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Though the best thing someone can do if they can no longer care for a cat is to contact their local Humane Society or pet adoption center, people will sometimes let the cat outside to roam free. This does not help the cat in any way, nor does it help the surrounding neighborhood.
Everyone Knows A Stray Or Two
Almost every neighborhood has, or will have, a stray cat roaming the streets at some point. Of course, some are not really stray, but rather outdoor cats whose owners let them roam around the town, but continue to feed and shelter them. A real stray cat is one who once had owners, but now has no permanent home. As sad as it is to think of, people do abandon their cats for various reasons. Even sadder to think of is that cats can easily get lost and end up far from their families.
If you happen to see a stray wandering around your neighborhood, there are several things that you can do to help them:
- If there is an identification tag on the cat, attempt to contact the owner
- Contact animal shelters, rescue groups, and veterinary offices to report the found cat in case it’s owners are hunting for him
- Try to get the cat into a carrier and take him to be scanned for a microchip
- Ask around the neighborhood to see if anyone knows the cat or its owners
- Put up signs around your area and place an ad in the found column of the newspaper
- Provide food and shelter for the cat while you look for its owners
If you simply cannot find the owners for this cat, or if they do not want to be found, you have the option of taking the cat in and making him a part of your home. If you cannot do this, try to find the cat a good home, relying on people you know and through word-of-mouth. If you cannot find a home, you can contact your local Humane Society for further help.
Keeping Him; But Outside
There is always the option of keeping the cat but making it an outdoor cat. You would need to provide good shelter that can protect the cat from the elements, especially if you live in a cold climate, and be sure to feed the cat regularly. You also want to leave plenty of fresh water outside in a place that is easily available to the cat. The most important thing that you need to do, though, is to have the cat spayed or neutered. Again, contact your local Humane Society as some areas provide these services at a price that is low-to-no cost.
Feral Cats
There is a difference between a stray cat and a feral cat. A feral cat is one who was born to a stray or another feral cat and has never had contact with humans. Since abandoned cats can give birth as early as 5-months of age and can breed several times a year, feral cats can be plentiful in many neighborhoods. Feral cats do not socialize well and they are extremely difficult to bring into your home. If you know of a feral cat, or feral cat community, then contact your Humane Society or local ASPCA to ask about the TNR program; trap, neuter, and return.
Spay And Neuter!
Outdoor cats, stray cats, and feral cats can often cause trouble in a neighborhood as they do things that cats like to do; dig in flowerbeds, poop where they feel like pooping, sit on the hood of a warm car, prey upon the birds at your bird feeder, yowl or yodel at all hours of the night, spray and mark their territory, and fight loudly and sometimes brutally. We cannot stress the importance of having these cats spayed or neutered! If these cats can be spayed or neutered, it can make a lot of difference and cut down on a many of these troublesome behaviors.
Cats Need To Eat
When trying to decide on the best diet for an outdoor cat, the most important thing that you need to know is that cats cannot go for long periods without eating or it can lead to illness (hepatic disorder) and death. Dogs can tolerate long periods of fasting as their bodies will rely upon reserves, kind of like a human, to give them energy. Cats do not store fat for energy reserves so when they don’t eat, their bodies will break down tissue for energy. So feeding them is the second most important thing that you can do to help.
Best Diet For Outdoor Cats
When it comes to a cat who is not really your cat, you might be torn about providing a high quality food as opposed to a box of food that you found at the dollar store. Truthfully, what you feed a stray is up to you; it’s lucky enough for them that any food is provided. Stick with dry food as this is unlikely to spoil or attract insects like wet food might do if left out for a period of time. But for good quality foods at a moderate price that are completely balanced without the bad things that can make a stray (or any cat) sick, consider:
- IAMS Healthy Naturals Adult with Wholesome Chicken
- Science Diet Adult Optimal Care Original
- Eukanuba Adult Chicken Formula
- Purina Cat Chow Naturals
- Friskies Natural Sensations with Real Chicken
These strays and feral cats have a lot going against them, so if you can provide a nutritionally balanced food that will keep them healthy and beat the odds that are stacked against them for survival, you are definitely doing a good deed. Thank you.
