Finding a stray cat or a group of stray cats can be overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure of the proper steps to take. Due to Georgia State Department of Agriculture regulations, private rescues like Furballs of Atlanta (FBOA) cannot directly accept stray or unclaimed animals—with the exception of neonatal kittens (bottle babies) without their mother, as they are highly vulnerable in shelter environments.

If you’ve found a stray cat, here’s what you can do to help while following state guidelines:

Step 1: Report the Stray Cat(s) to Local Animal Control or County Shelter

The first and most important step is to report the cat(s) to your local Animal Control or County Animal Shelter.

• Be polite, patient, and compassionate—many shelters are understaffed and overcrowded.

• If possible, include clear photos of the cat(s) in your report (if submitting via email).

• Offer assistance—such as transporting the cat yourself or donating toward their care.

⚠️ Important Note: Many shelters may not accept cats unless they are severely injured or sick. If you can’t reach them by phone or email, consider safely trapping the cat(s) and bringing them to the shelter during operating hours for assessment.

Step 2: Check for a Microchip & Consider TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return)

If the shelter cannot take the cat(s), your next steps are:

1. Take the cat to a vet clinic, shelter, or pet store (like PetSmart with Banfield) to scan for a microchip.

2. If no microchip is found and the cat is feral/unfriendly, consider TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) through a low-cost spay/neuter clinic.

   • You must commit to trapping, transporting, and releasing the cat back to its original location (if safe).

   • Never abandon a cat at a clinic—this is illegal and puts the cat at risk.

Step 3: Foster & Rehome (If the Cat Is Friendly)

If the cat is socialized and adoptable, you can:

✅ Foster temporarily while searching for a permanent home.
✅ Post on adoption platforms like:

• Nextdoor

• Local Facebook groups

• Adopt-a-Pet

• Petfinder

⚠️ Critical Safety Tip:

• Never give a cat away for free—charge a rehoming fee to deter bad actors.

• Screen adopters carefully—ask for vet references, visit their home or require an adoption form.

Step 4: Reach Out to Rescues for Surrender Options

If you can no longer foster, fill out a surrender form or contact other rescues for intake availability. Be aware that many rescues are full, so persistence and patience are key.

Final Reminder: It Takes a Village!

Helping stray cats requires teamwork—whether through TNR, fostering, or networking for adoptions. Every effort counts in giving these cats a better future.

Need more resources? Check with local TNR groups, low-cost vet clinics, and rescue networks for support.

Thank you for caring for Georgia’s stray cats! 🐾💜

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes. Always follow local and state laws regarding stray animals.

Animal Control Directory:

Fulton County

Managed by Lifeline

Fulton County Animal Services
1251 Fulton Industrial Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30336
404-613-0358 (Option 2) / pethelp@fultonanimalservices.com

Lifeline Community Animal Center
3180 Presidential Drive
Atlanta, GA 30340
404-292-8800 / info@lifelineanimal.org

Clayton County

Note: Clayton County enforces a ‘no pick up’ policy that prohibits the at random pick-up of reported stray cats. Individuals who want to get help, must trap the cat(s) and personally bring them to the Animal Control Headquarters or Adoption Center. The county offers the option to loan traps; however, availability is limited. It is recommended to call ahead to check if a trap is ready for use, especially if you do not own a humane trap or are unable to purchase one. Additionally, some cats may be very friendly and can be easily caught and placed into a carrier without the need for a trap.

Managed by Captain Nicholas Gailey / Nicholas.Gailey@claytoncountyga.gov / Captain Kevin Hughes Kevin.Hughes@claytoncountyga.gov

Animal Control Headquarters
1396 Government Circle
Jonesboro, GA 30236
770-477-3509 / rescue.coordinator@claytoncountyga.gov

Animal Control Adoption Center
3199 Anvil Block Road
Ellenwood, GA 30294
770-347-0210

Dekalb County

Managed by Lifeline

Dekalb County Animal Services
3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Chamblee, GA 30341
404-294-2996 (Option 2) / info@dekalbanimalservices.com / pethelp@dekalbanimalservices.com / Submit ‘Animal Service Request’ Form

Fayette County

Tracy Thompson, Animal Control Director / Tthompson@fayettecountyga.gov

Fayette County Animal Shelter
1131 Hwy 74 S
Peachtree City, GA 30269
770-631-7210 / animalshelter@fayettecountyga.gov

Cobb County

Note: Animal intake stops at 4 p.m. daily.

Stephen Hammond, Animal Control Director / Stephen.Hammond@cobbcounty.org

Cobb County Animal Services
1060 Al Bishop Drive
Marietta, GA 30008
770-499-4136 / control@cobbcounty.org

Gwinnett County

The Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center is an open-admissions shelter, which accepts most lost, stray, or surrendered animals.

Katrina Helman, Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement Division Director

Animal Intake Hours
Monday – Thursday: 11:00am – 5:00pm
Friday – Saturday: 11:00am – 3:00pm
Sunday: Closed

Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center
884 Winder Highway
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
770-339-3200 / animalwelfare@gwinnettcounty.com

Henry County

Michael Hobgood, Director of Animal Control (mhobgood@co.henry.ga.us) / Dava Biles, Assistant Director (davabiles@co.henry.ga.us)

Monday through Friday
9:00 am to 4:30 pm

Closed on weekends

Henry County Animal Shelter
527 Hampton Rd
McDonough, GA 30253
770-288-7387 / hcacc@co.henry.ga.us

Cherokee County

Renae Goggans, Director of Animal Shelter

Open Tuesday-Saturday from 10AM-4PM

Cherokee County Animal Shelter
1015 Univeter Rd
Canton, GA 30115
770- 345-7270 / 678-493-6200

Cherokee County Intake Center
131 Chattin Drive
Canton, GA 30115
678-493-4387

Forsyth County

Haley Brown, Animal Services Supervisor

Forsyth County Animal Services
4057 County Way
Cumming, GA 30028
770-781-2138 (Option 5)

Forsyth County Pet Resource Center
4065 County Way
Cumming, GA 30028
678-965-7185 (Animal Shelter) / animalshelterinfo@forsythco.com

Douglas County

Vanessa Francikowski, Director of Animal Shelter (vfrancikowski@douglascountyga.gov)

Open Tuesday-Saturday from 10AM to 5:30PM

Note: Please email animalshelter@co.douglas.ga.us to schedule an appointment for stray drop offs to ensure that someone will be available to serve you.

Douglas County Animal Services
2171 Mack Rd
Douglasville, GA 30135
770-942-5961 (Option 2) / animalshelter@co.douglas.ga.us

Rockdale County

Sharon Webb, Director of Animal Services Divisions

Rockdale County Animal Services
1506 Rockbridge Road
Conyers, GA 30012
770-278-8403 / acadmin@rockdalecountyga.gov