Found a cat?
19 May 2021
Is it clean, does it seem healthy, does it come and go? Yes? Then leave it alone and keep an eye on it. It may be new to your area and just be exploring.
Is the cat outside day and night? Does it appear to be neglected, distressed, extremely hungry, dirty and/or flea-ridden? Is it obviously unneutered?
Knock on doors all around - to ask if anyone knows him/her. When you knock on doors don’t show a photo of the cat and give only a brief description. Let the potential owner describe their cat to you, saying if there are distinguishing features.
If no owner is found:
If the cat is friendly, get it checked for a microchip, either free at a vet, or through a local rescue, who may have a volunteer who could come and scan for a microchip. We may have a volunteer nearby who can scan the cat.
Is it clean, does it seem healthy, does it come and go? Yes? Then leave it alone and keep an eye on it. It may be new to your area and just be exploring.
Is the cat outside day and night? Does it appear to be neglected, distressed, extremely hungry, dirty and/or flea-ridden? Is it obviously unneutered?
Knock on doors all around - to ask if anyone knows him/her. When you knock on doors don’t show a photo of the cat and give only a brief description. Let the potential owner describe their cat to you, saying if there are distinguishing features.
If no owner is found:
If the cat is friendly, get it checked for a microchip, either free at a vet, or through a local rescue, who may have a volunteer who could come and scan for a microchip. We may have a volunteer nearby who can scan the cat.
If there is no chip, then put a paper collar on the cat if the cat is visiting regularly (see separate info on paper collars). If there no response to a paper collar: Put up posters - only if the cat stays with you (but do not include a photo of the cat as it could be vulnerable). Just give brief comment and contact number.
If a possible owner comes forward:
Then ask them for proof of ownership (photos and any distinguishing features) before you hand the cat over.
If the cat seems unwell, is injured or obviously distressed:
Ring up and/or visit a nearby vet to ask for advice on treatment. We can also offer advice, but remember that our space is limited so we can’t always help to rehome a stray cat although we will try our best to help. Also please feed him/her and provide water, in case this cat is lost. Contact us with information on the cat at lostandfound@croydon.cats.org.uk so we can check our data base of lost cats.
You could check on missing cats on the following: https:
//www.cats.org.uk/croydon/lost-and-found
AnimalSearchUK.co.uk, PetsReUnited.com, PetsLocated.com, NationalPetRegister.org, NextDoor.co.uk
Put up posters - only if the cat stays with you (but do not include a photo of the cat as it could be vulnerable). Just give brief comment and contact number.