| Every town has them... stray cats, wandering | | | | However, if the cat freaks out and scrambles |
| around back yards, alleys, walking down the road, | | | | away, you may never get another chance to try |
| robbing trash receptacles or other yard-pets' | | | | again. You might also suffer a scratch or a bite at |
| bowls in order to survive. | | | | this point. This must be avoided. If you don't |
| While most people tend to look past these lost | | | | know whether the cat has been vaccinated, you |
| souls, assuming they either live with someone or | | | | will have to endure a rabies vaccination series, and |
| don't deserve a moment's thought because they | | | | local authorities will have to trap the cat and have |
| are pests, there are others who feel differently. | | | | it tested. Since a rabies test cannot be done on a |
| Some people understand that stray cats aren't | | | | live animal, it means sacrificing its life to learn if |
| being stray on purpose just to irritate humans. | | | | rabies is present. |
| They have been abandoned, perhaps, or were | | | | 3. Once captured, you should take the cat to a |
| born to a stray that was abandoned. | | | | veterinarian as soon as possible for a wellness |
| The reasons for their existence vary, but it's | | | | check and to obtain any health care needed, along |
| probably safe to say their fate has been created | | | | with some basic vaccinations. |
| by humans. Therefore, it should be up to us to | | | | 4. If you take the cat to a shelter immediately, |
| remedy the situation and to tend to the needs of | | | | they will have to handle the expense of this step... |
| these cats. | | | | if they have the money. Sadly, many rescue |
| For those who sympathize with these homeless | | | | organizations and shelters have little funding and |
| ones, it can be heart wrenching to watch them | | | | some exist on donations alone. If there is nothing |
| suffer. Many sensitive, caring people want to help, | | | | in the budget for this care, the cat most likely will |
| but may not know how to do it. | | | | have to be euthanized. If you don't plan to keep |
| The first consideration has to be your own | | | | the cat yourself, perhaps the kindest thing you |
| safety. Often, even if a cat started out as a | | | | can do is to donate enough to help the shelter |
| loved family companion, it can still transform into | | | | provide the cat's initial care. Depending on where |
| a fearful or aggressive animal who must go into | | | | you live, the cost to get a cat "fully vetted" |
| "survival mode" to live in a hostile world. You may | | | | (shelter lingo for obtaining veterinary and other |
| not be able to simply reach down and pick the | | | | care to be sure the cat is healthy and adoptable), |
| cat up. Why would a cat that has been treated | | | | can amount to $100 - $200. |
| badly trust you? How would it understand that | | | | 5. If you are not prepared to take responsibility |
| you mean it no harm when everyone else has | | | | for rescuing a stray cat, you may be able to help |
| been cruel or abusive? Such a cat might not be | | | | it by alerting a local rescue group to its plight. |
| friendly and you must take precautions. | | | | They may be able to trap and care for the cat if |
| If you are willing to follow through with a rescue, | | | | they can afford it and have the personnel, or, |
| there must be some careful and thoughtful | | | | perhaps include it in a managed feral cat colony to |
| planning. | | | | be sure it has food and health care. |
| 1. Obtain a humane trap. If your community has a | | | | The most important thing people of any |
| shelter, humane society, animal control | | | | community can do to help stray cats, and to |
| department, or a veterinarian who works with | | | | prevent more of them, is to get them spayed |
| rescues, you might be able to borrow one. This is | | | | and neutered. |
| the preferred way to capture a cat you don't | | | | If your community does not have a Trap Neuter |
| know, even if it seems friendly. | | | | Release program or a low cost spay/neuter clinic, |
| 2. If the cat actually comes to you, and allows | | | | form or join a group to request these services be |
| you to touch it, you might get lucky and be able | | | | provided. Remember, your government exists to |
| to place it carefully into a pet taxi, or pet carrier. | | | | serve you, not to push you around. |