I found a cat or a cat colony in the Algarve

Not every cat living outdoors is lost or abandoned. An outdoor cat in the Algarve may be a lost pet, an abandoned pet, a community cat, part of a managed colony, or genuinely feral. You do not need to know which before asking for advice.

Telling the situations apart

• Lost pet — often approachable, may look well cared for, may wear a collar, and often seems out of place or anxious.
• Community cat — lives outdoors in a known spot, often fed by residents, usually wary of strangers.
• Feral cat — avoids people entirely and will not normally allow handling.

Is the colony already looked after?

• Look for feeding points, water bowls or shelters.
• Ask neighbours, shopkeepers or café staff who feeds the cats.
• A cat with the tip of one ear neatly removed (ear-tipping) has usually been sterilised as part of a programme.

A group of outdoor cats may be an established community-cat colony. If the cats appear healthy and someone is already caring for them, removing them may not be the appropriate response. Finding out whether the colony is managed and whether the cats have been sterilised is an important first step.

CED / TNR — capture, sterilise and return

In Portugal, colony management is generally based on CED (Captura, Esterilização e Devolução), known internationally as TNR. Cats are humanely trapped, sterilised, treated and returned to their territory, where a caregiver continues to feed and monitor them. Sterilisation stops the colony growing, reduces fighting and roaming, and improves the cats' health over time.

A colony can still need help

• A sick or injured cat may need veterinary attention.
• Young or orphaned kittens may need intervention.
• Unsterilised colonies may need a rescue organisation or the municipality to arrange CED.
• Feeding alone does not mean the colony is properly managed.

A local rescue organisation, veterinary practice or your Câmara Municipal can advise on the right response for the individual animals involved.

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I found an animal — see all situations · Lost & Found Pets & Animals in the Algarve

Information on this page is general guidance and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.