Glossary

Stray cat

A socialised cat that is lost or has been abandoned and is living outdoors, comfortable with people unlike a true feral cat.

Also called: lost cat, abandoned cat, found cat, alley cat

A stray cat is a cat that was once, or is still, used to people but is now living outdoors without a home. Some are pets that have gotten lost, some were abandoned or left behind when people moved, and some are the offspring of strays. A stray usually approaches people, meows, may rub against legs, and may look thin or dirty. This sets it apart from a feral cat, which avoids people.

If you find a cat that appears to be a stray, check whether it wears a collar or tag, and take it to a vet or shelter to be scanned for a microchip. Ask neighbours, post a photo in local groups, and report it to the animal shelter in your area, because many places require finders to do so. Many pets that go missing are found within a short distance of home.

Do not assume the cat has no owner. A well-fed cat may belong to someone nearby. If it is injured, thin or unwell, a vet can check it, and should be asked about parasites before it meets other pets. A stray that cannot be traced may be adopted, and many make loving companions. Your vet can advise on testing for feline immunodeficiency virus and other infections.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Feral cat A cat that has not been socialised to people and lives outdoors, avoiding contact and usually not suited to life as a house pet. Community cat An umbrella term for any cat living outdoors that is not confined, whether friendly or feral, owned or unowned. Return to owner The reuniting of a lost cat with its owner, ideally before it enters a shelter, using a microchip, tag or other identification. Animal shelter A facility that takes in stray, lost and surrendered animals, holds them, and works to return them to owners or place them in new homes. Microchip A rice-grain-sized implant under a cat's skin that carries a number a scanner can read, linking the cat to its owner's details in a registry.