what to do when taking in a stray cat

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Taking in a stray cat is a slap-up way to adopt a new pet that otherwise may never have a practiced dwelling. Before y'all decide to adopt the pet equally your own, make certain that it doesn't have an possessor. If the cat doesn't have a abode, vaccinate it, treat any injuries or illnesses, and then slowly introduce it to your home. It can take a while for the cat to get used to a new environment, but the procedure is incredibly rewarding.

1. 1

   Feed the true cat outside if it won't come inside. Stray cats are often shy and won't come up inside near people. Place a bowl of true cat food outside at the same time each twenty-four hours. This helps to get the stray cat used to the routine.^[1]

   • If the cat won't swallow the food, endeavour placing the bowl further away from the house.
   • Try feeding the true cat different types of food, such every bit cat biscuits or packets of cat food. These can be purchased from a pet store. If the cat has been on the streets for a long fourth dimension, information technology may not be used to typical foods and volition take a while to get used to its new diet.

2. ii

   Bring the food inside once the true cat is comfortable eating near the firm. Identify the bowl of food within the front door and ensure that nobody is around to scare the cat. If y'all have any other pets in the house, lock them in a carve up room for 10-fifteen infinitesimal while the true cat eats.^[two]

   • Continue to feed the cat at the aforementioned time of twenty-four hours. This will help to increase the chances of the cat coming inside.

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3. 3

   Shut the door behind the true cat while it is eating. Shut all the windows and doors in the house to stop the true cat from escaping. It is likely that the cat will hide for a little while once information technology realises that the front door is closed. This is normal behaviour for a stray cat and overtime, it will slowly get more confident.

   • If the cat makes loud noises, starts clawing at furniture, or is terrified of people, this may indicate that it is feral. In this scenario, it is best to open up the door and let the cat outside.

4. four

   Isolate the stray cat from other pets until information technology is tested and vaccinated by a vet. Stray cats are often non vaccinated, which means that they can pass on diseases to other pets in the house. Keep the stray cat in a comfy contained space with plenty of food, water, and airflow.^[three] Have any items out of the room that could fall off shelves or tables and injure the cat.^[4]

   • Launder your hands after touching the stray cat to avoid passing on any germs to other pets in your house.
   • Talk to the true cat regularly while it is in an isolated room. This will aid it go used to y'all.
   • Brand sure the cat has a tray of litter in the room in case they accept to relieve themselves.

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1. 1

   Take the cat to a vet to check if information technology has a microchip. If the true cat has a microchip, this means that it has had an owner at some point. Inquire the vet to give you a copy of the contact details of the most recent owner of the cat or encounter if the vet can contact them for you. Contact the possessor to ensure that they don't want the cat and that they are happy for you lot to adopt it.

   • A vet will typically accuse around $fifty for an appointment, merely most will scan devious cats for free. Contact your local vet to receive a quote.
   • If the true cat won't get into its carrier, place a basin of food into the cage to tempt the cat within.

2. 2

   Post a pic of the cat effectually your neighborhood to find its owner. Take a photograph of the cat and place information technology on a local customs notice board and on social media. Write a detailed description of where you found the cat and note any distinguishing features or markings. Include your contact details on the observe and then that the true cat's owner can contact you.

   • In many states you are legally required to take practical measures to ensure that a stray true cat doesn't have an owner before taking it in, even if the cat isn't microchipped.
   • Go along the cat inside while you look for its owner.

3. three

   Consider that the true cat is a stray if you tin can't find its owner after vii days. If the microchip doesn't be and the owner cannot be traced, it is safe to presume that the cat is a stray. Avoid welcoming the true cat into your dwelling until you lot are sure that it is a stray, as this is illegal in some localities.

4. four

   Ask the vet to vaccinate the cat and give it a checkup. ^[5] Stray cats are ofttimes unvaccinated and normally take fleas. Ask the vet to check for fleas, worms, infections, injuries, and diseases, and to prescribe any necessary medications. Keep the cat isolated from other animals until it is gratuitous from any parasites or illnesses.^[half-dozen]

   • Ask the vet if the cat has been neutered.

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1. ane

   Talk to the cat while you pat it to assist it bond with you. Speak in a soft phonation while y'all gently stroke the cat. Over time, the cat will get used to your voice and scent and will be less afraid of being touched. Don't worry if the cat won't let you lot impact them very oftentimes at first, this is normal behaviour for a stray cat.^[7]

   • If the cat won't let you bear on them, don't strength information technology. Continue to talk softly to it until it is ready to let you stroke it.^[eight]

2. 2

   Avert eye contact with the true cat to help gain its trust. Many stray cats will translate direct centre contact as threatening. Look briefly at the cat and so close your optics or shift your gaze away. This will help the cat to feel rubber and calm in its new environs.^[9]

   • Over time, slowly increase the amount of centre contact that you give your cat.
   • If you accidentally stare at the true cat, simply shut your optics for a few seconds and slowly plow your head abroad.

3. 3

   Keep a regular feeding schedule to show the cat that y'all're reliable. Feed your cat at the aforementioned time each day. This demonstrates to your true cat that y'all are a trustworthy source of food and will aid it to bail with you.^[ten]

   • If the cat won't eat the food you lot give information technology, endeavour unlike cat food brands until yous find one that it likes.
   • Your cat will be calmer and less erratic with a regular feeding schedule.

