Do you keep noticing a stray cat in your neighbourhood who looks slightly out of place? Perhaps they seem a bit thin and scruffy, and none of your neighbours recognise them or know who they belong to.
There are thought to be nearly 250,000 unowned urban cats in the UK, compared to just under 11 million cats who do have pet parents. Plenty of cats you see outside do have homes—they’re simply wandering through their territory, or maybe lost and unsure how to get back home. Others may be stray or feral cats, so you’ll always want to approach with caution.
Feral cats avoid interacting with people and don’t want to be touched. “When cornered, these cats may quickly become aggressive, leading to bites and scratches,” explains Stacy Choczynski Johnson, DVM.
How can you tell the difference between a wandering outdoor cat, stray cat, and a feral cat? Keep reading to find out, plus get some tips on caring for a stray and finding it a loving home.
Is It An Outdoor, Stray, Or Feral Cat?
In the UK, most cats do have access to the outdoors. It’s thought that as little as 10% of domestic cats are kept entirely indoors. The figure is much higher in the USA, where keeping cats indoors is often encouraged.
Dr Stacy breaks down the differences between feral, stray, and outdoor cats.
- Outdoor cats. These cats have homes with pet parents, but they spend some or all of their time outside.
- Stray cats. These cats live outside and don’t have owners. Some strays have lived in a home before, but they were abandoned or got lost. They may have a friendly temperament and approach people eagerly.
- Feral cats. These cats, also called community cats, are unowned outdoor cats who have wild, unruly temperaments. They have not been socialised with humans and may live in a colony.
Unless you have special training in handling feral cats, you’ll want to avoid approaching them. If you are concerned about a feral cat who seems ill or in need of assistance, you can call your local shelter or cat rescue for guidance.
What to Do After Finding A Stray Cat
If you’ve found a stray cat, it’s important to take things slow to make sure they’re friendly and willing to trust you. Try to approach slowly and cautiously, using a soft, gentle voice. Put your hand out in front of you and wait, letting the cat come closer when they feel comfortable.
Once you have gotten close enough to the cat, you can check for a collar—this likely means the cat has a home and is out making their rounds through the neighbourhood. But not all cats wear collars—a clean, well-fed, and well-groomed cat may also have a home.
If you think the cat has pet parents waiting for them, you can help them return home by searching for and posting them on these websites:
- Animal Search UK
- Cat Radar
- Pets Reunited
- Cat Lost
- Local Facebook groups
If you have the time and resources you can also post flyers around your neighbourhood. If you can safely catch the cat and place in a carrier, it’s a good idea to take them to a local vet where they can be checked for a microchip. This is often a quick way of reuniting lost cats with their owners. Not all cats in the UK are microchipped at present, but this will become mandatory from 10 June 2024.
While taking steps to find their pet parents, you can set up a shelter and food outside—you may want to avoid bringing them in until they’ve taken a trip to the vet.
How To Get A Stray Cat to Come to You
When dealing with a stray cat, it’s important to first get them to trust you. Many stray cats are frightened and might scratch and bite if you approach them too quickly. Instead, encourage them to approach you so you can help them. In the UK, local authorities have no obligation to help stray cats, unlike they have with dogs. Local rescue charities, however, might be able to help if they have space to take the cat in. If the cat is injured or unwell, it’s a good idea to see if there is a charity pet hospital or clinic nearby which can help. Remember, most cats roaming neighbourhoods that appear in good health will not be strays.
Without food
If you suspect that a cat is a stray, injured or unwell, and don’t have any food to offer, you can still help the cat by following these steps:
- Search online for your local animal rescue charity.
- Call and explain you need help with a stray cat.
- Provide a description of the cat and tell them if the cat seems to need medical attention.
- Give them the exact location of where they can find the cat.
- If possible, stay with the cat until help arrives.
If it’s an emergency, the RSPCA has a 24-hour emergency helpline (0300 1234 999) which can offer advice and assistance.
With food
One of the easiest ways to gain a cat’s trust is with food. Still, this will take time and lots of patience, so try not to rush the process.
Dr Stacy recommends providing canned food on a dish near the cat. At each encounter, place the dish closer to you. Over time, you may be able to reach out your hand and touch the cat.
She also recommends synthetic feline cheek pheromone spray to help the stray cat feel comfortable. You can spritz it on your shirt cuff like perfume, she says.
Note: if you don’t already have cat food, avoid giving the stray cat milk. Many cats are lactose intolerant and shouldn’t drink milk.
4 Ways To Help A Stray Cat
Once you’re able to get close to the cat, you can work on getting them the help they need. If you don’t have a cat carrier or kennel, your local shelter may lend you one.
1. Check for ID tags
Once you can get close enough to the stray cat, you’ll want to check to see if they have an ID tag. If a cat has a collar with an ID tag, check the tag for the owner’s contact information. Then, you can give them a call and let them know you have their cat.
2. Arrange a visit to the vet
Many stray cats may need medical care. Even if they don’t, and you’re fairly certain they are straying, it’s also important to get a vet or a charity animal hospital (if there’s one nearby) to check them for a microchip. You can lure them into a cat carrier and take them to the vet by following Dr Stacy’s advice:
“Each day, place a dish of food in the kennel. When you learn the cat’s routine, schedule a vet appointment a few hours after the normal feeding time. Before the appointment, you can trap the stray in the kennel and take him in for the needed vet care.”
3. Contact your local shelter
There are many charities in the UK that help stray cats. These include Blue Cross, Cats Protection, RSPCA, PDSA, Celia Hammond Animal Trust and Woodgreen. There are also many more small, locally run cat rescue organisations which may be able to help. Not all pet shelters will have space to take in new cats, but many have waiting lists and—at the very least—will be able to offer advice on what to do.
4. Find a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programme
If you’re finding it tough to earn the cat’s trust and don’t think you’ll be able to lure them into a cat carrier, you can contact your local animal welfare group. Some offer TNR programmes in certain areas.
These programs trap stray and feral cats, take them to be sprayed or neutered, and then vaccinate them before returning them to their neighbourhood. TNR programs help reduce shelter cat impoundment, so it’s worth checking for one near you.
Should You Take In a Stray?
“Stray cats can be affectionate,” Dr Stacy says. “They might purr, approach you, and even rub their cheek on your pant leg.”
If you have the space to welcome a cat into your home, there’s nothing wrong with adopting a stray—once you’ve done everything possible to find the cat’s home.
That said, it’s always best to take the cat for a vet appointment before bringing them inside. Dr Stacy recommends the following tests and treatments for any stray:
- physical exam
- faecal testing
- flea prevention
- feline leukaemia testing
- FIV testing
- vaccines
These medical checks are especially important if you have other animals in your home. You and your pets can get sick from parasites or diseases that enter your home with the stray cat.
Is adopting a stray cat ever a bad idea?
If you find an adorable, affectionate stray cat who needs a home, you might want to adopt them right away. But it’s important to consider whether they’ll make the right addition to your family.
A few reasons why you may want to wait on adopting the stray cat include:
- not being in a position to support a cat financially
- your landlord doesn’t allow pets
- your living space is too small for a pet
- other pets in the household might not get along with the new cat
- you already have multiple cats
- other people in the home have allergies to cats
But you don’t have to adopt a stray cat to help them! You can still do them a lot of good by taking steps to find their owner, helping them get adopted, or making sure they get the medical attention they need to thrive.
