Photo of Morris the cat

What to do with a stray cat

If you find a lost cat, follow our steps to help you find out whether they are stray, or whether they have just wandered too far from home.

Before you take a lost or stray cat to a rescue centre or take them in yourself, it's important to find out whether they have a loving home near by.

How to tell if a cat is a stray

Many cats who appear to be stray are often just lost or roaming and have a family nearby. If the cat seems healthy and well cared for, they may be a family pet that has wandered too far.

If you find a cat, follow our steps to find out if they have a home. This will help you to determine whether the cat is stray.

What is a feral cat?

Feral cats are cats that have not been socialised and live outdoors like wild cats, without a home environment. Feral cats should be left alone, as they are usually very scared of people.

They're likely to avoid human contact and stay away from houses, they are not likely to be socialised and will most often not be microchipped. Some feral cats also have an ear tip, which is a mark on their left ear to show that they have been neutered and returned. 

This differs to stray cats, who are likely to be found around homes and gardens and can become friendly if given time.

What to do if you find an injured or unwell feral cat

If you think you have found a feral cat that is injured or unwell, contact your local vet or RSPCA who will be able to give you advice. Cats Protection offer trap, neuter and return schemes, and depending on the situation, they may be able to help.

Feral cats are not tame and may become incredibly distressed if handled, putting you at risk of being injured. Your local vet or charity may be able to loan a humane cat trap if they need to be taken to the vet.

What to do if you find a lost or stray cat

While dog wardens have an obligation to take in stray dogs, this law does not apply to cats, making it difficult to know what to do if you find a stray.

Many cats will roam and visit other homes, but they will often have loving owners who take good care of them. Not all cats that visit are stray, even if they visit regularly. If the cat seems well cared and healthy, they are unlikely to be lost or stray.

If you find a cat that you think might be lost or stray, there are steps you can take to find out whether they have a home.

  • Ask your neighbours if their cat is missing, or if they recognise the cat
  • Put a paper collar on the cat to help you find out whether the cat is owned. Write a message asking the cat's owners to mark the paper collar to let you know that the cat has a home. It's also a good idea to write your phone number on the paper collar, so the owners can contact you.
  • Check local lost and found pet groups on Facebook to see whether anyone is looking for the cat
  • Post on social media to see if anyone recognises the cat
  • Put up a ‘found’ poster with a photo of the cat, to give potential owners an opportunity to collect their cat if they are lost
  • Contact your local vet or rescue centre to ask them to scan the cat for a microchip. If the cat already has owners, the microchip will help them to be reunited.

If you find a cat that you think might be unwell or injured, contact your local vet for advice.

Note

As of 10 June 2024, cat microchipping will be compulsory. Microchipping your cat and keeping your details up to date gives the best chance of reuniting if they go missing.

Putting a paper collar on a cat

If you are planning to use a paper collar to find out if a cat is stray, remember to:

  • only use the paper collar if the cat is happy to be approached
  • print the collar onto paper so it can easily be torn if the cat becomes stuck – avoid using photograph paper or card
  • make sure the collar fits the cat comfortably

The cat I have found is stray. Can Blue Cross help?

If the cat you have found does not appear to have owners, take them to your local vet to ask them to scan the cat for a microchip. If there is no microchip, you can contact your nearest Blue Cross rehoming centre to see if we have space to look after them.

While Blue Cross finds homes for many stray cats each year, we are only able to take them in if we have space. If we are unable to take the stray cat in, we can signpost you to other nearby rescues.

If you are taking a stray cat to a local rescue, remember to take them in a cat carrier to keep them secure. If you don't have a carrier, you can ask family, friends, a local charity or ask on social media to see if there is one that you can borrow.

Can I keep a stray cat?

Before you take a stray cat in as your own, always check whether the cat is microchipped by taking them to your local vet.

Cats have been known to jump into cars and vans and accidently travel miles away from home, so a microchip can sometimes be the only way of tracking down an owner.

If they don't have a microchip and you have made a good attempt to find the cat’s owner, and wish to keep them as your own pet, make sure you can give them all the care they need to stay happy and healthy.

Read more about caring for a cat.

I’ve found a litter of kittens. What should I do?

If you find a litter of one or more kittens, always check to see if their mum is nearby.

If there's no sign of their mum, leave the kittens undisturbed and keep an eye on them for a couple of hours to see if she comes back. It may be that she is too frightened to return while you're there. Don’t be tempted to handle the kittens, as this can stop her from coming back.

If their mum still has not returned after a few hours, you will need to contact your local pet charity, like Blue Cross, or vet for advice. They will be able to advise further depending on the situation.

If the mum and kittens are together in a safe place, they do not need to be moved immediately, but you'll need to make arrangements for them to be taken to a rehoming centre. When you call, try to provide as much detail as possible.

Note

Do not be tempted to keep a litter of kittens. They will need veterinary care, worming, vaccinations and neutering before being rehomed, so it’s best to hand them to a rehoming centre as soon as possible.

I accidently hit a cat with my car. What should I do?

Sadly it's not uncommon for cats to be involved in road traffic accidents. If you hit a cat with your car, you should report it to the police, local authority or vet as soon as possible. Making an attempt to let the owner know is also a kind and responsible thing to do.

If the cat is alive but injured and able to be caught, take them to the nearest vet for emergency care. If the cat runs away, the best thing you can do is keep an eye out for lost cat posters or posts on social media, to see if anyone is looking for their cat.

If the cat is killed and you are able to pick them up, take them to a vet or rehoming centre to be scanned for a microchip. This is not an easy thing to do, but it’s much better for owners to know what has happened to their cat if possible.

Should I feed a stray cat?

It's best not to feed cats that you think are lost or stray. Cats will always come back to a reliable source of food and if the cat already has loving owners, feeding them can lure them away from their home.

Some cats may also have medical conditions, which means certain foods could give them an upset tummy.

Page details

Reviewed

• 28 February 2024

Next review

• 1 March 2027

Claire crouching next to her white staffie dog
Approved by
Claire Stallard

Animal Behaviourist ABTC-CAB

Approved by
Anna Ewers Clark

Veterinary Surgeon MRCVS