Is It Possible To Adopt A Stray Cat?

There are plenty of stray animals in the country and unfortunately most of them do not get to live long due to the risks of life as a stray and in some cases they are taken to a shelter where it can be a bit hard to get them adopted. Because of the problems finding them homes a lot of them are euthanized. Animal lovers of course may want to do something about that so they look into the possibility of taking a stray in. The good news is that though it can take some time and patience it is still possible to adopt a stray, but there are some risks associated with it and it is only fair that you know them.

Feeding

The first thing that you need to do is to get the stray cat to trust you. Trust is very important if you are going to be able to complete the process. One of the best ways to get the trust is through the stomach. That means that you should start a feeding ritual. Try to set feeding times and stick to them. The cat should start recognizing feeding times and eventually associating you with food. After a few days when you place the food in the normal location you should stay nearby, but not so near that the stray cat is intimidated by you. You should give it a good ten feet distance in order for him to be comfortable. After a few days you can start trying to get closer, but always take the comfort of the feline into consideration.

Some cats will trust you a lot faster than others so try not to put too much pressure at first. Some of them have had bad interactions with humans and that can make them really hesitant, and that is why you need a lot of patience. If he/she had an owner before it is more likely that they will trust you faster. If not it can take months of dedication in your part. Once the cat trusts you enough to allow petting you are really close but not there yet.

Once In The House

When the stray allows you to take him into the house you should make sure that there is no stressful situations. Make the room as quiet as possible and allow the cat to explore the surroundings. Sometimes they will go under your furniture and not come out. Try not to force the stray to come out; this is a new scenery for him/her. One stray that I adopted took three days to come out and it did so because of hunger. Let the cat come to you when it is ready and make sure that you keep making the feedings a regular thing. Have a box of kitty litter already in the house so they can make their way there when needed. The relationship you are developing will take time, but eventually it will be a very rewarding one.