The experts agree – leave them be!
There is growing consensus among animal welfare experts, from the ASPCA, to The Humane Society of the United States, to Alley Cat Allies. In most cases, the best thing to do when you see a roaming cat or kitten – leave them where you found them.
So, what can I do when I find a cat?
Assess the situation.
It’s possible this cat is lost. Some folks allow their cats indoor/outdoor access. In other cases, a cat may have a home among many neighbors. We call these felines “community cats.”
Either way, here are your next steps:
- Leave the cat where they are and check with neighbors to see if they recognize the cat.
- If you have no luck, trap them and bring them to a local vet to scan for a microchip.
- If the cat is not microchipped, take photos of them to create flyers and post to online forums, like your local Facebook Lost/Found Pets group, Craigslist, or NextDoor.
Other ways you can help.
Provide the cat a source of water, a bowl of food, and shade if necessary.
For cats who are not friendly or socialized around humans, we recommend contacting the Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) group nearest you. They may be able to provide you with a trap to catch the cat or colony, as well as provide the spay/neuter surgery to prevent unwanted litters in the future.
For a full list of TNR groups in Oregon, visit Alley Cat Rescue.
When intervention is necessary.
- If you are safely able to, trap the cat and bring them to an emergency veterinary clinic.
- NOTE: Do not bring the cat to Oregon Humane Society (OHS). Our shelter is not an emergency veterinary clinic.
Contact the county where the cat was found to see what animal control services are available.
What about kittens?
We understand the instinct to want to swoop in and rescue a tiny kitten. Best Friends Animal Society and many other national animal welfare organizations report that neonatal kittens are better off outdoors with their mama. Shelters are no place for tiny kittens, whose immune systems are not strong enough to withstand the diseases they might be exposed to in the presence of new cats.
Gauge the age.
Depending on the age of the kitten, human intervention may harm the kitten’s chance of survival. Find out what you should do if you find a weaning kitten, or a kitten that is old enough to be separated from their mama.
Kittens still weaning (under two months of age) are better off with their mama outdoors than in the shelter.
Here are your next steps:
- Observe the kitten from a distance every few hours for the next 10-12 hours. If the kitten seems well-fed and not fussy, there is a good chance mama is coming back.
- If the kitten is in a dangerous location, move them to a safer spot nearby.
- If the kitten appears sick, underweight, dehydrated, or is meowing in distress, get in touch with the animal services agency in the county where you found the kitten to learn what resources are available to you.
Other ways you can help.
Provide the feline family a water source and shade.
Kittens that are over two months are weaned and ready to be trapped, neutered, and find loving families. Get in touch with the animal services agency in the county where you found the kitten to learn what resources are available to you.
Other ways you can help.
Provide the feline family a water source, bowl of food, and shade.
Have more questions?
Oregon Humane Society’s Community Resource Center is here to help! Contact us seven days/week at (503) 285-7722.
