Key takeaways
- As we come into the summer, more and more cats will explore the great outdoors and may find themselves a little lost.
- If you come across a missing pet, it's essential you know what to do so they can get the care they need as soon as possible and can be reunited with their owners.
- We're offering our expert advice, and three simple steps to follow to ensure pet wellbeing is always prioritized.
1. Assess the situation
Some people can't believe their luck when they stumble across a cute kitty. Across the internet, it's being named the 'Cat Distribution System.'
However, before we start to imagine a new pet coming home, it's essential we do all we can to find their current owner. After all, can you imagine your fur baby being claimed by someone else?
Determine if they are a stray cat or pet
Determining whether the lost cat is a stray or a pet is an important step. Some strays can be aggressive and, in some countries, can even carry diseases, so you should assess the situation first to remain safe.
Stray or feral cats will often be recognizable by the following characteristics:
- Matted or dirty fur
- Fear
- Injuries
- Aggression
If you think they may be a stray, call animal control to make sure they are aware of the kitty. They'll be able to get them the care they need.
It's usually more obvious if they are pet. Look out for the following:
- Well-kept and groomed coat
- Friendly or comfortable being near people
- Wearing an ID tag or collar
Some people can't believe their luck when they stumble across a cute kitty. Across the internet, it's being named the 'Cat Distribution System.'
Observe them for injuries
The right course of action can change from situation to situation. The first thing to figure out is whether the cat is injured or sick. If they are, you must get them the care they need as soon as possible.
Some common injuries and issues to look out for include:
- Shock: If a cat has been hit by a car or become lost and disoriented, they may be in shock, which can be deadly. Signs of this include rapid breathing, vomiting, listlessness, and cool extremities (hypothermia).
- Broken limbs: Unfortunately, broken limbs and injured paws are very common in cats who have escaped. The most obvious sign of this is when a cat limps when they walk or holds their paw up when they are sitting.
- Infections: Scratches and cuts, either from fighting with other cats or getting trapped or stuck somewhere, can get infected quickly when they aren't treated right away. This can be a little more difficult to observe, but try looking out for redness, swelling, puss, and bleeding.
2. Report the lost cat
The next step is to report the lost cat to local organizations that can help rehome them, give them the care they need, or find their owner.
Local animal shelter
Contacting your local shelter gives the lost cat the best chance of being reunited with their owner. If their owner has reported them lost, it’s likely the shelter will know about them!
They'll also be able to:
- Scan for a microchip: If the missing cat has a microchip, the shelter will be able to contact their owner and keep the kitty safe until they pick them up.
- Alert the community to a new lost or stray cat: Many animal shelters will have a following in the local community. This means they'll be able to post on social media or alert email subscribers to new lost cats that are handed in, increasing the chances of this message reaching the owners.
- Care for them: The most important part of bringing the lost pet to an animal shelter is getting them the care they need. They'll get warm shelter, food, water, and company. Alongside this, they'll be able to give them some basic medical attention to ensure they're happy and healthy.
Veterinarians
Sometimes, the best place to take a found cat is to the vet. This is especially true if you can see they are distressed or in pain. Signs that indicate this can include:
- Excessive licking
- Excessive vocalization
- Shock
Call the local veterinarian's office before you take the cat there to ensure they have space and time to treat them.
Animal control
Local animal control will be able to offer you expert support and advice about your next steps, depending on the cat's specific situation.
If it's clear the kitty needs help, then they can come and set up humane traps to help capture the them. They'll also have extensive knowledge of the stray animals in the area and will know whether the kitty you've found is a stray or a pet.
3. Try to find the owner
Sometimes, if the cat isn't microchipped, vets and shelters won't be able to track down their owner. They also won't have the spare time and resources to spend days trying to find the pet's parents, so this is where you come in!
There is plenty you can do to help reunite this little furry friend with their owners. Try:
- Posting on social media: Joining local neighborhood Facebook and WhatsApp groups and posting about the cat can help spread the message far and wide until it reaches the worried owner.
- Use PetRadar: By navigating to the PetRadar website, you can see all the recent searches that owners have made for their lost pets in your area. If you see the kitty on one of these searches, you can contact the owner straight away.
- Distribute found cat posters: Creating a 'found cat' poster and pinning it up around your neighborhood in high footfall areas can increase the chances of the owner seeing it and identifying their missing pet.
FAQs
Final thoughts
We hope this guide has helped you decide what to do with your new-found furry friend and led to a happy ending. Remember, it's very possible they are a lost pet, so don't assume you can take them in forever.
However, if they don't get claimed and they don't have a microchip, you're free to adopt them! Ensure the animal shelter knows you're interested in rehoming the kitty so they don't put them up for adoption to the public.
