LOST CATS -
This is the advice Rugby Cats Protection gives to anyone trying to find a lost cat:
If you are absolutely sure your cat is not trapped somewhere in your own house in one of your own cupboards or rooms, or outside in your garage or garden shed (it happens often!) then:
1) Produce leaflets or posters to put on lampposts, in local newsagents, shops and vets. Leaflet your local area. Give date and place last seen, and a full description of the cat (collar, whether microchipped, distinguishing marks or scars, coat colour and length). A colour photograph on the leaflet/poster is very useful, although more expensive to produce; black and white will often do. Ask people to check their sheds, outhouses and garages in case your cat has been accidentally locked in.
2) In case your cat has been found injured or dead, telephone local vets (Bilton Vets 01788 812 650; Rainsbrook Hillmorton 01788 542221; Animal House St Peter's Road 01788 575 300). (People often take an injured cat to their own vet rather than the nearest vet so try them all.) Also ring Rugby Borough Council 01788 533 533 (who remove dead cats from roadsides etc.).
3) Contact other people who keep registers of lost and found cats: Petsearch 02476 765 639; RSPCA 02476 336 616; PDSA 02476 590 298; Rugby Cats Protection 01788 570 010. If you email (or post) us a photograph and description as above of your cat we will put the cat's details on the website. We will also email the details to our lost and found officer to check our register.
4) Local websites of use are: Rugby FM's Lost and Found pages: http://www.rugbyfm.co.uk/ Look for Pets Reunited in the Navigation menu on the left of the page.
Community website Gumtree also has a useful Lost and Found page (which we know has helped reunite a lost Rugby cat with its owners - the cat ended up in Warwick): http://coventry.gumtree.com/coventry/lost-property_1332_1.html
Other Lost and Found websites and advice can be found on Cat Chat: http://www.catchat.org/lost.html#regional
FOUND CATS -
If you find a cat, initially check for collar with address/'phone number, ask neighbours, look for signs of homelessness e.g. weight loss, dirty fur, then use the same routes of contact as for lost cats:
1) Telephone local vets: Bilton Vets 01788 812 650; Rainsbrook Hillmorton 01788 542221; Animal House St Peter's Road 01788 575 300. Take the cat to a vet to have it checked for a microchip.
2) Contact other people who keep registers of lost and found cats: Petsearch 02476 765 639; RSPCA 02476 336 616; PDSA 02476 590 298; Rugby Cats Protection 01788 570 010. If you email (or post) us a photograph and description as above of the cat we will put its details on the website. We can also supply a paper collar, in case the cat is simply a wanderer and already has a home. The owner will then hopefully contact us.
3) Produce leaflets or posters to put on lampposts, in local newsagents, shops and vets. Leaflet your local area. Give a description of the cat but omit some feature(s) that only someone who knew the cat well would know so you can check it really is the cat's owner if someone claims the cat.
4) If it is a case of cruelty, neglect, illness or injury, contact the National RSPCA Helpline on 0300 1234 999. If you take an injured or sick stray cat to the vet yourself you should expect to have to foot the bill.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE A SHORTAGE OF VOLUNTEERS AND SO CANNOT DEAL WITH HOMING, ADOPTION OR LOST AND FOUND REQUESTS VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CALL THE HELPLINE. THANK YOU.
Our lost cats
View a complete list of our lost cats
Our found cats
View a complete list of our found cats