As a nation, we are for the most part, animal lovers. Even if you don’t have pets of your own, no one likes to see an animal suffering. Sadly, stray animals, especially cats, are found in most neighbourhoods, and sometimes it can be hard to know the best thing to do for them.

How to Tell if They’re Really Stray Animals?

The first question to ask yourself about stray animals is whether the animal is actually a stray. This may not always be obvious: a dog wandering loose without an owner nearby is likely to have been lost, but a cat napping in your yard may just be a neighbour’s pet catching a bit of sun.

• Check to see if there is an owner nearby, or ask your neighbours if they know the animal.
• Look for a collar and ID tag
• Does the animal look healthy and well-fed? If so, they are most likely someone’s pet.
• Have you seen the animal before? Animals that you see hanging around regularly over a period of time are more likely to be strays… but not always.

Quick Guide: STRAY CATS

Does the cat have an owner? Look for a collar, ask your neighbours, check social media, try a Cats Protection paper collar.

Is the cat ill or injured?

YES: Contact the RSPCA on 033012234999 or your vet for advice.

NO: Leave the cat where it is. Contact your vet or rescue organisations for help checking for a microchip.

Healthy stray cats without a microchip should usually be returned to where they were found.

Do not feed stray cats: feeding them will encourage stray cats to stay, and discourage owned cats from going home.

Vets can provide emergency first aid for injured strays until an owner is found. Vet practices are unable to look after healthy stray cats.

Quick Guide: STRAY DOGS

No: Contact the dog warden and report the dog to the council.

Yes: Contact the owner.

Spread the word: Help reunite lost pets with their owners by logging lost and found pets on social media sites and reporting them to local vets and rescues.

If a stray dog is injured then contact your vets or the RSPCA on 0300 12234 999 or via their website.

Vets can provide emergency first aid until an owner is found. Vet practices are unable to look after healthy
stray dogs.

Do Stray Animals Need My Help?

Not all stray animals need or want our help. Lost or stray dogs are a public health and safety issue so any stray dogs need to be dealt with, but cats can be a different matter. Many cats live semi-feral or wild lives quite happily.

Animals that are ill or injured will usually need help. Ask yourself these questions:

• Does the animal have an obvious injury? Wounds, injuries, weakness and poor body condition may all be reasons to try and help.
• Does the animal pose a risk to people or other animals?
• If you’re unsure whether or not to intervene, speak to the RSPCA, your local authority, rescue centre, or your vets for advice.

How to Help

If you’ve decided that the animal is a stray in need of help then there are a few options for what to do. Bear in mind that vets can provide emergency first aid for injured strays, but practices are not set up to provide non-emergency care for stray animals or to foster or rehome animals.

DOGS

• If a stray dog is friendly and safe to be approached then you can check for a collar or ID tag and contact the owner. If he does not have a collar then contact the dog warden to arrange for him to be collected and scanned for a microchip.
• If the dog is not safe to approach or if you are unsure about approaching him, then contact the dog warden and report the dog to the council.
• If you find an ill or injured stray dog then contact your local dog warden, the RSPCA, or your vets for advice.
  

Cats

• If the cat is friendly and you are able to approach her, then you can take her to a rescue centre or a vets to be scanned for a microchip. A healthy stray cat without a microchip should usually be returned to where it was found- it may be someone’s pet.
• If you find an injured or poorly stray cat then contact the RSPCA for help and advice. They can advise you on how to get treatment.
• When approaching a fearful or injured stray cat be sure to protect yourself. Using a blanket or towel to cover the cat before picking her up will help prevent being bitten or scratched.

Preventing Stray Animals

The best way to prevent stray animals is to make sure that our pets are microchipped and details kept up
to date. Cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets and tortoises can all be microchipped!

Dogs should wear a collar with an ID tag when out and about (this is actually a legal requirement!).

Ensure that your garden is secure.

Pet cats should be neutered to minimise wandering.