FAQs
What should I do with the stray cat I found outside?
Thank you for your interest in the welfare of this cat. Not every friendly cat seen outdoors is homeless. Some cats are indoor/outdoor pets, so it's important to observe the cat over time before assuming they are stray. Cats that appear healthy, maintain a consistent territory, and seem comfortable outdoors may have a home nearby. Ask your neighbors to see if anyone knows who owns this cat.
If no owner can be found, the cat is clearly friendly (seeks out people, allows petting, follows people or enjoys sitting near them) and the cat is out and about at all hours of the day and night, the cat may be lost or abandoned.
The first step in helping a lost or abandoned cat is having them scanned for a microchip. This should be done before making plans to rehome or relocate a friendly stray cat. A microchip can identify the owner or the rescue organization that originally placed the cat. Many rescue organizations will intake cats with their microchip. Cat owners who have registered the microchip under their name may be delighted to have their cat back.
Your local animal control organization and some veterinary offices and animal shelters will scan a cat for free. If the cat is friendly and can be safely placed in a carrier, taking them to your local animal control organization for a scan is highly recommended. If a microchip is found, the animal control organization should help you return the cat to their owner or the rescue organization that originally placed the cat.
If a microchip is not found and you are located in or around DuPage County, Whisker Mission may be able to provide additional resources and advice. Email info@whiskermission.org with your information for further guidance. Please understand that we are a small foster-based organization with limited capacity, so intake is very limited.
What should I do with the kittens I found outside?
Thank you for your concern about the outdoor kittens in your area. Please do not separate nursing kittens from their mother. Mother cats often leave their kittens temporarily while searching for food and will typically return. Kittens have the best chance of survival when they remain with their mother whenever it is safe to do so.
Whisker Mission is a foster-based rescue focused on socializing and adopting kittens and friendly cats. We are not a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) organization and do not have trappers or field rescue teams available to catch cats or kittens living outdoors. We may be able to intake young kittens (8 weeks and younger) and nursing momma cats with kittens from outside once they are trapped, if they are healthy and we have space available.
Please note that all feral mommas are returned to the person who provided them for subsequent spay and return. We are unable to accept unweaned bottle babies without a nursing mother cat at this time.
If the kittens are still outdoors, the first step is arranging for trapping. If you need trapping assistance, you may find local TNR organizations and resources here: https://catsinaction.org/resources/tnr-organization-list/
Many of these TNR organizations will handle fostering and adopting the kittens they trap. If the only organization you find to help you does not offer this option and you are in or around DuPage County, Whisker Mission may be able to provide additional resources and advice. Email info@whiskermission.org with your information for further guidance before making trapping plans. Please understand that we are a small foster-based organization with limited capacity, so intake is very limited.
How do I rehome my cat?
We understand that needing to re-home a cat is often a difficult and emotional decision. Life circumstances can change unexpectedly, and many caring owners find themselves facing situations they never anticipated.
Cats are territorial animals and generally do not do well with major changes in their environment. Because of this, the best outcome is usually a direct transition from their current home into a new permanent home. This allows the cat to avoid the stress that can come with multiple moves or a shelter environment.
If keeping your cat until a new home is found is not possible, consider asking a trusted friend or family member to provide temporary care while you continue searching for the right adopter.
There are several resources available to help you re-home your cat. One popular option is Adopt-A-Pet's rehoming program: https://rehome.adoptapet.com/
This service allows owners to create a profile for their cat, reach a large audience of potential adopters, and communicate directly with interested applicants.
Social media can also be a powerful tool. One of the most effective things you can do is create a post about your cat and share it with friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, and local community groups. Social media posting of an adoptable cat by an individual has been found to be more effective in gaining interest than sharing an organization’s post of a cat. When creating your post:
• Write a thoughtful description of your cat's personality, habits, and ideal home
• Include clear, high-quality photos and/or videos
• Use an adoption application or screening process when placing with someone you do not know
• Charge a reasonable adoption fee to help discourage bad actors
• Share the post in local community groups and ask friends and family to share it as well
Friends of friends are often one of the best sources of successful adoptions.
If you are seeking rescue assistance, many organizations are more likely to help if you can continue fostering your cat while an adoptive home is located. Foster space is the most limited resource for most rescues.
If you are located in or around DuPage and have unsuccessfully attempted to rehome your cat yourself, Whisker Mission may be able to provide additional resources and advice. Email info@whiskermission.org with your information for further guidance. Please understand that we are a small foster-based organization with limited capacity, so intake is very limited.
How do I find my lost cat?
If your cat just snuck outside within the last day or two, they are likely nearby. If you haven’t already done so, begin your search immediately. Cats often hide, even from familiar voices, so you really need to look closely.
The places they are most likely to be are hiding spots under porches, under decks, under sheds, in garages, and nearby bushes. They wait for things to quiet down. Go at night and use a flashlight and look for their eyes reflecting in the light (LED flashlight or headlamp is best). This is how most cats are found. Move slowly and quietly as sudden movements or sounds scare them into hiding further.
If you spot your cat, DO NOT immediately try and grab them. This is likely to be unsuccessful and will scare them off. Bend down to their level and slowly approach with your hand so they can sniff you and recognize who you are. Speak to them in a gentle voice. Spend a little time connecting with them and petting them. You can also bring some treats to give them. Once they have gotten comfortable that you are a friend, not a foe, grab them tightly by the scruff of their neck, pick up their body with your other hand, and pull them close to your chest. Keep them tightly gripped until they are safely back in your home. If they do not enjoy being held, bring a cat carrier to put them in to transport them home.
If your cat runs off during this process, do not chase them or continue the search at this point. Go home, set out a bowl with a small amount of wet food at the door at which they snuck out, and watch for them. If you spot them coming up to eat, open the door, but do not go out toward them. Place a second bowl of wet food just inside the door in your home to see if that will lure them inside. If not, go outside via a door on the other side of your house and walk around the house to where they are eating, and hopefully they will run inside when you approach them from the outside.
If all of these attempts fail or your cat has been missing for more than 2 days, more action is needed. Posting in neighborhood groups and on Lost Pet sites can be helpful. You can also create paper flyers to hang around your neighborhood. If your cat has a microchip, be sure to include that number in your posts, as that is the only definitive way to identify a cat.
If your cat has a microchip, you can also use this number to report their missing status to local veterinary offices, animal control organizations and animal shelters. This will ensure they will contact you if the cat comes into their care. If you did not register the cat’s microchip in your name, contact the organization from which you adopted them, as that organization is likely to be contacted if the cat is found.