How to Handle a Stray Cat - Finding the Owner of a Stray Cat

1. Tell all your neighbors about the cat. They might know the neighborhood pets, and they can contact you if they figure out who the owner is. You may even get lucky and directly contact the owner of the cat you have found.

2. Take the cat into the vet to scan for a microchip ID. If the cat is microchipped, then your search for their owner will be much easier. If it is not microchipped, you will have to use other methods to find its owner.
- You may also want to get the veterinarian to do a check-up on the stray cat if you notice any unusual habits or symptoms.

3. Contact shelters right away. The first thing an owner will probably do is contact a shelter to see if a cat has come in or if someone else has reported that they have a stray cat. The shelter may also be able to answer any questions you have about the cat and make suggestions of what you should do next.

4. Put posters up in pet stores, vet clinics, and anywhere else you can. The best poster says FOUND in the largest possible font right across the entire width of the page, and include a photo of the cat's face. This will get the attention of anyone who has lost a similar cat.
- Your contact details can be in very small print, since the owner will certainly stop and read.
- Do not include a picture of the entire cat, or other identifying details, as anyone can then describe the cat and claim it as the owner. The person might not be the owner and may have cruel intentions.
- It is also okay to put a general location of where the cat was found on the poster, as this may provide a clue to the owner or one of their friends that this may be the lost cat, if it is not far from their home.

5. Check your local newspaper's classifieds for ‘lost pet’ ads. You can also put a 'found' ad in some local papers (this is often free) stating you found a stray cat, with some of the same information placed on the poster, but hold back more personal details.
- Give a very basic description, such as “Found: black and white cat, owner call to identify.” Do not give all the details, as the owner should provide those details to you.

6. Ask anyone who tries to claim the cat questions to verify the match. They should be able to tell you the cat's gender, age, foot pad colors, tail tip color, belly color, etc. If you have had the cat for awhile, ask the potential owner how long the cat has been gone.

7. Think about whether you believe the owner is a responsible owner. Would you return a child to a home with unfit parents or call social services? When identifying the cat over the phone, you may want to slip in some telling questions such as: Is your pet neutered? How old is it? How long has it been missing? Do the math, and you'll know if this person allowed their pet to reach maturity and roam without being neutered. Can you provide vaccination/medical records for the cat, or ask your vet to contact me so that I can verify these? These documents often include a basic description or even a photo of the cat, so it's excellent proof of ownership.
- Responsible owners will appreciate that you are being careful of their pet's safety, and should provide this information. Irresponsible owners may not have had their pet vaccinated recently, if ever. This may be the time to involve the local animal authority. Tell the owner that the animal can be picked up at the shelter, and when you drop off the cat, notify the shelter about your concerns and provide them any information you can on the owner, such as name and phone number. They will hopefully be able to take appropriate action, such as requiring that the pet be neutered and vaccinated before being adopted back out to the owner.

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