Animalscaretips
Five things to do with a found cat
- Avoid feeding it unless it is particularly underweight - this will only encourage the cat to come back, even if it has an owner!
- Call your local animal shelter or organisation - find your local Cats Protection.
- List the cat on your local community Facebook page or put up posters.
- What to do when you find an abandoned cat?
- Can I legally keep a cat I found?
- How long before a stray cat is legally yours?
- Should I rescue a stray cat?
- Is abandoning a cat illegal?
- Can cat owners be prosecuted?
- Does a microchip prove ownership of a cat?
- Can I adopt an abandoned cat?
- How do you tell if a cat is abandoned?
- Who is responsible for stray cats?
- Where do I take a cat I found?
- Do cats get sad when abandoned?
- Can a stray cat become a house cat?
- Do stray cats carry diseases?
What to do when you find an abandoned cat?
Contact your local council or rescue group to assist you with trapping. Make sure that the cat/kitten has food, water and shelter. Keep the cat away from your own pets until you are sure it is healthy. Take the lost cat to a local veterinarian and ask them to scan for a microchip.
Can I legally keep a cat I found?
Usually, you can't keep lost property until you've taken certain steps to report the find and attempt to return property to the owner. If you find a stray animal, you must: Return the animal to the owner -- Most statutes require you to attempt to return the animal to its owner, before you assert ownership.
How long before a stray cat is legally yours?
How long before a stray cat is legally yours? This isn't as straightforward as you'd think. If the cat is microchipped or ID of some kind, it legally belongs to its owners, and they can claim their cat at any time. However, if you've made every attempt to locate the owner without success, you could keep the stray.
Should I rescue a stray cat?
Stray cats can readjust to living with people and may be good candidates for adoption into indoor homes if people have the time and means to foster and adopt. Stray and feral cats can be difficult to tell apart, especially when they are trapped or frightened.
Is abandoning a cat illegal?
Yes. It is illegal to abandon a dog or cat unless you legally transfer the dog or cat to another home or animal shelter.
Can cat owners be prosecuted?
The law makes it an offence to kill or injure companion animals (see definition at page 5) so that if a person harmed or killed a cat belonging to another they could be prosecuted. Ownership of the animal does not have to be proved as the law recognises domestic cats as protected animals.
Does a microchip prove ownership of a cat?
Is a microchip proof of ownership? No- not in itself.
Can I adopt an abandoned cat?
Basically, There are two ways to become the owner of a stray cat – either you can adopt from an animal shelter or rescue organisation, or you can feed and gradually befriend a homeless cat until she becomes comfortable enough to move in with you.
How do you tell if a cat is abandoned?
All cats can be weary of people so take some time and observe their behaviour before you approach them. If you see a cat late at night when the outdoor cats should go home, or you see fresh paw prints from in the snow or ground in the early morning, that is most likely a stray cat.
Who is responsible for stray cats?
Cat Protection Society of NSW.
Where do I take a cat I found?
The first place you should take a cat you found is to your local veterinarian, grooming salon, or animal shelter to get the cat checked for a microchip. Once you've done this, you can begin the next steps in either reconnecting the cat with his owner or finding the cat a new home.
Do cats get sad when abandoned?
Cats get very attached to their families. When left alone, they can get lonely, depressed, and even anxious. It's a misconception that cats aren't social beings. They need their daily dose of love and attention to stay happy and healthy.
Can a stray cat become a house cat?
Yes, that stray cat or alley cat can become your beloved house cat, but there are some caveats you should consider. ... Feral cats are wild and not used to people or domesticated. Stray cats and some alley cats have often had socialization and may have even been neutered and received health care.
Do stray cats carry diseases?
Stray kittens can also carry various infectious diseases that can be transmitted to other cats in the household, such as feline leukemia virus, panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus. Overall, the risks from adopting stray kittens are low, but they are real.
