
Like us cats will still eat what’s tasty even if it isn’t good for their health! The cat may be on a specific diet for health problems such as diabetes or allergies and feeding could put its health at risk. Until you have confirmed that the cat does not have an owner, we recommend that you do not feed the cat.

If the cat is owned, the owner is likely to see the cat within 48 hours and hopefully will get in touch with you to reassure you that the cat is owned. Write your details on the collar and put the collar on the cat. You can download a paper collar print out here. One of the most useful tools for finding out if a cat has an owner is the “paper collar”. A number of useful methods to identify if a cat has an owner are described in the general advice section below.


If you find a healthy cat that you suspect could be a stray, the first thing to do is confirm that the cat is unowned. Cats often have quite large home ranges and commonly roam around the neighbourhood.
