Question; what to do if you find a stray cat? Hopefully, you do the right thing and help the cat. This can be done in multiple ways.
- You can give it shelter
- You can trap it
- Take it to the vet to see if it microchipped
- Bring it inside and giving it a home.
How you help the cat will depend on your means and how fast you act.
Stray cat vs Feral Cat
When I trapped the paw syndicate to get them fixed, I thought they would keep them and find the cats homes. After all, I was able to pet them while they ate, but only through the sliding door. Once I step outside, they run away from me like they’ve never seen me in their lives. Well, they returned every single one of them, except One-Eye Willie who wasn’t even part of the crew. I was told that the cats are too feral and the only let me pet them because I provide for them. While this was disappointing to hear, I was also glad to have them all home.
So what makes a cat feral or a stray? A stay cat was probably an indoor cat or around humans. It may have gotten lost or was dumped by their previous owner. Sad to say, but this happens a lot, especially when families move or are struggling financially. This is what we think happened to Batman but we can only speculate since he just showed up one day and never left. He did fall in love with Baby, so maybe that helped. Anyway, stay cats will approach humans and allow you to pet them. Feral cat will run from humans and will not allow you to pet them.
Another thing to notice is that stay cats might be dirty. Since they are not used to the outdoor life, they might be too scared and end up looking disheveled. Feral cats are a part of a colony and know how to groom themselves and others. You can see that a lot on the Paw Syndicate live stream. They are always cleaning each other and themselves.
Feral cats, if trapped and released, will have an ear-tip, just like the Paw Syndicate does. Stray cats will not have an ear tip. One major sign that a cat is a stray will be that it is alone. Feral cats have their own colonies and hierarchy. Mama is the Queen Bee, so don’t mess with her, walk near her, or look her in the eyes for too long. She will get annoyed and whack you in the face. Every single cat in the house has learned this lesson, multiple times.
So if you see a single cat that looks dirty, alone, and is meowing, this is most likely a stray cat. You will not hear feral cats meow, even though Baby tries. I still have to record her itty-bitty meow for the world to hear.
When to help vs observe
What to do if you find a stray cat, do you help it or just observe it? If the cat is a kitten, injured or in distress, please do your best to help it immediately. The sooner you help the cat the sooner it can get the help it needs. If the cat is alone and has no shelter, it’s time to act and either provide it with shelter or take it inside.
If the cat has an ear tip, this means that it has been trapped and fixed and is part of a colony. Someone might also be feeding this cat, if it appears in good health. If the cat is looking sick or in danger, please trap it and take it to the vet. If you do not have the means to do this, contact a rescue that can help.
Please do not take a kitten away from its mother. Instead, either leave it alone, trap both of them, and give both a home, if they are sociable. If the cat is a feral and not approachable, do not try to trap it by hand or blanket. Instead, use a cat trap to lure it, for your own safety and theirs.
Tips for Feeding Safely
When it comes to feeding stray cats or ferals, please provide them with cat food and clean water. You do not want to give cats food scraps, bones, or milk. Cats need to be fed twice a day while kittens should be fed three times a day. Our paw crew gets fed at least three times a day during winter. They come outside and wait by the door when they want more food. So, they tell us when they are ready for a snack. In the warmer months they hunt more and won’t be waiting for food as much.
Another feeding safely tip is to use stainless steel or ceramic bowls for the food and water. They are easier to clean and safer for cats because they can prevent bacterial acne. Our stainless steel, pewter bowl, was stolen by the raccoon but the cats get their water changed out multiple times a day. We also have ceramic plates for them but again, when the raccoon comes, the plates get pushed out and we end up using paper plates.
Avoid leaving a lot of food outside so that the cat can come and eat when it wants. This can entice other animals to come and the food cat get spoiled from the heat and flies. Another thing to avoid is giving cats food that includes onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, or chocolate. These ingredients are toxic to cats.
Contacting Rescues
When should you contact rescues for help? Today, it’s easier than ever to find a kind rescue group or person that dedicates their time and efforts trapping and helping cats. Mechel’s Haven is someone I trust and would call if there was a stray cat or feral colony that needed to be trapped and fixed. We also have low cost spay and neuter options with TARA van, like the city folk have ASPCA.
If you need help with a cat, you can call, email, or contact the rescue group on their social media page. If you’re shy and hate making phone calls, email them or direct message them on their social account. Don’t make excuses because your hesitation can be the difference between a cat getting rescued or not.
If you see a stray or feral cat that may need help, whether to be trapped, fixed or taken to the vet, please contact someone that can help. You can easily search the web for local rescues by you. It doesn’t cost you anything to ask for help, but it will mean everything to the cat.
Building Temporary Shelter
So what to do if you find a stray cat and it needs a shelter? You can built fast, simple cat shelters for your stay or feral colony with few items from the hardware store. All you will need is a plastic bin, insulation, tape, and straw. Remember, hay is for eating and straw is for strays! Make a hole in the plastic bin for an entrance, add your insulation inside on the bottom and all the walls, add your straw and close the lid. The shelter might look simple but it will keep the cat dry and warm, just what it needs.
If you would like to do more for your larger feral colony, you can make a shelter like we did. We used a greenhouse and built a mini house inside. There is a heated pad inside the mini house so that the cats are nice and toasty. If you are not good at building stuff or don’t have the tools and time, you can purchase a premade heated house. They are lightweight and easy to put together. All you do after is just plug it in.
So if you find a stray cat, don’t just look away. If you can’t trap it or help the cat, find someone that can.
