Community cats, sometimes called feral, stray, or outdoor
cats, can be friendly or unsocial, but they aren’t lost: they are
free-roaming cats who live—at least part of the time—outside. They share
our neighborhoods and find shelter in yards, alleys, parking lots, and
porches. Community cats may have one or more compassionate caregivers
who help provide food and shelter, and, as a result, they often have
more than one name.
If a healthy, free-roaming cat is visiting your yard and has no identification:
Play detective—ask around your neighborhood to see if anyone recognizes them. If the cat is friendly, use this paper collar template to help determine if the cat is owned. Refer to this I Found a Cat flowchart for more guidance
- For tips on reducing nuisance issues and humanely deterring the cat from your yard, visit How to Live with Cats in Your Neighborhood.
For more guidance on community cats and kittens, click here.