Call the phone number on the tag and ask if the cat is actually lost.If a cat is wearing a collar and tag, they likely belong to someone in your neighborhood.How can you determine if a cat is a lost pet, one who just spends time outdoors each day, or a free-roaming community cat? However, this success still means that 90% of cats are not reunited with their owners, which is why it is essential for owners to microchip their pets (and keep the information up-to-date!). Our approach is working - we've been able to achieve a nearly 10% return-to-owner rate for cats, three times the national average. We use technology, social media and community networks to increase the likelihood of family reunions rather than encouraging finders to bring healthy cats to shelters. The best outcome for healthy community cats is to return them to their outdoor homes.įor these reasons, we take a comprehensive approach to reunite lost cats with their families.

According to a 2010 study of California animal shelters, 70% of cats who entered California animal shelters were euthanized.

Less than 5% of stray cats entering animal shelters are reunited with their owners.

If you find a cat who appears sick, injured or in immediate danger*, please bring them to the animal shelter associated with the jurisdiction where the cat was found.Ĭats require a different approach than dogs and other small pets for the following reasons: When should you bring a cat to a shelter?

If you think kittens are abandoned, you can help us by raising them in your home! Follow our orphan kitten care guidelines.

For more information about whether kittens should be brought to the shelter, please our Found Kitten Guide for instructions.

If the kittens are sick, injured or in danger, please call us at 61 to make an appointment to bring them to one of our locations. If you’ve found kittens who are being cared for by their mother and seem healthy, please leave them with their mother.

Have you found a healthy adult cat or kittens who lives outside? Here are a few things to know:

Download abandoned cats