We get so many well-intentioned calls about cats that people think are stray - however, not all of them are lost cats. Sometimes a cat can look skinny and appear 'lost/stray' when in fact it's just an elderly cat from a loving home. Once removed by someone, if the cat is not chipped, it can mean it is hard to locate the owners. If the cat is not in immediate danger or appears distressed in any way, then it would be best to observe the cat for a period of time first, before assuming it is lost.

If you have had a cat visiting your garden for months and you've seen it in all weathers and are feeding it etc; then the likelihood is it MAY be stray but again, that is not always the case either since it may a cat that lives locally who is taking the liberty of an extra dinner every day - or who simply enjoys spending time at your house.

If it's visiting regularly, but comes and goes and otherwise seems unharmed/in okay health, we suggest putting up posters locally. If possible, and the cat will allow you, then also try and get a collar onto the cat with a paper message - saying 'If this is your cat please call XX' (and add your contact details). If you prefer not to include your own telephone number then you can tell them to contact Lost Cats Brighton. But please inform us that you have done so, so we are aware of the situation in case we are contacted by the owner to confirm the cat is theirs.

If you have no joy in locating an owner, then the next step would be to try and catch the cat and take it to your nearest vet to be scanned for a microchip. A vet should then hold the cat to either reunite them with their owner, if the cat is indeed chipped - or to hand the cat over to a local cat shelter if no owner can be traced.

If you don't feel able to catch the cat and take it to a vet, then please try and lure it into either your house or a shed/garage/outbuilding and then contact a local cat shelter, the Animal Welfare Team at the local council. Useful numbers can be found further down this page.

If it's a cat you see regularly, or at all hours of the day and night, then please register the cat as a 'Found cat' on our website (including uploading photos) and we can match their details against our known missing cats.