The Regina Humane Society (RHS) recognizes that the issues surrounding outdoor cats have become more complex and
require multiple approaches for solutions. It can be difficult for a person to easily determine if a cat seen
outdoors is a lost cat in need, an abandoned cat, a neighbour’s cat that is allowed outside or a cat that is part of
a free-roaming managed colony.

At Large/Roaming Cats are prohibited under the Regina Animal Bylaw #2009-44. The Society believes that the safest way
to manage cats is to keep them indoors to protect them from the elements, contagious disease and negative human
interaction as well as from the dangers of being injured by a car, becoming lost or having hazardous interactions
with wildlife and other domestic animals. However, the RHS recognizes that there is a significant number of cats who
are outside for various reasons and require specialized approaches in management to improve their safety and prevent
them from contributing to the homeless animal population.

The RHS believes that all cats, but especially those allowed outdoors should be:

• Identified with a collar and tag and/or a microchip;
• Vaccinated against rabies and other feline diseases; and
• Spayed or neutered.

There are many types of cats who may be outdoors, but not all are displaced or lost. While the most common approach may be to bring the cat to the safety of a Humane Society/SPCA or rescue, national data shows that only 10% of cats are returned to their owners by this course of action. Studies show the best method to reunite an owned cat with its owner is to help them in their neighbourhood by being their ‘human advocate’ to find their way home. Please refer to the information below to assist you in taking the appropriate actions to ensure the best outcome for the cat you have encountered.

At Large/Roaming Cats In Distress

1. Contact the RHS at (306) 777-7700 if a cat is displaying signs of distress including critical illness, injury or weather-related distress.

At Large/Roaming Cats not in Distress

1. If you encounter a roaming cat outdoors, assume someone is looking for it, or it has an owner. Follow the steps in the Locate Owner Tips section to connect the cat with its owner, before taking steps to find the animal a new home, or relinquishing the cat to the RHS or other animal rescue.
2. Download the “Paper Collars for Stray Cats” document and follow the instructions. If the roaming cat has a home, paper collars allow you to send a note to the owners by indicating, “This cat visits me and I am worried it may be a stray and needs a home. Please contact me if it belongs to you.”
3. Monitor the cat’s situation. Cats who are lost, or have been abandoned, may become starved, ill or injured. If you are unable to successfully reunite a roaming cat with its owner, contact the RHS at (306) 777-7700.
4. Do not feed lost or abandoned cats unless you are willing to accept full responsibility for the animal including sterilizing it and providing lifelong shelter and veterinary care. While intentions may be good, individuals who feed free-roaming cats, without sterilizing them, perpetuate the suffering that results from overpopulation. Left unsterilized, well-fed free-roaming cats will reproduce at a high rate, creating more homeless kittens and adding to the homeless cat population. If an individual does not wish to make that lifelong commitment, they should work with the RHS or a cat rescue organization that will do the best for that animal and ensure that no new stray kittens are born.

Colony Cats

1. The RHS recognizes that colonies of cats exist in many areas of Regina where resources are available. Colonies may be comprised of both homeless abandoned and feral cats. The RHS supports the concept of managing colonies where the principal goal is ending homeless and feral cat populations. Good management of a colony includes an effective trap, neuter, vaccinate, identification and release of adult feral cats. Emphasis should be placed on ensuring good welfare for adult feral cats, rehabilitating and rehoming abandoned cats, and the socialization and adoption of feral kittens. Management of colonies should include registration, daily monitoring and detailed record-keeping.
2. If you are concerned about the welfare of colony cats, please contact the RHS at (306) 777-7700.

Nuisance Cats

1. Follow the steps listed in Keeping Unwanted Cats Out of Your Yard to make your property less desirable to free-roaming cats.

Kittens With or Without a Mother

1. One of the biggest mistakes people make when finding stray kittens is unknowingly taking them away from their mothers. Neonatal kittens are still nursing and need to be fed frequently, so they should be kept with their mother, if possible.
2. Assess the situation. Are the kittens sleeping comfortably? The mother is probably coming back. To be sure, sprinkle some flour around where the kittens are located and look for paw prints upon your return. If the mother comes back, contact RHS at (306) 543-6363 ext. 196 for further information on how to proceed.
3. If the kittens or mother cat are displaying distress resulting from including critical illness, injury or exposure to the elements, contact the RHS at (306) 777-7700.
4. If a mother cat does not return after several hours, consider becoming a temporary foster parent to care for them in your home until they are 8 weeks of age. The Regina Humane Society will provide supplies to support their care prior to accepting them at the Shelter through its Wait ‘Til 8 Program.
5. If the mother cat does not return after several hours and you are unable to care for the kittens until 8 weeks of age, contact the RHS at (306) 777-7700.

