People often find cats roaming around their yard. These cats might pass through or they might stay for quite some time. Occasionally, they decide to stay forever, never leaving the confines of your backyard. Most of the time, the cats that visit are neighborhood pets. This is typically the case even when cats appear to be quite scared. However, sometimes these cats are strays in need of human assistance. It’s important to know the difference before you intervene.
What to Do If You Find a Cat
If a cat has made your backyard their permanent home and you’re absolutely sure it doesn’t leave, you’ll need to do some investigating. Put up signs around your neighborhood with a description of the cat. Make sure you also post a description on social media websites. This is often the first place people go when looking for their cat.
Facebook has several excellent groups for posting information about lost and found pets. Seek out these groups and ask if you can post a picture. It might also be helpful to post a picture at local grooming shops and vets.
Just make sure you verify the owner before handing over the cat. Require a picture of them with the cat before releasing it.
If you don’t hear anything for at least two weeks, you’ll need to contact the shelter. Contact your local animal shelter to report a stray cat. Aside from social media websites, pet parents will visit the shelter searching for their lost pet.
It’s important to note that it is illegal to keep a cat that you have found. You must allow the shelter to attempt to find its owner first. You can put a hold on the pet for adoption if the owner doesn’t come. This prevents the cat from being euthanized in the sad instance that the owner isn’t found.
Special Considerations
Feeding stray cats is not recommended. Leaving food outside encourages other cats and wild animals to enter your yard. This puts your family as well as all neighborhood cats at risk.
Claws N Paws Day Spa offers cat and dog grooming and cat adoptions from our full service grooming salon in Fountain Valley. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment today.