Tips for adopting a stray cat

Have you become fond of a stray cat Who visits your garden and have you decided to adopt it? Whether it is this motive or another has been the cause that has led you to make this decision, we want to congratulate you for the great step you are going to take.

Although we know that cats are born survivors, their quality of life will be significantly increased if they have a home to live, care, love and quality food. However, and especially if the cat is an adult, we must follow a series of steps to get it to adapt as best as possible to our house. Keep reading and discover our Tips for adopting a stray cat.

Take it to the vet

If you have decided to adopt a stray cat, without a doubt, the first thing you should do is take it to a veterinarian. Whether it is a puppy or an adult, the cat must be examined by a specialist to find out if he has contracted any disease, has fleas, is injured or suffers any other health problem.

Keep in mind that the cat has been exposed to all kinds of dangers, among which the fights between cats, food intake in poor condition, intoxication by repellent products for cats, blows caused by cars or other vehicles, etc. stand out. So he could have been infected with leukemia, distemper, suffering from poisoning, having AIDS, and a long list of pathologies that only a veterinarian can identify and treat.

Also, remember that your new partner requires a series of mandatory vaccines that you must put in order to keep your health in perfect condition, as well as identify it with a microchip to be able to find it if some day it is lost. Finally, you we recommend sterilizing it. Especially if the stray cat is an adult, is used to look for a partner during the heat season, if it is female, or go to the call of a cat, if male. For this, in all probability your cat will escape frequently.

The transporter

Taking your cat to the vet will not be an easy task. To make it as comfortable as possible, you should get a carrier. Also, this tool will also be very useful to take it to your home, if you have not done it yet. Unless it is a puppy, rarely the adult cat that has been living on the street will let you pick him up.

To select the right carrier, it is best to go to the vet and tell him the situation, he will know how to advise you. On the other hand, it is essential that the cat assume the figure of the carrier as a positive element, and not negative. If we force our new cat to enter, you can associate it with negative stimuli and adopt an aggressive attitude every time you see it.

Arm yourself with patience, get food or trinkets for cats and use a soft and kind voice to encourage your cat to enter. You can also introduce inside a toy and leave some food to be entertained during the time that is in the carrier.

Arrival at home

Prepare our house for the arrival of the new member is a crucial step in the adoption of any animal. Cats are much more independent animals than dogs, so it is recommended that your new cat has its own space in the home. In this sense, you have two options: give him an unoccupied room or let him explore freely and let him choose his corner. When something of your daily routine varies, the cat tends to hide and go through its own process of adaptation. And, of course, adopting it and offering it a new home is a big change for him. Hence the importance of having a corner or room for him alone.

The basic utensils What every cat should have at home are the following:

• Food and water. Depending on the age and weight of your cat, you must select one type of food or another. See our article on proper nutrition for cats and provide the diet you need. However, if your stray cat is an adult, during the first few days it is advisable that you acquire wet food, with a much more appetizing smell that will catch your attention quickly and favor your adaptation to the new environment. Remember: food will be your great ally to earn your trust. Also, if you have selected the space your new partner will occupy, place the bowls of water and food in it so that it approaches and begins to become familiar. Otherwise, if you prefer to explore and it is he who chooses his corner, leave the food in a visible place; When you have decided which is your favorite space, place the bowls there.
• Sandbox. Remember that cats are extremely neat animals, so you should not place the bowls of water and food near the litter box. Although they share a room, there must be some space between them.
• Bed for sleeping. After a period of time living in the street, your cat will appreciate that you provide a comfortable and soft bed to sleep. Leave it close to the food and, also, away from the litter box.
• Scrapers. Cats are animals that are characterized by sharp nails, and they love having them well cared for and prepared to defend themselves if they feel threatened. Therefore, make a scraper is essential for them to be filed and avoid causing damage to furniture or you.

Let your stray cat get used to his new home and do not be surprised if the first few days he prefers not to leave his room or corner, he needs to find his stability and feel safe. Enter your space several times and share moments with him so that he knows you and begins to trust you, always without forcing him. If he does not let you caress him, give him time.

The contact with nature

Especially if the cat you want to adopt is an adult, is used to live in constant contact with nature, to hunt their own food, to interact with other cats, etc. Therefore, you must adapt your new environment to meet that need and maintain your connection with nature.

Look for windows that connect to the outside and place boards so your cat can sit on them and watch the street. If your house has a patio, garden or terrace, decorate it with plants so you can sniff them, explore and notice a little less the home change.

The trees for cats They are extremely useful, because they manage to cover two basic needs for him and for you, his new companion: filing his nails and climbing. On the street, your cat was used to having to climb trees and other structures to observe from a higher perspective what happens on the ground or flee from the dangers that could haunt it.

Finally, to cover your need to hunt you must provide toys designed for that purpose. The cat is an animal with a hunting instinct very developed to ensure its survival, so you will have to acquire hunting toys that also exercise and help channel the energy accumulated during the day. In specialized stores for the sale of products and accessories for pets, you will find a variety of toys that will satisfy this need, such as fake mice or rods with ropes and dolls at the end of it to play with. With this last type of toys, not only will you be able to keep your cat happy, but you will also reinforce your bond with him.

Respect their times

This advice is aimed at adult or elderly stray cats, since the puppy cat can adapt it to your standards without problem. Keep in mind that the street cat is adapted to be the one who imposes its rules, schedules and routines, or to follow other cats more authoritarian than him. Patience and respect is what you need on your part to get used to your new habits and get to turn it into a house cat.

Especially if you have experienced dramatic situations, at first you can be suspicious of yourself and always be on the defensive. For this reason, it is fundamental that we treat it with delicacy, let’s go little by little and do not force it. Let him see how you provide him with food and water so that he associates your presence as something positive and essential to survive. Approach him cautiously, small steps and soft voice. With the passing of the days, each time it will be more receptive and you will be able to increase the approaches.

Respect your time and space. If he is the one who approaches, let him caress you and lie down with you, once you have obtained your confidence and adaptation to the new home, you can start setting standards. Of course, you should not confuse respect with fear. Do not show yourself afraid of him because then he will feel that you are afraid of him and will try to dominate you; He needs a loving, kind and delicate person but at the same time firm and authoritative.

Does the stray cat escape?

With great probability your stray cat will try to escape during the first days in his new house. To avoid this, the first step you should take is keep windows and doors closed. If you have a patio, garden or terrace, you must place a fence high enough so that it does not jump. Remember that it is highly positive that your new partner has the freedom to visit the yard, so denying him entry is not the solution, you should look for an alternative such as fencing.

As discussed in the first section, sterilization considerably reduces the need to escape to reproduce, so do not rule out this option.

Have you already taken these measures and your cat keeps insisting? So what you should do is educate your feline to Take him out for a walk every day. Buy a harness for cats and a leash and adhere to it so that he will pay attention to you during exits. We do not advise you to leave it loose on the street, you can escape again.

Do not hesitate to consult our article about basic cat care and start brushing your coat, take care of your nails, etc., as soon as you have got used to your new home.

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