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Step 1
Make sure the cat does not belong to somebody else. File a found report at the local shelter and put up some flyers in the neighborhood. Sometimes moving house can freak cats out and they escape to find their familiar surroundings.
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Step 2
Know that any outside cat must be spayed or neutered to prevent more unwanted litters. Call your shelter or cat rescue groups to find a low-cost vet clinic. It is possible to get this surgery done very inexpensively in most places, you just have to call around.
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Step 3
Make sure they have water too, especially during cold weather when everything freezes.
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Step 4
Be aware that cats can tolerate fairly cold weather, but they get chilled very easily if wet. I have two old airline dog crates covered with plastic tarps and filled with straw near the back of my city lot for the cats. If the weather is bad I put food in there so it stays dry while they eat.
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Step 5
Ask yourself how committed you are prepared to be with veterinary care. If a cat is very sick or hurt she will just lie low and there is nothing you can do. With some basic knowledge of vet care and a sympathetic veterinarian to sell you medication, basic care can be a do-it-yourself endeavor for simple things like bite wounds or bad flea infestations.
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Step 6
Be aware that if you decide to give a stray cat access to your house, they may be miserable (and noisy) if they cannot go back outside when they want to.
Comments
violet4me said
on 8/7/2009 Helpful advice on dealing with stray cats!
justabarkaway said
on 4/23/2009 great info thanks!!
LilacGirl said
on 5/23/2008 Great information, and much needed with so many stray cats around everywhere.