How to tell if a cat is a stray?

jahzara

jahzara

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There are lots of cats that wander around outside, some I know their humans, others I don't. There are two black cats in particular. One is a very husky looking gal who rolls around on the ground if my kitten happens to be on the porch (there is chicken wire around it.) She does not seem to care much for me, just sort of acts like I don't exist and then wanders away. Today I met a gorgeous black kitty who was standing right in front of my front door as I opened it. She has a black coat with that cinnamon sheen to it and her head was disproportionate to the rest of her body making her look both silly and adorable. I was able to love on her and meows were exchanged. She kept sticking her head in my watering can like she wanted water, so I went ahead and got her some along with a little food, though she was obviously a fed cat.

I'm left wondering if she belongs to someone or what happened... She had no collar and this was the first time I'd ever seen her. She does not seem like a cat in heat either. The other two cats I know that have a human do not have collars either. They are just indoor/outdoor kitties. So how can I tell the difference? D= Should I leave her be or should I take her to the shelter?
 
StefanZ

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Jahzara said:
 
There are lots of cats that wander around outside, some I know their humans, others I don't. There are two black cats in particular. One is a very husky looking gal who rolls around on the ground if my kitten happens to be on the porch (there is chicken wire around it.) She does not seem to care much for me, just sort of acts like I don't exist and then wanders away. Today I met a gorgeous black kitty who was standing right in front of my front door as I opened it. She has a black coat with that cinnamon sheen to it and her head was disproportionate to the rest of her body making her look both silly and adorable. I was able to love on her and meows were exchanged. She kept sticking her head in my watering can like she wanted water, so I went ahead and got her some along with a little food, though she was obviously a fed cat.

I'm left wondering if she belongs to someone or what happened... She had no collar and this was the first time I'd ever seen her. She does not seem like a cat in heat either. The other two cats I know that have a human do not have collars either. They are just indoor/outdoor kitties. So how can I tell the difference? D= Should I leave her be or should I take her to the shelter?
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If she is astray, so she seems be very fresh astray.  Perhaps not even dumped.

IF you truly believe so, you should act immediately if you can.  Take her in to yourself, or take her to a shelter yes.   AND actively seek after the owner of course.

If she is dumped, no owner will come, but if she got astray, there will come one.   Dont describe too closely, let the owner identyfy himself by the exact description.

OK, why this hurry?  A freshly astray or freshly dumped is unused to the situation, hasnt not learned any street smartness as yet.

This is a very dangerous period, the death rate is the highest...  And or the risk for becoming emaciated...

As she is apparently a home girl, the risk she will be immediately euthanized at a shelter is very low, so - yes, you can take her to the shelter.   BUT still, seek actively after the owner, its not sure the shelter will do it.

The optimal is probably if YOU can keep her in some extra room, but its of course extra work for you.
 
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