Found a stray and don’t know what to do next?
We’re here to help!
There’s a large amount of strays in Florida and they need all the help they can get. We do have a waitlist for intakes so that we don’t overwhelm our current cats and lower their quality of life. Luckily, we have lots of adoptions every week and are able to take in at least one litter or a couple adult cats each week.
Thank you for saving a life!
Please follow this step by step guide to surrendering a cat:
Assess the cat’s temperament. Many strays are skittish but not necessarily feral. Take your time gaining the trust of the stray with food and love. Keep your safety as your top priority. If the cat tries to bite or claw, leave it be.
Find a safe space for the stray(s). If you are able to take them inside (separate from personal animals) that would be ideal! However, as long as they are out of harms way from predators, cars, etc, that is great!
Assess the stray’s health. Is it eating, drinking, using the litter box normally? Any sneezing, coughing, runny eyes, nose? If anything seems concerning, contact a vet.
Find a rescue. We are happy to take in your stray to Botany Cats as soon as we have availability! Please fill out this surrender form to get on our waitlist.
~ If you need a more immediate placement, feel free to reach out to other local rescues~
What NOT to do
Do not surrender to shelter. Most shelters are overpacked and deal with this issue by either euthanizing animals or lowering their quality of life.
Do not take a truly feral cat into your home. This poses a risk to you and your family.
(Feral= not friendly. Stray= friendly, but homeless.)