When you find a cat, remember that it's not immediately yours

According to various statistics, the number of cats in our country is increasing. Not only dogs, but also cats belong to increasingly more common pets. So, it can happen to us more often, that we'll meet an abandoned cat in the street and we're thinking what to do. It's even worse, when it's a small kitten. What's the best thing to do in such a situation?

In larger cats, it's likely that they're just taking a walk. If they're not emaciated or crippled somehow and they're just begging for food, it makes no sense to try to save them. Adult cats can find their way home using their sense of orientation. But what should you do, when you find an abandoned kitten? In its case, we probably won't be able to  ̶  and also shouldn't be  ̶  completely indifferent.

In general, if you decide to save a found cat or kitten, preferably put it into a transport crate or a box with openings, so it can breathe. It is important to keep it in isolation away from your pets. You don't know, how it will react to them. It may also have a disease.

First thing to do is to report the found cat at the local municipal office or call the municipal police who will take the cat to a shelter. According to the law, the municipality is obliged to take care of it, they usually place them in shelters. But if you decide to keep the animal at your place, the municipality can help at least with a notification about a found cat at their notice board. Of course, that you can inform about its finding through other channels as well, through Facebook or inform about its finding via a shelter.

Possibly the easiest way how to find a cat owner is to go to a veterinarian and see, if it doesn't have a chip. If the cat is injured, it should be treated as soon as possible. Carefully keep all the receipts. If the owner is found, they are obliged to pay you for these costs. The same applies to food and litter for the cat toilet.

If the owner isn't found and you decide to keep the cat, don't forget, that according to the Civil code, the animal still belongs to the previous owner for another two months. If they don't claim it, you can keep it and its yours, but during this period, you should rather avoid any interventions such as neutering or sterilisation. Not only will no one repay you these costs, but they can also sue you for them.

One final advice, that's, however, not easy to follow: Try not to immediately fall in love with the cat. It would be much more difficult for you to return it to the original owner afterwards.