Advice: Stray and feral cats
If the stray cat is sick or injured please call our 24-hour helpline on 0300 1234 999 and explain the exact location of the animal and the nature of the injury or illness so that an animal collection officer knows how urgent it is.
This helpline cannot arrange collection of a healthy or uninjured stray but we will. Call us on 020 7 272 2264 and we will make arrangements to collect the cat and find it a new home where possible. If the stray is at risk of injury or starvation or does not have access to water call our emergency line on 07710 294 180.
It is important to establish that the cat is truly a stray. Phone 020 7 272 2264 and we will send you a set of paper collars to put on him asking any owner to come forward.
If you cannot catch the cat we have special humane trapping equipment. Ring us on 020 7 272 2264.
It is really important to tell us as soon as possible about pregnant strays or mothers with kittens or strays that look bedraggled or dirty and are not coping or are otherwise in danger. If anyone is threatening the cats with harm we need to know urgently. We will help you or advise you on where to find other help. Kittens especially need immediate help because the risk from foxes is very great in London.
Feral cats which are breeding or causing a nuisance are generally unneutered. We can humanely trap them and return them neutered following which they usually live out their life more peacefully and easily. Please ring 020 7 272 2264. It is not generally possible for us to re-site feral cats because there are so few opportunities for them.
Please do not try to drive a stray or feral cat asking for food or help away. We will come as soon as we can. If you have helped the cat by providing food, water and shelter it will be easier for us to locate it and provide help.
If you would like to offer a permanent home to your stray but are concerned about its health or that it is not neutered, we can make arrangements for the cat to be tested for feline viruses, neutered, treated for parasites and other problems and given the ‘all clear’ healthwise so that you can then adopt it and get it insured without facing an expensive vet bill at the outset. After adoption the responsibility for the cat’s health and welfare will be yours. However we will not return friendly strays to live outside only. To adopt them you must be prepared to offer the cat a proper home with access to your house unless it is feral or very nervous of people.