
Last updated: 4 Feb, 2025
Published on: 3 Feb, 2025
Living with urban stray cats in the community

While it’s natural to be concerned when you see a cat roaming, it’s important to understand that not all straying cats are lost pets. In fact, many are cared for by multiple people who love them and look out for their well-being.
Cats are a part of our urban communities - there are both pet cats, who are allowed outside and semi-owned or ‘community’ cats living happily amongst us, with people caring for them who are not their owners.
In most cases, the worst outcomes for cats and the people who love them result from taking the cat to your local shelter or council. Research shows that lost pet cats are more likely to find their way back home themselves than if they are picked up and taken into care, with only 5% of cats who enter council facilities or shelters being reunited with their owners.
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What to do if you see a cat outdoors
If you come across a cat in your neighbourhood, consider the following before assuming they need intervention:
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If the cat is healthy and well-fed, leaving them be is best. Research shows that lost pet cats are more likely to find their way home on their own rather than if they are taken to a shelter. Unfortunately, only about 5% of cats taken to shelters or council facilities are ever reunited with their owners.
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If the cat is friendly and returns frequently, they likely have an owner or caregiver. One easy way to check is by making a simple paper collar with a note: ‘Please call this number if this is your cat… (your contact number).’ This helps determine if the cat has a home and alerts owners if their cat is wandering. You can find a template for a paper collar here.
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If the cat appears stressed or scared, avoid handling them to prevent bites or scratches. Instead, reach out to local rescue groups using the Rescue Directory for additional support.
Humane ways to deter cats from your garden
While cats are a natural part of urban environments, some people prefer to keep them out of their gardens. Here are some humane solutions to deter cats without harming them:
- Use citrus peels, coffee grounds, or lavender in garden beds—cats dislike these scents.
- Install motion-activated sprinklers to gently discourage visits.
- Provide a designated area for cats in shared outdoor spaces, like a sandpit, to encourage them to use that area instead.
- Use cat-safe deterrents, such as an ultrasonic cat deterrent device or chicken wire over garden beds, to make surfaces uncomfortable for cats without harming them.
Photo by Josie Weiss on Unsplash
Supporting cats in the community
In every urban area, semi-owned or free-living cats survive and thrive with the help of caring individuals. The best approach to managing cat populations humanely is through targeted desexing programs. Targeted, free cat desexing programs work with the community to identify areas in which high densities of cats live and reproduce. Cat management teams then find out who is caring for these cats and provide desexing and other services to them, so that they can become legal owners and provide their cats with ongoing care.
These programs also work with rescue groups and shelters to rehome friendly cats into pet homes, and with the rest of the community to ensure that these cats are not creating nuisance issues for others.
What can you, as a cat-loving member of the community do?
Firstly, you can look out for, and support groups desexing community cats in your local area, or even bring these folks together to start your own community cat desexing program!
Want to see a free cat desexing program in your Local Government area? Send this article to your local council.
Photo by Nikolett Emmert on Unsplash
Caring for stray kittens
If you come across a litter of kittens, don’t immediately assume they’ve been abandoned. Mother cats often leave their kittens temporarily while searching for food. The best thing to do is observe from a distance for a few hours. If the mother returns, she is their best chance of survival. If their mother does not come back to them after four or more hours, the kittens will benefit greatly from your help.
You can be a superhero to these kittens if you can step in and become their temporary family while they grow and get prepared to go to their new homes. You can find more information to help you decide what to do here.
Rescue groups may also be able to provide additional support or assistance with caring for kittens or desexing. You can use our Rescue Directory to find groups in your area.
Banner image by Hadley Woodall on Unsplash