Every now and again when I am strolling around outside my house, I come upon this one particular cat. She’s friendly; seems well fed; is quite independent; and really shows no fear. She just roams around my yard for a bit, taking in the sights and sounds and then wanders off when and if she sees fit. She has been at this for a few years now. The neighbors are aware of her and really don’t seem to think much of her presence. On the surface, she does not appear to belong to anyone, yet still seems to feel right at home in our cozy suburban retreat. I wondered at first if it was a neighbor’s cat or just a stray. It can be kind of tricky to identify a stray cat from a neighbor’s adventurous kitty. While most folks around here figured she was a stray, it turns out she belongs to someone a few blocks over but seems to prefer our neck of the woods instead!
So, how do you know if a cat is a stray or not? According to thepurrcompany.com, there are a few indicative signs to clue you in, and these include the following:
*No evidence of a collar, tag or microchip
*The cat may appear thin, hungry and malnourished
*The coat is dirty and/or in poor condition
*If it is a long-haired cat, the fur would most likely by matted/knotted
*The cat may present with scars and/or wounds
If you happen to discover a stray cat, before you call a rescue organization, try to find its owner. Post flyers in the area. Put a collar on the cat with a phone number to call you. You might even consider taking the cat to a vet’s office to see if the cat is microchipped.
Once it is clear you have a stray cat on your hands, you have a couple of options. You can adopt the cat yourself or take it to a rescue shelter in hopes that it finds a new home.
On the flip side, if you want to make sure your own cat is never mistaken for a stray cat – especially if he/she is older, thinner and has a coat that is not in great condition – be sure to get your cat microchipped if she/he is not already.
In the meantime, I will continue to meet and greet the “temporarily stray” cat who wanders about my yard from time to time. I like to think she is just stopping by to check in on the folks she adores! (Most other cats I know tend to hiss at me, so I take this cat’s presence as a compliment!!!)
Written by Ann Butenas
An internationally-recognized author and writer, Ann began her professional writing career at age 12 and began speaking while in college. She has been published thousands of times over the past three decades in all media forms, was former editor and publisher of KC Metro Woman magazine, and has also hosted three talk radio shows in the Kansas City area.
