How to find out if a cat is stray

[Septemberjoy]

We have a little visitor hanging out in our garden and by the back door, it has ventured indoors a few times. No collar and often disheveled looking. The other week it had a tick. I am not feeding it so I am assuming it is getting food from somewhere.

Most of our neighbours probably won’t be on FB so I’ll have to knock and ask. I have no intention of stealing someone’s cat but neither do I like the thought of the poor thing being homeless over the winter! Any advice at all?

Put a paper collar on it with a message. Or a normal snap collar with a little barrel with a message. If no one responds it's a stray. You could also ask a vet to scan for a chip which they should do for free. If you do take to a vet though only do so in a proper cat carrier.

Good idea, thank you. I will get DH to do this (I am slightly frightened of cats) as he has made freinds with cat already.

Have a look on Facebook for a local lost and found page, your local Cat Protection branch may have one.

Don't be frightened of cats. They are the most wonderful animals with great personalities

You can take it to any vet to see if it has a micro chip, take a photo of kitty and put them up on lamp posts, you have found a new friend

I have a friend who has a cat crate so we could take it to the vet if we don't find any trace of an owner. I've looked on FB for missing cats, but no joy.

The cat is already known as 'your freind' when I tell DH that it's come to visit.

Are you going to keep it if it's a stray, post a pic if you can.

If you do decide to put 'cat found' posters up it would be best to not give many details and not include a photo. Anyone contacting you will need to prove its theirs by correctly describing it and providing photos. And if it's plain black for example they are hard to tell apart. So don't even mention the colour in any publicity.