4. four

   Introduce other pets to the cat slowly. If you take multiple pets in your dwelling house, the stray cat may feel overwhelmed. Bring one animal into the cat's room at a time to allow them to slowly get acquainted. Once both animals seem comfortable, introduce another fauna. Go on to repeat this process until all your pets are comfortable beingness in the aforementioned infinite together.^[11]

   • If your other pets don't unremarkably answer well to new animals, place them in their deport pocketbook for 15 minutes in the stray true cat'south room. This will help them to get used to each other very slowly.

5. 5

   Permit your true cat outside afterwards 3 weeks if you don't want information technology to exist an inside cat. This fourth dimension inside allows it to bond with your family and pets and will help it to remember to render dwelling house once it is let exterior. Let the cat outside on a warm dry out day and ensure that information technology is hungry. This helps to encourage the cat to come up home to eat.^[12]

   • If the cat is scared to go exterior, walk beside it to help reassure information technology.
   • Most vets recommend keeping the cat inside.

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Add New Question

• Question

  Should I let a devious cat into my house?

  

  Francine Miller is an Applied Animal Beliefs Counselor and Founder of Phone call Ms Behaving, a behavior counseling service for dogs and cats in San Diego, California. With over 16 years of feel, Francine specializes in treating behavior problems such as assailment, separation feet, phobias, fearfulness reactions, destructiveness, urine marking, and compulsive behaviors. She uses a behavioral direction and modification program that is positive reinforcement only. She holds a Diploma in Canine Behavior Counseling from the American College of Engineering science (ACAS). Francine has completed all coursework toward an MS in Practical Brute Behavior Science and Family Counseling for Companion Animals from the American Higher of Applied Scientific discipline (ACAS). She is a certified Associate of the International Clan of Animal Beliefs Consultants (IAABC) and a member of the Pet Professional person Social club.

  

  Certified Animal Behavior Advisor

  Expert Answer

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this skilful answer.

  Many stray cats are able to accommodate to living indoors and can go wonderful pets. Earlier you bring a devious cat indoors, you should always accept it to the vet get-go to make sure it doesn't have whatever underlying health issues.

• Question

  Tin you lot domesticate a stray true cat?

  

  This answer was written by ane of our trained squad of researchers who validated information technology for accurateness and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Respond

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched answer.

  Some stray cats take already lived with humans, then they're already well socialized and ready to be in a loving home. If the stray hasn't lived with humans before but is even so a kitten or a very young developed, it may not take long for the cat to become friendly and tame. Older cats who aren't used to being around humans tin can be a lot trickier—you'll demand to be very patient and requite them lots of time to learn to trust yous. Be prepared for the possibility that your new friend may never exist fully socialized.

• Question

  Exercise stray cats acquit diseases?

  

  This reply was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accurateness and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

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  They can, yes. For this reason, e'er be careful when handling a stray true cat. Always wash your hands after touching the cat, and become medical assist immediately if you get scratched or bitten. If you programme to adopt a stray, accept the true cat to the vet right away for an exam and tests to make sure it doesn't have any serious wellness problems.

• Question

  What do you lot do if you lot discover a hurt devious cat?

  

  This answer was written past one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

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  If the cat is friendly, carefully put it in a cat carrier and bring it to the vet for an exam and treatment. If yous can't handle the cat safely, phone call local animal control or a feral true cat rescue system in your area. They can ship someone to assistance capture the cat and get it to a vet.

• Question

  I accept food out in that location for a devious and some water. What else should I do?

  

  Make a shelter for it.

• Question

  I found a cat and her kittens nether my porch. Should I as well take the kittens into the vet? I'm just worried it'll be plush for all 5 kittens.

  

  The weather is an important factor in this. If it is warm, only not too hot, and the kittens are not dehydrated or emaciated, then they will probably be fine, but they could accept ticks or fleas, which would be problematic for their health. Ask your vet if he'll disbelieve looking at them, since they're strays and you're doing a good act looking after them.

• Question

  My Siamese cat is a girl and and so is my stray cat. My Siamese does non like the stray cat even after a month of introducing them. What can I do?

  

  Requite the cats some more time. Don't force per unit area them to go near each and don't feed them virtually each other. Have separate litter boxes and don't requite all the attention to i true cat.

• Question

  My devious is fearful of my other cats and they attack him when I am not in the room. I kept him isolated so they practice not injure him when I am not dwelling. How can I get them to get forth?

  

  Feed your cats together. Start by feeding them in two different corners, and so move them closer until they're comfy. At that place are some more than helpful tips in this article about how to Encourage Multiple Cats to Get Along with Each Other. If cypher works, it might be best to rehome the cat that isn't plumbing fixtures in, merely hopefully it doesn't come up to that.

• Question

  What if my parents don't let the cat come into the house?

  

  You will need to listen to your parents. They may not want the true cat in for reasons such as the possibility of vermin, disease or injury to you lot or the cat. Perhaps they don't like cats. You can attempt talking to them near it and showing them this page on how to rehabilitate a stray true cat, to see if information technology changes their listen. If non, consider making the true cat a home in your yard, if the vet has seen the cat and said it's okay to go along it.

• Question

  Can the devious cat get used to a name?

  

  Most likely, yes, with a little patience and training. Check out this article on How to Teach a Cat to Recognize Its Proper name.

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Article Summary Ten

To accept in a stray cat, start by feeding the cat outside at the aforementioned time every day until it gets comfortable with you. Next, identify the food just inside your front door and so the cat volition enter your domicile. One time it'due south inside, close the door. And so, brand an date with your vet right away and keep the stray isolated from your other pets until it receives vaccinations. Exist sure to ask the vet to scan for a microchip, since the kitty may vest to someone else. For tips on taming the stray, read on!

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