I found a cat. What should I do?
Thank you for stopping to help. An unfamiliar cat outdoors may have a home nearby, so ask around before you move them. You don’t need to catch the cat to help.
Is the cat hurt, trapped or in traffic?
Call a veterinary clinic, local animal service, or rescue and give the exact location. They can tell you whether the cat should be moved and how they can help.
Do these three things now
Step 1: Take a photo and note the place
A clear photo, the exact place and the time help the owner recognize their cat.
What to noteStep 2: Ask the people nearby
Show the photo to neighbors and building staff. The owner may be only a few doors away.
Who to askStep 3: Check for a collar or tag
Only if the cat comes to you and you feel comfortable. If they stay out of reach, the photo and place still help.
If there’s no tag
See if someone nearby is missing this cat
Answer three quick questions and see if someone nearby is missing them. You’ll see what’s posted nearby before we ask for any contact details.
Private until you choose to share. No account needed.
Take a photo and ask nearby
You do not need to catch the cat to help. A photo, exact place and time, and a neighbor who recognizes them can help the owner find them.
A photo taken from where you are is enough. Note the street or nearest landmark, the date, and the time, and which way the cat went if they leave.
Show a photo to neighbors, building staff, and people who regularly spend time nearby. Check whether someone has posted a missing cat like this one nearby, too. The owner or someone who knows the cat may be only a few doors away.
If the cat comes close and you feel comfortable, look for a collar and phone number. When the cat stays out of reach, the photo and location are still useful. A local rescue or animal service can help if the cat needs to be moved.
Who should I tell?
Tell the local animal service or shelter where and when you found the cat. Ask how to file a found-cat report and where a safely contained cat can be scanned for a microchip. Local procedures vary, including within the United States.
A nearby person may know this cat.
Start with the people closest to where the cat was found. A collar or microchip may provide another route home.
Someone nearby recognizes the cat
Ask how they know the cat and whether they can contact the owner or regular caretaker. Keep any post you shared up until you know the cat is safely back with the right person.
There is a phone number
Call or message the number on the tag. If no one answers, leave a clear message saying when and where you found the cat and how to reach you.
There is no usable tag
A shelter, rescue, animal service, or veterinary clinic can scan a safely contained cat for a microchip. If a chip is registered, the registry can contact the person listed.
A cat's response to strangers cannot tell you whether they have an owner. A neatly clipped ear may mean a local outdoor-cat program already knows the cat; a nearby rescue can tell you more.
Found-cat status guidance (opens in a new tab)What happens next?
What if someone nearby knows the cat?
Ask how they know the cat and whether they can contact the owner. If the cat is safely back with the right person, take down any post you shared and let any shelter or rescue you contacted know.
What if the cat looks healthy and comes and goes?
Ask nearby and share a photo in a local lost-and-found group. Check whether someone has posted a missing cat like this one nearby. Ask whether someone regularly cares for the cat; appearance alone does not establish whether they have a home. Unless the cat is in danger, learn more before moving them away from a place they know.
What if the cat keeps returning or tries to come inside?
Check for a tag, tell the local animal service or shelter, and ask where the cat can be scanned for a microchip. If you cannot contain or transport the cat, keep noting when they return and share that pattern with a local rescue or animal service.
What if I cannot touch the cat?
Take a clear photo and note the exact place and time. A local rescue or animal service can advise you, especially if the cat looks injured or has been staying in the same place. Ask for help before trying to trap or handle the cat yourself.
What if I find kittens?
Their mother may be nearby but waiting for people to leave. Watch from a distance and call a rescue or veterinary clinic for guidance before moving them. Give the location, number of kittens, whether you have seen an adult cat, and any immediate danger. If a kitten appears injured or unresponsive, contact a veterinary clinic or animal service promptly rather than waiting for the mother.
What if no owner is found?
Ask local shelters and rescues what help is available and how long you should continue looking for an owner. Before keeping or rehoming the cat, check the reporting and holding rules where you live. These rules vary within the United States.
How do I check a lead?
- Compare markings, ears, tail, and body shape across more than one photo when available. A similar photo is a lead, not proof of identity.
- Check the found location and event date, not just when the listing was added. Ask the finder or shelter to clarify missing or conflicting details.
- Save the report link or animal ID. Use the report’s contact option or the shelter’s official contact details; keep full microchip numbers and ownership records out of public replies.
- Confirm with independent evidence, such as earlier photos, records, or a microchip scan through a veterinary clinic or shelter. If ownership is uncertain, ask local animal services to help before arranging a handoff.
Help this cat get home
Answer three quick questions and see if someone nearby is missing them. You’ll see what’s posted nearby before we ask for any contact details.
Private until you choose to share. No account needed.