PA Cat Rescue & Community Hub

Found a cat? Start here.

If you’ve found a cat — indoors or outside — and aren’t sure what to do next, this page is designed to help you take the right first steps, in the right order.

You don’t need to know rescue terms.
You don’t need to act immediately.
You just need a clear place to begin.

Before You Do Anything Else

Do not trap, transport, or relocate the cat yet.

In many cases, acting too quickly can make things harder — for the cat and for the people trying to help.

The safest first move is to pause, observe, and connect with local guidance.

This hub exists to help you do exactly that.

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Step 1: Check for Immediate Danger

Take a moment to assess the situation.

You may need urgent help if the cat is:

  • Injured or visibly ill

  • Very young (kittens with OR without a mother present)

  • In immediate danger (traffic, extreme weather, construction, etc.)

If none of these apply, you likely have time to gather information before acting.

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Step 2: Observe the Cat’s Situation

Many cats who appear “stray” are actually:

  • Owned outdoor cats

  • Lost but recently displaced

  • Part of an established community cat colony

Before intervening, notice:

  • Is the cat friendly or fearful?

  • Have you seen the cat around before?

  • Does the cat have an ear tip (a small flat tip on one ear)?

  • Does the cat appear healthy and well-fed?

These details help determine what kind of help is appropriate.

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Step 3: Get Local Guidance & Help

Shelter policies, rescue capacity, and TNR availability vary by county. That’s why the most important step is connecting with resources near you, not following generic advice.

🐾 Find Cat Help Near You Below

This will guide you to:

  • Local rescues and shelters

  • Community cat & TNR programs

  • Low-cost clinics and spay/neuter resources

  • Rescue-led guidance specific to your area

(This is the recommended starting point for most situations.)

About Trapping (Read This First)

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Trapping is not the first step in most cases.

Improper trapping can:

  • Separate owned cats from their families

  • Disrupt managed colonies

  • Cause unnecessary stress or injury

When trapping is appropriate, it’s usually done with support from a rescue or TNR group who can:

  • Confirm that trapping is needed

  • Provide or loan proper equipment

  • Coordinate spay/neuter or intake

  • Help plan what happens next

This hub is designed to connect you to those groups before you take that step.

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Community Cats & TNR Support

Not every outdoor cat needs to be removed.

Many outdoor cats are part of managed community cat populations where Trap–Neuter–Return (TNR) helps:

  • Prevent more kittens

  • Improve cat health

  • Reduce nuisance behaviors

  • Keep cats stable in familiar environments

If you’re caring for an outdoor cat or colony, local TNR programs can help assess the situation and guide next steps.

Find Help Near You in Pennsylvania

If you’re ready to take the next step, start with resources closest to you.

Below you’ll find Pennsylvania-based cat rescues, shelters, and community cat/TNR support organized by county. These are the groups best equipped to advise you on what to do next — based on your location and the cat’s situation.

Start with your county below.
You can explore additional options as needed.

  • Adams County

  • Allegheny County

  • Armstrong County

  • Beaver County

  • Bedford County

  • Berks County

  • Blair County

  • Bradford County

  • Bucks County

  • Butler County

  • Cambria County

  • Cameron County

  • Carbon County

  • Centre County

  • Chester County

  • Clarion County

  • Clearfield County

  • Clinton County

  • Columbia County

  • Crawford County

  • Cumberland County

  • Dauphin County

  • Delaware County

  • Elk County

  • Erie County

  • Fayette County

  • Forest County

  • Franklin County

  • Fulton County

  • Greene County

  • Huntingdon County

  • Indiana County

  • Jefferson County

  • Juniata County

  • Lackawanna County

  • Lancaster County

  • Lawrence County

  • Lebanon County

  • Lehigh County

  • Luzerne County

  • Lycoming County

  • McKean County

  • Mercer County

  • Mifflin County

  • Monroe County

  • Montgomery County

  • Montour County

  • Northampton County

  • Northumberland County

  • Perry County

  • Philadelphia County

  • Pike County

  • Potter County

  • Schuylkill County

  • Snyder County

  • Somerset County

  • Sullivan County

  • Susquehanna County

  • Tioga County

  • Union County

  • Venango County

  • Warren County

  • Washington County

  • Wayne County

  • Westmoreland County

  • Wyoming County

  • York County