Meredith K.
4 weeks ago
WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A LOST CAT
Secure the cat indoors or in a large dog crate in a secure area, out of the weather. Provide food, water, litter Box, old blanket or towel to lay on. A small cardboard Box can also be comforting to a scared cat.
This is temporary, until the cat's owner can be found. If you cannot provide this, please find a trustworthy friend or family member who will. The cat's life may depend on it. Do not release the cat!
Take the cat (in a secure carrier) to a vet to be scanned for a microchip. Make sure the vet has a universal scanner, because not all scanners read all microchips. Vets will do this service for free.
If the cat is chipped, the vet should be able to contact the owner. They may give you the owner contact information. Hopefully the owner will respond quickly.
If the cat is not Microchipped, Make an effort to reunite the cat with its owners.
Post everywhere you can (Pawboost, Lost & Found Pets pages for you area/city county, Nextdoor, the Buzz page for your city) and notify the shelter that has jurisdiction in the city the cat was found in. Currently many shelters are not intaking healthy cats, but may post the cat on their website.
Put up flyers in the neighborhood, and in everyones' mailboxes or under door mats, in the several block radius.
Do include a good photo.
Do say the cross streets & city where it was found.
Do say the date & time when found.
Do say the & approx age (vet can tell you)
Do not describe everything about the cat. The owner should have photos to send you & should be able to provide other proof.
This could include something unique about the cat's markings, feet, eyes, a name it responds to, a habit it has, etc.
If no one claims the cat after 4 days (if not Microchipped) or 30 days (if chipped), you can:
Keep the cat yourself (indoors only, or it will run away)
Contact adoption groups/rescues to see if they will take the cat. Do not offer to random individuals.
Try to rehome the cat. But you have to be VERY CAREFUL. Don't just give it to strangers on the Internet. Best to go through a legitimate rescue.
