Helping a stray cat to survive

Stray or not? You’ll usually be able to tell by its appearance; if it’s not shaggy and skinny, then it might just be a neighbour’s curious cat. Photo: 123rf.com

Sometimes you see a cat out and about and it’s difficult to tell whether it is a stray – or just enjoying its freedom prowling around.

Usually you can tell a stray as it looks unkempt. “Their fur is often dirty, their eyes may be gluey and they are thin and often pretty shy, ” says Sarah Ross who works for a German animal welfare organisation, Vier Pfoten.