WHAT TO DO IF....

 A friendly reminder: Finding a roaming cat or dog does not automatically make them yours. Many pets have loving families who may be desperately searching for them. Always make every reasonable effort to locate an owner before considering any other outcome.

If you find a friendly cat or dog wandering without a collar, please don’t assume they are stray or abandoned. Many beloved pets are microchipped and may simply be lost, escaped, or exploring farther than intended.

Understanding the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat is important because they often need very different kinds of help.

A stray cat has typically had regular contact with people at some point in its life. It may be a lost or abandoned pet and may approach people, meow, make eye contact, seek food or attention, or become comfortable around people with a little time and patience. Stray cats may be frightened or cautious when first found.

 A friendly reminder: Finding a roaming cat or dog does not automatically make them yours. Many pets have loving families who may be desperately searching for them. Always make every reasonable effort to locate an owner before considering any other outcome.

If you find a friendly cat or dog wandering without a collar, please don’t assume they are stray or abandoned. Many beloved pets are microchipped and may simply be lost, escaped, or exploring farther than intended.

If the kittens appear warm, clean, quiet, and have full little bellies, their mama is likely nearby and caring for them. The best thing you can do is usually to leave the kittens where they are and observe from a distance. Staying too close may prevent their mother from feeling safe enough to return. 

 If possible, monitor the kittens for several hours from a location where Mama cannot see you. You can also provide food and fresh water for her nearby. If she returns, keeping the family together is almost always best. Mama is much better equipped to feed, clean, warm, and care for her babies than any human can be. 

If the kittens are cold, injured, visibly sick, crying continuously, extremely thin, covered in fleas, in immediate danger, or you have good reason to believe their mother has died or is unable to return, they may need intervention. 

Hearing that a rescue is full can feel discouraging, especially when you have an animal in front of you that needs help. But “we’re full” doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do. You may be able to give that animal exactly what they need while a longer term solution is found. 

 If you can safely provide a temporary space, even a bathroom, spare room, garage, or secure crate can make a tremendous difference. Providing food, water, shelter, and a safe place to stay gives you time to check for a microchip, search for an owner, post in local lost and found groups, contact additional organizations, or arrange veterinary care when needed. 

You can also ask rescues whether they can provide support without taking the animal into their care. Depending on the organization and available resources, they may be able to offer advice, supplies, networking assistance, veterinary resources, or other guidance. Sometimes helping an animal doesn’t mean finding someone else to take over. You can be the person who gives them safety while the next step is figured out.