Both lost strays and outdoor pets can be skittish or friendly, so it's hard to tell from behavior. The cat is probably a stray if its fur is messy or dirty, or if it looks skinny or injured. If the cat lets you touch it, check the paw pads. Stray cats that have lived outdoors for a few weeks will have hard, calloused feet compared to the soft paws of a family pet.  If the cat tries to hide, doesn't look at you, and doesn't meow, it might be a feral cat, that was never a pet. Keep an eye out for lost cat notices on store windows and telephone poles in your neighborhood, and in local newspapers and websites. Be extra vigilant in winter. Strays are desperate for shelter and food at this time, and pets are unlikely to spend much time outside. Fresh tracks after a snowfall are an easy way to track strays if you get up before heavy traffic begins. If you think the cat is a stray, approach slowly while speaking in a soft voice. If the cat acts skittish, try bending down to its level. Hold out your hand and call it with a sweet voice. If that doesn't do it, return to the area later with a strong-smelling food, like tuna or dried liver.  Try different tones or pitches, as some cats respond better to a higher or lower voice, or even ‘meow’ sounds. Don't get too close if the cat seems tense or nervous. If the cat feels cornered, it may bite or scratch. If the cat has tags and lets you get close enough to read the phone number or address, contact the owners to find out whether the cat is supposed to be outside. Some tags have the contact info for a veterinary clinic instead. The vet may not be legally allowed to give you the owner's contact info, but they can pass on a message. This may help to keep a lost cat near you until you can assist it. Place the food outdoors very late at night, in a small space that a cat could access but a larger animal could not.  In sub-zero temperatures, oil from a tin of sardines poured over kibble works well. Do not leave food out until you suspect you have a stray, since this may just attract wildlife or feed other people's pets (who may be on controlled diets). If you cannot approach the cat, you could ask Animal Control or a local animal shelter to capture it. Find out their policies before you make the call, especially if the cat does not have tags. Many shelters euthanize cats that do not seem adoptable. Others offer a more humane trap-neuter-release (TNR) program, so the cat returns outside but doesn't grow the feral cat population. Shelters generally offer a better chance at a good life for strays than they find on the streets. In a shelter, the cat will not die of starvation, injuries, or exposure. If you would rather catch the cat yourself, buy a humane cat trap from a hardware store, or ask animal control if they have any available for loan. Cover the trip plate and wire bottom of the trap with newspaper, so that the cat won't instinctively avoid stepping on the trip plate. Bait the trap with a small amount of strong-smelling food. Herring, mackerel, or sardines canned in oil (but not pickled) are excellent choices.  Do not set the trip plate on a hair trigger. If the cat triggers it prematurely and escapes, it may never come back. It's better to risk the plate not going off, since you can put out more bait and try again. Too much food will create a mess if the cat panics and scatters it or vomits. In exceptionally cold weather, cover the trap with a sheet or towel, then heap snow over this covering to help keep the cat warm and calmer once it has been trapped. Check the trap as often as possible, but approach slowly to avoid scaring away the cat at the wrong moment. If the trap doesn't work in a day or two, try this longer-term approach:  Disable the trap. Every day at the same time (preferably dusk), put out food near the trap. Gradually move the feeding spot closer to the trap, and eventually inside it. If the cat won't go inside, try covering the trap with a towel sprayed with cat pheromone spray. Once the cat is eating consistently inside the trap, set it to trigger. Once you have captured the cat, contact a local shelter to ask about local laws. In some areas, you are required to take lost pets to a shelter so the owner has a chance to find it. Make a decision based on the shelter's response and on the cat's appearance:  If you do not plan to look after the cat at home, arrange in advance for a shelter or animal control agency to pick up the cat. Keep the cat in the trap in a quiet, dark area while it waits. Minimize the amount of time the cat has to wait, as this is extremely stressful for the animal. A stray pet tends to have a dirty coat, and a tendency to meow and make eye contact. It may eventually relax, come up to the front of the cage, or investigate toys or people that come near the cage. Continue on for advice on finding the owner or adopting it yourself. A feral (untamed) cat typically stays in the far back of the cage, may shake or bang the walls, and ignores toys and people. Learn more about how to handle the animal, along with other ways to confirm that it really is feral.
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One-sentence summary -- Tell the difference between a stray and a pet. Try to approach the stray. Check for tags. Provide shelter, water, and catnip for a potential stray cat. Consider contacting a professional. Set a trap yourself. Check the trap frequently but carefully. Decide what to do with the cat once it is trapped.


if you want to give your mom something handmade. You don’t need a store-bought card to show your mom how much she means to you. Instead, gather some nice paper, pens or markers, and any craft supplies you have on hand. Create a card that’s made especially for your mom.  Use the best materials you can so your card looks nice. For instance, you might use card stock, colored paper, or scrapbook paper. For the front of your card, draw a picture or glue a photo on it. If you have a printer, you can design a card using free online design sites or whatever applications you have installed on your computer. You can find lovely Mother’s Day cards online or at your local grocery, department, or stationary store. Read the cards to help you find one that captures how you feel about your mom. Pick a card that you think your mom will really like. For instance, you might look for a sweet card if your mom is sentimental or a funny card if your mom likes jokes. A handwritten note inside the card will show your mom how much you really care about her. Think about how much your mom means to you. Then, write a message that explains what makes her so special and what you appreciate most about her. You might mention specific things she’s done or lessons you’ve learned for her.  For example, let's say you want to thank your mom for being so supportive to you this past year while you finished school. If she loves mushy cards, you could write, “Thank you for being so loving and supportive. I am so grateful to have you in my life. I don’t know what I would do without you. You are my sunshine!” Your card could even have a sun on the front of it. If you’re struggling to figure out what to say, try making a list of things you love or respect about your mom. Write your mom’s name on the front of the envelope. The card is ready to be given to your mom! If you want you can also decorate the envelope with some stickers or drawings. If you’re mailing your card, don’t forget to attach postage.
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One-sentence summary --
Make a card Buy a card for an easy option. Write a personal message to your mom inside your card. Put the card in an envelope and seal it.