That's the typical question we animal lovers ask ourselves when we see a cat on the street that seems abandoned. In addition to asking ourselves this question, there are other aspects that confuse us and in which we do not know how to react, such as: is the cat really abandoned or is it exploring? Can I touch it? Can I feed him? Or a very important one, shall I pick it up and take it home?
The abandonment of dogs and cats is a growing problem. Many people do not know how to deal with responsibility and rather than give it up for adoption to a good home, they prefer to abandon it on the street. So, if you come across a cat on the street and it crosses your mind to take it home with you, remember that you must be its family throughout its life.
If this has happened to you and you haven't known what to do, on our site, we want to give you some necessary guidelines so that you know what to do if you find an abandoned cat.
Identify if it is an abandoned cat
Cats are born explorers and despite being domestic animals, they still retain a certain wild essence that makes them feel the need to go out and see the world. Most cats work like this, although some are extremely homey. That said, you may come across a cat on the street and think that he is abandoned, but in fact, he has a home to return to at the end of the day.
Observe the feline for a while and analyze its physical condition and behavior. If you see that the cat is wearing a collar, he is foraging for food (but not desperately), wants to enter your house, has a good weight and a nice coat he althy, possibly have their own house. If, on the other hand, the cat is in poor condition, malnourished, has signs of illness or looks very frightened, you have found an abandoned cat.
Tell People
Before you go to inform the neighbours, you must make sure that the place where you found the cat abandoned does not represent a danger to its safety. That is, that he be in a space where he can take shelter and not be outdoors or near a road or train tracks.
If you already have that issue resolved and you think the cat can survive for a few hours, you can proceed to spread the word. Take a photo with your mobile and Ask the neighbors in the area If they have lost a cat, go to official offices, veterinarians and animal associations. You can also print some posters with their photo and your phone number in case the owner wants to contact you. Keep in mind that cats like to travel long distances.
Should I take it or leave it?
Is the cat not safe where you found it? Now is where things get interesting. In a short time you will have to earn his trust so that he will come with you, or at least, you won't have too much trouble when it comes to picking him up. You have to arm yourself with patience and have a little time available.
Do the exercise of putting some food on it and as it eats it you put a little more. This way you will create some confidence and security with the abandoned cat. After he eats try to move closer to him or sit on the floor and allow him to come closer to you. Have a nice cloth blanket ready to keep him warm when you hold him. This is a labor of love.
I already took it, now what do I do?
First, you have to take him to a vetto make sure he doesn't have an identification chip and check his physical condition. When deciding to take it home, it is important that you make sure that the cat does not have an owner. If you see that the days go by and no one contacts you, you can start thinking about the next step: find an owner or give him a home Reflection is important here. You have to analyze not only if you have space in your house for him to be comfortable, but space in your dynamics and in your life. For more information, don't miss our article "Tips for adopting a stray cat".
Although it is true that cats are more independent than dogs, they are still living beings that deserve our respect and care. If complications arise from reflection, it is best to take him in for a few days while you do everything to find him a new family.
If the cat is a baby
Due to their fragility, with kittens, you have to act more quickly. When we find a kitten, we must first check that the mother is not present and wait a maximum of 3 hours to see if she returns. In the supposed case that the cat is alone, he will be very scared, but he will not be aggressive (he is a baby). You'll have to take the baby and find a way to feed it as soon as possible, because without its mother it runs the risk of not surviving. After that, take him to a specialist.
If the mother is present, you must be even more careful and patient, and understand that now, as you are in the presence of two (or more) cats in a possible situation of abandonment, the whole process that we have mentioned previously, it will be more complicated. Therefore, going to a veterinarian and contacting the closest associations and animal protectors is always the most recommended way to help abandoned cats.
