Lost and Found
If you have lost a cat or found a cat, please contact us on 0845 371 2736 or you can email with all the cats details and picture to coord.greatamwellcats@gmail.com Lost cats - we would recommend that you check the following:
Contact all local shelters as well as ours
Phone local vets
Look for found posters in the area that the cat went missing
Place lost posters in the area that the cat went missing - local shops, surgeries, schools are always good
Put flyers through your neighbours doors
Ask neighbours to check garages, sheds, workshops etc in the area
If your cat is micro chipped, then call one of the national registers:
Petlog - 0870 606 6751
Animalcare ( identitychip) 01904 487 600
Found Cats - we would ask that you do the following:
Register your cat as found with all the local rescue shelters in the area.
Contact local vets.
Consider placing adverts locally
Ask around in the local area
Contact Cats Protection or the RSPCA for advice.
Other organizations that could help are:
RSPCA - www.rspca.org.uk
Animal Search - www.animalsearch.co.uk
Petshearch website -www.ukpetsearch.freeuk.com
Cats Protection North Herts - www.catsnorthherts.org.uk
Cats Protection Lea Valley -www.leavalley.cats.org.uk
Cats Protection Harlow -www.catsharlow.org.uk
Help us by id chipping your cat. This is due to the volume of cats that come into Great Amwell Cats Protection care as strays, which is about 30 - 40 strays a year.
Most vets will id chip your cat for a minimal charge.
If your cat is not id chipped it is very hard to return the cat to its owners, this may result in your cat getting rehomed.
PLEASE ID CHIP YOUR CAT
Animal Welfare Act 2006
Much of the law in relation to animals has now been consolidated in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which applies in England and Wales.
This Act is aimed at preventing cruelty, and promoting and ensuring the welfare of animals.
The Act applies to both domestic and feral cats. In addition to cruelty offences, the Act places an obligation on owners and those responsible for cats to ensure that the welfare needs of their cats are met. These include the need:
For a suitable environment (place to live).
For a suitable diet.
To exhibit normal behaviour patterns.
To be housed with, or apart from, other animals.
To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
The penalties for committing an offence of cruelty, or for failing to provide for an animal's welfare needs, include a ban from owning animals, a fine of up to £20,000 or, in some cases, a six month prison sentence.
The Act also increases the minimum age at which anyone can buy an animal to 16.
Theft Act 1968
Cats are regarded in law as the 'property' of their owner. The theft of a cat is treated as an offence under the Act in the same way as theft of any other property.
A cat that is lost or has strayed is generally regarded as the property of the original owner. It is therefore necessary to make all reasonable endeavours to locate the original owner whenever possible.
Criminal Damage Act 1971
Because the law regards cats as property, an offence may be committed under this Act if a person, without lawful excuse, kills or injures a cat belonging to another person.
Lost, Stray or Abandoned Cats or Kittens
The old law in respect of the abandonment of animals has been replaced by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in England and Wales and under the new Act a person may have committed an offence if it can be demonstrated that a cat has been caused unnecessary suffering or that the owner has failed to ensure the cat's welfare as a result of abandoning a cat but the new law does not specify any time limit or other circumstances which might constitute abandonment.
- Scanning any such cat or kitten for a microchip
- Posting details of the cat or kitten in a ‘lost and found' column
- Putting up notices in the area where the cat was found and advertising in shops and on notice boards in local veterinary surgeries
- Liaising with other organizations that run a ‘lost and found' register
Cats Protection's policy is that any cat or kitten which has been handed in as lost, stray or abandoned should be held by the branch for at least 2 weeks (be that cat pedigree or otherwise).
If an owner does come forward after a cat has been homed by CP we are obliged to protect the anonymity of the person with whom the cat has been homed and cannot disclose personal details such as the name and address of the person with whom the cat has been homed.
Unclaimed cats
Sometimes a cat may be handed to you (or come into your care) and, after initial investigations, an owner is located. However, after being advised that the cat is in the charity's care, it may be some time before the owner comes to collect their cat.
This is obviously not a good predicament for the cat or for Cats Protection, but before the cat can be rehomed, CP must show that it has made attempts to reunite the cat with his/her owner.