If a friendly cat has turned up in your garden, or keeps crying at your door, the first thing to know is that it probably isn't lost. Cats with outdoor access often roam well beyond their own garden, and plenty of well-fed, much-loved cats visit several houses a day. A cat that looks healthy and confident is usually just passing through.
But some cats really are lost, shut out or a long way from home, and the person who finds them is often the only reason they get back. This guide covers how to tell the difference, when and how to get a cat scanned for a microchip, whether you should feed it, and how to find its owner, without accidentally keeping it away from them.
The short version: if the cat is injured, take it to a vet straight away. If it seems healthy, check for a tag, get it scanned for a microchip at a local vet, and try a paper collar before assuming it has no home. Avoid feeding it unless it's clearly underweight.
Is it lost, a stray or feral?
These three look similar at first glance but need different responses. Cats Protection describes them like this:
| Likely to be | Signs | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (just visiting) | Friendly, well-groomed, a healthy weight, relaxed around people. May wear a collar. | Usually nothing. If you're unsure, try a paper collar (below). |
| Stray or lost | Friendly but possibly nervous, has appeared recently, hangs around houses, may look unkempt, thin or hungry. | Check for a tag, get it scanned for a microchip, and look for the owner. |
| Feral | Avoids people, may live in a group, often has the tip of one ear removed (a sign it's been neutered). | Don't try to handle it. Contact your local Cats Protection branch or a cat rescue. |
Time is a useful clue too. A cat that has been hanging around for one evening is probably a neighbour's. A cat that has been crying at your door for several days, looks thinner each time and doesn't seem to go anywhere else is much more likely to need help.
Free QR pet tag
Anyone who finds your pet scans the tag and can contact you in one tap. The tag is free, you just pay delivery.
If the cat is injured or in danger
If the cat is in the road or somewhere dangerous, move it to safety only if you can do so without putting yourself at risk. A frightened or hurt cat may scratch or bite, so wrap it gently in a towel or blanket before you pick it up, and put it in a box or carrier.
Then take it to the nearest vet. Vets in the UK have a professional duty to provide emergency first aid and pain relief, and Cats Protection says vets provide emergency care for sick or injured cats at no cost to the finder. Call ahead if you can, so they're ready when you arrive. Any treatment beyond that first emergency care is a different question, and the practice will normally try to trace the owner through the cat's microchip first.
You can also report an injured cat to the RSPCA (England and Wales) on 0300 1234 999, the Scottish SPCA on 03000 999 999, or your local council's animal welfare team in Northern Ireland.
Step 1: Check for a tag or collar
If the cat lets you near it, look for a collar and tag. A phone number on a tag is the fastest route home there is: one call and the owner is on their way.
Many tags now carry a QR code instead of, or as well as, an engraved number. Point your phone's camera at it and it will open the cat's profile, usually with a way to contact the owner straight away. You don't need an app. If you're not sure whether a tag is a QR tag, try scanning it anyway.
No collar doesn't mean no home. Many cats lose their collars, and owners are rightly advised to use quick-release ones that come off if they get caught.
Step 2: Get it scanned for a microchip
Most owned cats are microchipped, and in England it has been a legal requirement for pet cats over 20 weeks old since June 2024. A microchip is a tiny implant under the skin, usually between the shoulder blades, and it can only be read with a scanner.
Can I take a stray cat to the vet for free?
In most cases, yes. Most vet practices will scan a found cat for a microchip without charging you, and emergency care for an injured cat is provided at no cost to the finder. It's still worth phoning first to check the practice can see you, and to arrange a time. If you can't get the cat to a vet, your local Cats Protection branch or another cat rescue may be able to scan it for you.
Bring the cat in a secure carrier or a well-ventilated box. A cat held in your arms in a busy waiting room can easily panic and escape.
What happens if it has a chip
The vet checks the number with the microchip database, which then contacts the registered owner. For data protection reasons, the vet or database will usually not give you the owner's details directly, so don't be surprised if you're asked to leave your number instead. If the owner's details are out of date, the vet will advise you on what happens next.
What if it isn't chipped?
It may still have a home. Microchipping isn't compulsory for cats in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and even in England not every owner has done it yet. Keep looking for the owner using the steps below.
Step 3: Try a paper collar
If a healthy-looking cat keeps visiting and you can't tell whether it has a home, a paper collar is a simple, gentle way to ask. Cats Protection offers a free printable one. You write a short message and your phone number on it, something like "Is this your cat? It's been visiting us at [your street]. Please call...", and fit it loosely around the cat's neck.
You should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and the cat's neck. Paper tears easily, so it can't trap the cat if it gets caught. If the cat has an owner, they'll usually see it within a day or two and get in touch.
Should you feed a stray cat?
Usually, no. It feels kind, but feeding a cat that has a home can upset its stomach and encourage it to keep coming to you instead of going home, which leaves its owner worrying. A lot of "strays" that move in with someone were never strays at all.
The exceptions are a cat that is clearly thin or underweight, or one you're trying to coax into a carrier to take to the vet. In those cases:
- Give cat food, ideally a little wet food, in a small portion. A cat that hasn't eaten for a while can be sick if it eats too much too quickly.
- Put out fresh water.
- Don't give cow's milk. Many adult cats can't digest it properly and it can cause an upset stomach.
- Dog food isn't a substitute. A one-off meal won't hurt, but it isn't made for cats and lacks nutrients they need.
- Avoid anything toxic to cats, including onion, garlic, chocolate and grapes. If in doubt, check our pet food safety checker.
Step 4: Spread the word
If the cat isn't chipped and doesn't seem to belong nearby, let people know you've found it:
- Local Facebook groups and Nextdoor. Post a clear photo, the street or area where it turned up, and the date. Lost-and-found pet groups for your town are usually the busiest.
- Local vets and Cats Protection. Owners of lost cats call their vets and rescues first, so let them know you have a cat matching any description they hear.
- Posters saying "FOUND CAT" around where it turned up, with your number.
- Keep one detail back. Leave a distinctive marking or habit out of your post and ask anyone who calls to describe it. It's the easiest way to make sure you hand the cat back to its real owner.
It's also worth checking local lost-cat posts, both online and on lamp posts. The owner may already be looking, and our guide on what owners do when their cat goes missing shows where they're most likely to post.
Can I keep a cat I've found?
Only once you're confident it has no owner looking for it. A friendly cat that has turned up still very likely belongs to someone, and owners keep searching for weeks or months. Get it scanned, try the paper collar, spread the word and give it time.
If, after that, nobody has come forward, Cats Protection says you can adopt the cat yourself. Take it to a vet for a health check, ask about neutering and vaccinations, and have it microchipped in your name. If you can't keep it, a local cat rescue can find it a new home.
Found kittens?
Don't move kittens you find on their own unless they're in immediate danger. Their mother is often nearby, hunting or moving the litter, and may return within a few hours. Watch from a distance. If she hasn't come back after three to four hours, or the kittens seem cold, weak or distressed, contact a vet or your local cat rescue for advice.
How a tag makes this easier
Most lost cats are found by a neighbour, not by a system. If you found a cat today, what decided how quickly it got home was whether there was any way to reach its owner on the spot. A microchip helps once the cat gets to a vet. A tag works straight away, from your doorstep.
If you have a cat of your own, a lightweight QR pet tag on a quick-release collar means anyone who finds them can scan it and contact you in seconds, and you can update your details whenever they change. With community lost-pet alerts, people nearby can help look too.
Sources
- Cats Protection: Found a cat.
- Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons: 24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief, Code of Professional Conduct supporting guidance.
- The Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023, in force from 10 June 2024.