How to Catch and Win the Trust of a Stray Cat
Cats are fascinating creatures. They are independent, curious, and make great companions.
However, sometimes cats may end up on the streets, and if they are strays, they might be difficult to bring to a shelter or a new home. Nevertheless, it is possible to catch and win the trust of a stray cat to provide them with medical attention, food, and shelter.
In this article, we will discuss the steps to take in catching a stray cat and winning their trust with food.
Catching a Stray Cat
Identifying the Cat’s Needs
Before attempting to catch a stray cat, it’s important to identify their needs. For example, a cat that used to have an owner might need medical attention, while a feral cat might need somewhere private to hide.
You can best determine a cat’s need by observing them from a distance. Check for any visible injuries, if they are thin and looking unkempt, or if they seem uninterested or jumpy.
Once you have identified the cat’s needs, you can proceed to lure them out.
Luring the Cat Out of Hiding
Stray cats that are hungry or thirsty are more likely to come out of hiding. However, it might take time before they trust you enough to take food from your hand.
So, it’s important that you use patience and persistence to lure the cat out. Find a secluded location where you can place food without too much traffic, preferably close to the cat’s hiding spot.
You can use strong-smelling food such as canned tuna or anchovies to attract the cat. Also, consider building trust by staying nearby as they eat.
Over time, they will grow to associate you with a positive experience and come closer to you.
Catching the Cat
When they are comfortable enough to approach you, you can move the food closer to a trap or a cat carrier. Consider using a humane trap or TNRM program to catch the cat as it is less likely to cause them harm.
Place the trap close to where you have been feeding them, so it’s easier for them to enter. When the cat is caught, bring them to the vet to get a full check-up and diagnosis.
Winning the Cat’s Trust with Food
Consistently Feeding the Cat
Once you have caught the cat, you can start winning their trust by consistently feeding them at the same spot and the same time each day. The feeding routine will help in building trust and reliability with the cat.
By doing this, they will start to associate you with food and feel more comfortable around you.
Using Treats to Attract the Cat
In addition to the regular food, use treats to attract the cat and make them feel comfortable around you. Baby food, cooked chicken, and sardines are some of the treats you can use.
Further, try using catnip to entice them to play, as this will help them to build a strong bond with you.
Moving the Food Closer to the Cat Carrier
To encourage the cat to enter a carrier, move the food closer to it. However, this should be done gradually over a few days, so the cat does not feel threatened.
Once the cat trusts you enough to eat in the carrier, gradually start closing the door for short periods while they eat. Over time they will grow to feel safe and comfortable entering the carrier.
Conclusion
Catching and winning the trust of a stray cat is an easy process, but it takes time, patience, and persistence. The key is to identify the cat’s needs, provide them with a consistent feeding routine, use treats to attract them, and gradually move the food closer to the cat carrier.
Once caught, a stray cat can be taken to the vet, and once they receive medical attention, they can thrive in a new home. With these steps, you can make sure that the stray cat is safe, well-fed, and ultimately cared for properly.
Seeking Help from the Community
Taking care of a stray cat can be a very rewarding experience, but it can also be challenging. Stray cats can be very skittish and hard to catch, especially if they are injured or sick.
In such cases, it is important to reach out to the community for help. Organization such as a TNRM program or a local shelter can provide essential assistance in caring for the stray cat.
This article will discuss further how to reach out for help from such organizations, handle any injuries or medical issues, and how to reunite a cat with its owner.
Contacting a TNRM program or Shelter
Trap-Neuter-Return-Maintain programs (TNRM) and shelters are two great resources to consider if you’re struggling to control a stray cat population in your neighborhood. TNRM programs focus on neutering or spaying the cats to control the population and return them to the community, while shelters can provide assistance with not only population control, but also with fostering until they can be adopted.
Before contacting these organizations, it’s important to do some research into what is available in your area. Once you’ve identified a suitable organization, get in touch to see what help they can offer.
TNRM programs can provide information on trap training and trapping recommendations, while shelters can offer advice on capturing and caring for the cats.
Handling Injured or Compromised Cats
In some cases, stray cats may be injured, sick, or in need of medical attention. It’s important to keep a close eye on the cats around you, so you can offer help when necessary.
In situations where the cat needs medical attention, take them to the vet immediately. If the cat is particularly skittish, contact a local organization such as the TNRM program or shelter to help you safely catch the cat.
Depending on the severity and nature of the injury, the cat may require a few days or even weeks to fully recover. During this time, make sure they are comfortable and have enough food and water.
After the cat has fully recovered, consider neutering or spaying to help control the population.
Checking for a Microchip and Finding the Owner
Even though stray cats may be lost, there is always a chance that they have a microchip with their owner’s information. If you come across a stray cat, take it to the vet or shelter to get checked for a microchip.
If there is a chip, you can contact the owner and reunite them with their cat. If there isn’t a microchip available, there are other ways to try and locate the owner.
Check local social media pages and bulletin boards to see if anyone is missing a cat, or contact the local animal control department. They may have information about cats that have recently gone missing or have been abandoned in the area.
If the owner can’t be found, consider fostering the cat until a new home can be found.
Conclusion
Caring for and controlling stray cats can be a challenge, but with the help of a TNRM program or shelter, it becomes a much more manageable task. These resources can help you with trapping and neutering the cats, as well as providing medical assistance when necessary.
If you come across a stray cat, check for a microchip, and reach out to the community for assistance in finding the owner or fostering the cat until a new home can be found. With a collaborative effort, we can ensure that stray cats receive the care and love they need.
Caring for stray cats requires patience, compassion, and community support. One way to seek assistance is by contacting a TNRM program or local shelter.
TNRM programs help manage cat populations by neutering and spaying cats and returning them to the community. Shelters not only provide population control but also offer foster care to stray cats.
Stray cats may require medical attention, and it is crucial to take them to a vet or seek help from a shelter or TNRM program. Checking for a microchip and reuniting the cat with its owner is another way to help, or fostering the cat until a new home can be found.
Ultimately, it is important to work together as a community to care for our feline friends and provide them with the care they need.