.
Check with your neighbors to determine if any cats in question have owners. If possible, ask owners to place collars on their furry friends so no one will think they are strays. Some outdoor-owned kitties have microchips placed between their shoulder blades for identification.
These can be read by a Universal Microchip Scanner. This way, a vet or shelter worker can find out the owner's contact information if the kitty is lost or mistaken for a stray.
If you find a lone cat or litter of kittens who are not feral, or adapted to the wild, check with local rescue organizations to see about finding the felines forever homes.
Look for no-kill shelters and rescue organizations. Note that if you befriend a cat who's happily feral, allow him to live within his outdoor colony, even if he seems to like being around you for a visit. Feral cats in colonies have their own social hierarchies and societies. If taken away from the colony, feral cats get anxious and often become chronically ill. Worse yet, feral cats often wind up scared, afraid and un-adoptable in animal shelters, whereas they have a better chance at a fulfilling life albeit possibly shorter , if left in their colony.
Americans love kitties, including many U.
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