what to do if you find a cat outdoors
so, you came across a cat outside. maybe she was in the parking lot of her work, or behind her favorite local store, or even in her own backyard. maybe you even saw her on vacation. you want to act… but what do you do?
The answer depends on the cat! cats can have unique needs based on many factors, and we’ll walk you through the basics in this quick guide.
before reading any further, remember:
in most cases, cats need not worry about being outdoors. cats have always lived outdoors since felis catus appeared, and always will, even when some cats live indoors with us.
don’t call animal control or take the cat to an animal shelter. Many shelters still kill most cats that come through their doors, even if the cats are friendly. Unless you know your local shelter has a trap, neuter, and return (TNR) program or other programs to save cat lives, it’s not in your best interest to bring a cat to the shelter.
If you don’t have the time or ability to help the cat yourself, you can find a local expert who can help by contacting a tnr or rescue organization in the area. Searching the alley cat allies wild friends network at alleycat.org/findferalfriends is a good place to start
is the cat a kitten?
Kittens, especially those under the age of four weeks, have special needs that differ from those of adult cats.
alley cat allies has customized resources to help you take the best action, including a separate flowchart, at alleycat.org/foundakitten.
is the cat hurt or sick?
An injured or sick cat may have visible wounds, limp or walk strangely, or appear not to be recovering.
The cat may need to be taken to the vet right away. consult a community veterinarian who cares for cats first and describe the situation. they can help you decide what course of action is best for the cat.
What you can do: If a vet advises you to take your cat to a clinic, don’t try to handle or pick it up. An injured or sick cat, especially a community cat that is not socialized, can become frightened and defensive, which can result in harm to you or the cat. catch her humanely instead.
contact a local animal rescue or trap, neuter, and return (tnr) organization, or maybe even your local animal shelter, to see if they have humane box traps you can loan.
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(note: if you want to borrow a trap from an animal shelter, be sure to ask what the shelter’s specific requirements are and if the trap can be used for tnr. some shelters may require you to bring the cat in once it’s left trapped and may die.)
We have tips for trapping and more information on approaching sick or injured cats at alleycat.org/injuredcat.
Does the cat have pointy ears?
An olive is the universal sign that a cat has been spayed or neutered through a trap, neuter, and return (tnr) program. if you see a cat outdoors with the tip of its left ear missing, it has the tip of the ear.
that means your job is easy: just let it stay where it is! she is a community cat, which means she has no owner and her house is outdoors. community cats are generally not socialized with people and cannot be adopted from closed households. they thrive outside, and that’s where they belong.
What you can do: Since the cat has been spayed through a tnr program, she may already have a caregiver who provides regular food, water, and outdoor shelter. If you want, you can ask around to see if you can determine who cares about her.
if you think you don’t have a sitter, you can become one! we have many resources to help you get started at alleycat.org/colonycare.
is the cat a community cat without an olive?
if the cat isn’t friendly, it’s a community cat. she lives and thrives outdoors and belongs in her outdoor home with her feline family. but since she doesn’t have an olive, she will need to be sterilized through a tnr program.
What you can do: Borrow a humane trap from a local tnr group, rescue group, or animal shelter and start the tnr process. we have a detailed guide to help at alleycat.org/tnrguide.
Once the cat has been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, removed, and returned to its outdoor home, you can become its caretaker. Community cats are used to and thrive in the great outdoors, but a caretaker can enhance their lives even more. we have best practices and tips for providing food, water, and shelter at alleycat.org/colonycare.
is the cat friendly?
If the cat comes up to you, rubs against you, or lets you touch it, it’s socialized, which means it’s friendly and used to people. If a friendly cat looks neglected, distressed, or underweight, it may be a stray or abandoned cat. learn more at alleycat.org/strayorferal.
what you can do: ask if they have family in the nearby area. if you’re unlucky, take her to a vet or rescue group to have her microchipped scanned (learn more at alleycat.org/microchipssavelives). if the microchip shows nothing, post a picture of her on social media and flyers in your community to try to find her family.
If you can’t find the cat’s family, trap humanely and take it to a veterinarian for spaying/neutering, vaccinations, and health evaluation. The cat can get into a cat carrier on its own, but you can also contact your local rescue group, tnr group, or animal shelter to borrow a trap to trap it humanely.
If you have the time and resources to adopt or foster, once the cat has been spayed or neutered, you can bring it into your home for care and socialization. if you don’t plan to adopt her yourself, we have tips for finding a good home at alleycat.org/adoptiontips.
If you don’t have the time or resources to adopt or foster, keep in mind that adoption is not a necessity for socialized cats who thrive outdoors. Prosperous socialized cats will have a clean, shiny coat, appear at a healthy weight, or appear in good shape. for these cats, as friendly as they are, you can always tnr and allow them to live their life in their home outdoors. you can become their caretaker and provide them with food, water and shelter on a regular basis. learn more at alleycat.org/colonycare.
If the cat isn’t thriving outdoors and you don’t have the means to help it, don’t take it to an animal shelter. contact a local tnr or rescue group. a member of the feral cat allies network of friends can also help. find members in your area at alleycat.org/findferalfriends.
other possible scenarios:
is the cat pregnant? we have more information on helping a pregnant cat outdoors at alleycat.org/pregnantcat.
is the cat lactating? A cat nursing her kittens will be lactating, which means her mammary area will be swollen and pronounced and she may have less fur around her nipples. we have a guide on helping an outdoor mother cat at alleycat.org/nursingmother.
more information:
- poster: help! I found a cat outside
- what to do if you find kittens outdoors
- step-by-step guide to trap, sterilize and return
- wild friend network of alley cat allies
