So why should you act to save an animal that some people don’t even like or perhaps view as merely a creature useful for controlling mice? I would argue that as part of living in a civilized society, it is our obligation to look after those who are weak, sick, or powerless, even when they’re cats. We as a civilization provide care for the elderly and the children, the mentally ill and the homeless. Part of our responsibility includes our domestic animals whom we took from the wild and made dependent on us.

Cats have been domesticated for thousands of years, and they are the responsibility of society. Our taxes pay for road clean-up and, in many locations, for animal control. We pay for hospital and doctor care when an animal bites a human as well as for rabies protection after a person has been exposed to the disease. And increasingly, we recognize that non-human animals suffer and deserve care and respect. Even people who hate cats sometimes find themselves feeding them or taking them to a veterinarian. These people do it because they recognize their obligation as members of a civilized society—they are willing to take responsibility.

So what can you do when you see a free-roaming cat or kitten? First, decide whether they really have an owner or not. Talk to your neighbors, check for a collar or microchip. Don’t assume that someone owns the cat who shows up for meals on your back porch. Your neighbors may all be assuming the same thing.

Second, call your local animal control agency or humane society to file a lost-cat report; cats sometimes stray farther than you might think, and even a timid cat without a collar may be happily owned by someone who lives some distance away from you. That person may be looking for the cat and may visit area shelters to try to find their companion.

Third, find the resources in your area that may support stray, abandoned or feral (wild) cats. Ask your local shelter or animal control agency about the kinds of programs, information and services they provide. They will also tell you about any laws that may apply—such as whether it is legal to allow an unsterilized cat to roam outside. Find out if there are any animal rescue groups. What help do they offer? Are they for dogs and cats, cats only, feral cats only? Talk to your veterinarian, the local veterinary association (if there is one) or other veterinarians in the area who may work with animal groups or provide special help themselves. Many veterinary clinics will foster some cats or help you find them a home. Check for local and regional organizations through Internet resources such as Pets911 and Petfinder. See if there is a Petco, PETsMART or other pet supply store that works with local groups to do adoptions. They will be able to put you in touch with people who can help.

Now that you know what kind of help is available (or not), you can make some decisions about the cat or kittens you have seen. Your choices become: 1) trying to get them adopted; 2) bringing them to a shelter or veterinarian; or 3) trapping them, getting them spayed or neutered, vaccinated and ear-tipped, and returning them to their original location. Please don’t wait for someone else to do something.

Many feral cats will never make good pets. That’s why they are generally euthanized when brought into shelters or trapped by animal control. Kittens less than about eight weeks of age can be socialized and can become good pets. This takes time and some expertise, but there is a lot of information on the Internet and in books. Sometimes, a cat may seem wild but is just frightened and will calm down with a few days of food and care. Keep in mind that any frightened or angry cat can bite or scratch. And cat bites often become infected, sometimes seriously so.

Trapping, neutering and returning cats to their original location can be an effective and humane solution as well, depending on the specific circumstances. Neutered cats living in relatively safe locations with concerned caregivers can live for many years, well into their teens. Caregivers provide food, water and shelter; monitor for new cats who move into the area and need to be adopted or neutered and returned; and keep track of the current cats so that any health problems can be dealt with. Caregivers often develop strong relationships with their cats, and even feral cats may become more social with their own familiar caregiver.

There are many options for what you can do even if there are relatively sparse resources in your area. The choice for you and the cat you find under your porch will depend on the cat, your interest, local laws, local resources, and the specific location. I encourage you to do something. Doing nothing accomplishes just that: nothing.

HSUS Editor’s note: Margaret R. Slater’s Community Approaches to Feral Cats: Problems, Alternatives & Recommendations has just been published by the Humane Society Press. The book looks at cooperative measures between animal care and control professionals and local residents to manage feral cat populations. Slater is an associate professor of epidemiology in the departments of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health and Small Medicine and Surgery in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University.