At Large/Roaming Cats In Distress

The RHS accepts cats/kittens from outside the City of Regina if they are in distress resulting from critical illness, injury or exposure to the elements. Confirm the cat really needs rescuing from the community and is in distress before calling RHS at (306) 543-6363 ext. 196.

At Large/Roaming Cats Not In Distress

The Regina Humane Society practices Managed Admissions for cats from outside the City of Regina. Those finding cats outside of the City of Regina should contact their Rural Municipality office, as well as any shelters or rescues operating in their area prior to contacting the RHS. Found cats from outside the City of Regina are accepted at the RHS by appointment only, as capacity permits, by calling (306) 543-6363 ext. 196.

Concerns regarding stray or unwanted cats in your community should be directed to the Rural Municipality or town within which the feline lives or is found. For information regarding what to do with stray or unwanted cats in your area, please visit the Managed Admissions of Rural Felines section on our website.

Every year, hundreds of dogs escape from their homes and yards and are never reunited with their rightful owners. The burden of finding and recovering a displaced dog rests with the owner, who, in most cases, is not trained in how or where to search. People who lose their beloved dogs need all the help they can get in order to achieve a successful reunion.

A dog wandering alone within the city is likely lost. It’s important to assume that the dog you have found does have people who love them and miss them very much. It is easy to jump to conclusions about the animal based on their physical condition or behaviour. Animals can deteriorate quickly when separated from their families and may appear neglected. As well, some animals are naturally shy or fearful of new situations. This does not necessarily mean that they have been abused or treated poorly.

Studies show the best method to get an animal home is when they have a human advocate to help them find their owners. Please refer to the information below to assist you in taking the appropriate actions to ensure the best outcome for the stray or lost dog you have encountered.

At Large/Roaming Dogs in Distress

Contact the RHS at (306) 777-7700 if a dog is displaying signs of distress including critical illness, injury or weather related distress.

At Large/Roaming Dogs not in Distress

If you are comfortable with the dog and feel it is safe to do so, leash the dog and bring it to safety. Confine the dog to your yard or home.

To locate the dog’s owner, follow the steps listed on the Locate Owner Tips section of our website, before taking steps to find the dog a new home, or relinquishing the dog to the RHS.

If you are unable to locate the owner, at large dogs may be relinquished to the RHS during regular business hours. The Society is located at 4900 Parliament Avenue. Whenever possible, please contact the RHS at (306) 543-6363 ext. 196 prior to arrival so we can best meet the needs of the animal upon arrival. To arrange for transport, contact RHS Animal Protection Services at (306) 777-7700.

Aggressive Found Dogs

Always put your safety first. Do not attempt to pick up or contain a dog that is acting aggressively. If you feel unsafe handling the dog, contact RHS Animal Protection Services at (306) 777-7700. If the dog is currently attacking a person, call 911.

Concerns regarding lost dogs should be referred to the Rural Municipality or Town Office with jurisdiction over the area where the dog lives or was found. The RHS may accept pets from outside of the City of Regina as space permits. Please call (306) 543-6363 ext. 196 before bringing a dog to our facility.  Pets in distress due to illness, injury or weather-related distress will be accepted regardless of their location.

The purpose of the Wait ‘Til 8 Program is to enlist community support to keep high-risk animals out of the animal shelter until they are ready to enter a path toward adoption. Through this lifesaving program, Good Samaritans who find one or more infant kittens/puppies have the opportunity to provide them with foster care until they are approximately 8 weeks of age – old enough to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and made available for adoption. The RHS provides all essential supplies and training foster care providers need to be successful. As an added bonus, volunteer caregivers may officially adopt their foster(s) at a discounted rate which includes vaccination, spay/neuter surgery, tattoo/microchip.

For more information, please contact the RHS at (306) 543-6363 ext. 196