03/06/2026
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‼️😣 FEEDING IS NOT ENOUGH 😣‼️
We often hear from people who have been feeding a “stray” cat in their garden for months (or even years in some cases)!
It usually goes something like this:
💬 “He comes every day, so I made him a little shelter in my shed/kennel/old wheelie bin. He’s fine. Just leave him be.”
👿 HE IS NOT FINE 👿
💬 “He’s lived there for two years. He likes it.”
😾 NO HE DOESN’T. HE HAS NO OTHER CHOICE 😾
A bowl of food and a makeshift shelter may keep a cat alive, but it does not give him the life he deserves.
⛔️ No parasite treatment�He may be living with fleas, worms, skin irritation, sickness and diarrhoea. Parasites cause constant discomfort and can seriously impact a cat’s health.
⛔️ No neutering�Unneutered males often roam huge distances, fight over territory and suffer painful injuries. They are also far more likely to be involved in road traffic accidents and contribute to the ongoing cat overpopulation crisis.
⛔️ No vaccinations�Without protection against diseases such as cat flu, many stray cats spend months suffering from respiratory infections, runny eyes, sneezing, fevers, sore throats and painful mouth ulcers.
⛔️ No veterinary care�Dental disease, infected wounds, abscesses and other illnesses can go unnoticed for months. Imagine living with constant toothache and never receiving treatment.
🚨 Feeding a cat is not the same as caring for a cat.
Sadly, many rescues only hear about these cats when they are desperately ill, visibly suffering, or even close to death. By then, their treatment is often extensive, costly and heartbreaking.
Cats are masters at hiding pain. In the wild, showing weakness can be dangerous, so they instinctively conceal illness and injury. Just because a cat appears “fine” does not mean he is.
As a rescue, we see the transformation every single day.
The frightened, flea-ridden, unneutered tom with infected eyes becomes a healthy, comfortable cat after receiving basic veterinary care, parasite treatment, good nutrition and a safe place to rest.
Their lives improve beyond recognition.
🐾 ARE YOU FEEDING A STRAY CAT? 🐾
A stray cat is usually a cat that was once someone's pet but has become lost, abandoned or displaced. Many have previously lived in homes and still need human help.
⚠️ Please don't assume a well-fed cat has an owner. Cats often visit multiple households for food, and some strays can appear surprisingly healthy despite having nobody responsible for their care.
Here’s what you can do:
✅ Get the cat scanned for a microchip�Any veterinary practice will scan a cat free of charge, and many rescues can help arrange this.
✅ Use a paper collar�A simple paper collar can help identify whether the cat belongs to someone locally.
✅ Post on social media�Share clear photos and ask around local lost-and-found pet groups. Always ask for proof of ownership before handing a cat over.
✅ Knock on doors�Many mystery visitors turn out to live only a few streets away.
✅ Contact a rescue�Even if there is no immediate rescue space available, reporting the cat means help can start to be organised.
❗️HE NEEDS TO BE ON A LIST TO GET THE HELP HE NEEDS. ❗️
Rescues across the UK are overwhelmed and often operating on a one-out, one-in basis. We simply cannot help cats we don't know about.
Cats have no voice.
If a cat has chosen your garden as his refuge, please don't just feed him and hope for the best. Be his advocate. Take responsibility. Get him the help he deserves. ❤️
🙏 If you do one good deed today, please SHARE this post far and wide ❤️🩹
