#The stray cat how to#

To do this, open a small gap in the trap door and slide in a little food and water on a plastic lid, without putting your hand inside.

Feed kittens shortly after they wake up, and adult cats eight hours after they wake up.

Monitor the cat closely: X Research source Keep the room as quiet as possible and do not allow any other people or pets to enter. Keep the trap or cage covered and move it to a temperature-controlled room, since cats recovering from anesthesia cannot regulate body temperature. Cats usually need 24 hours to recover from the surgery, but some females take 48. If the cat has no collar and it has not meowed or approached you, check for signs of a feral.

There is a significant risk of injury if the cat is actually feral.

(You may be able to ignore a brief hiss as long as it doesn't continue or escalate into a growl.) Most strays will allow you to touch them once they've calmed down, and virtually all will give a warning signal if they are uncomfortable. Pay attention to the cat's body language. Go slowly, as the cat may have a sensitive injury. If the cat approaches, try slowly petting the shoulder blades, or whichever area the cat rubs against you. Eventually, you may be able to bring your hand near enough that the cat will smell it. Repeat, bringing your hand closer as the cat allows. Do not throw the treat or extend your fingers. Get the treat as close to the cat as you can before it cringes, growls, or otherwise acts threatened. Once you're at this point, slowly extend your hand to place an extra-tasty treat near the cat. It may take two or three weeks of several brief, daily interactions before the cat acts calm and eats well around you.

#The stray cat how to#

X Research source Learn more about how to handle the animal, along with other ways to confirm that it really is feral. A feral (untamed) cat typically stays in the far back of the cage, may shake or bang the walls, and ignores toys and people.X Research source Continue on for advice on finding the owner or adopting it yourself. It may eventually relax, come up to the front of the cage, or investigate toys or people that come near the cage. A stray pet tends to have a dirty coat, and a tendency to meow and make eye contact.Minimize the amount of time the cat has to wait, as this is extremely stressful for the animal. Keep the cat in the trap in a quiet, dark area while it waits. If you do not plan to look after the cat at home, arrange in advance for a shelter or animal control agency to pick up the cat.Make a decision based on the shelter's response and on the cat's appearance: In some areas, you are required to take lost pets to a shelter so the owner has a chance to find it.

Once you have captured the cat, contact a local shelter to ask about local laws. In exceptionally cold weather, cover the trap with a sheet or towel, then heap snow over this covering to help keep the cat warm and calmer once it has been trapped.ĭecide what to do with the cat once it is trapped.Too much food will create a mess if the cat panics and scatters it or vomits.It's better to risk the plate not going off, since you can put out more bait and try again. If the cat triggers it prematurely and escapes, it may never come back. Do not set the trip plate on a hair trigger.Herring, mackerel, or sardines canned in oil (but not pickled) are excellent choices. Bait the trap with a small amount of strong-smelling food. Cover the trip plate and wire bottom of the trap with newspaper, so that the cat won't instinctively avoid stepping on the trip plate. X Expert Source Carrie Seay, MS-CABAC, KPA-CTP, CBCC-KAįeline Behavior Consultant Expert Interview. If you would rather catch the cat yourself, buy a humane cat trap from a hardware store, or ask animal control if they have any available for loan.