You've discovered that a stray cat is roaming around your home. You would like to adopt him in order to offer him a better life, but unfortunately he is impossible to approach.
Above all, do not try to catch him by force, you risk making him flee permanently. To do well, arm yourself with patience and follow our 6 tips to adopt a stray cat with confidence.
Tip n°1: Feed him to coax him
The first step to adopting a stray cat is to catch it. The best solution is to feed him. If you bring him food, he should not resist it for long.
Place a bowl of kibble every day at the same time and place. Find a place close enough to home, but not too close so that he is not afraid to come and serve himself.
Once he's done eating, remove it, start over the next day, and let the routine happen. As trust sets in, you will be able to gradually bring the bowl closer to your home.
Then you will put his food in the house to bring him in. Once inside, close the door gently so as not to scare it. Keep him in your home while he gets used to you.
Don't rush it, let it come to you and voila. Throughout the course of this operation, you can also begin to accustom the stray cat to your presence by sitting a few meters from him when he eats, without looking for eye contact that he might consider a threat.
To maximize your chances of success in taming it, keep children and other pets away, too agitated not to scare your future companion.
Sometimes the stray cat may not get used to its new environment and you will have no choice but to give it back its freedom. The ideal is to have it sterilized before releasing it.
You can do even better, by using an association. Thus, even if it will always be a stray cat, it will benefit from its protection and it can legally be fed, even on public roads.
Tip n°2: check that it is indeed a stray cat
Yes, it would be a shame to snatch a cat from a family that loves it!
Check that he does not have a tattoo in his ear, if this is not the case, he can still have a chip and unless you have the device to check it, you will only be able to find out by going to see a veterinarian.
If it is a male, checking if it is castrated will also give you a good clue. There are also ad sites for lost cats, so do not hesitate to go around the web and local shops to check if there is not a small poster in his name!
If there is nothing to suggest that your stray cat already has an owner, then you can consider yourself as his new master after having him identified at the veterinarian so that the adoption is official.
Tip #3: Avoid putting him in contact with other animals in the family
Once in the house, if you have other pets, make sure to establish a quarantine for your new companion by limiting access to certain rooms.
Indeed, a stray cat is more likely to contract diseases that can be extremely contagious to other animals. It would be a shame to have to treat everyone when you could have avoided it.
In addition, this isolation precaution will also prevent him from a possible electrical encounter with the other cat of the family or the dog. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Once you get used to his new home and to you, you can make presentations, under supervision.
Tip n°4: a visit to the veterinarian
Once he is coaxed, your new companion will have to go through the veterinary box. Indeed, the legislation requires that cats be identified, but it will also be necessary to make a "check-up" of your cat to ensure that it is in good health.
It would also be wise to give him the recommended vaccines as well as the antiparasitic treatments (deworming and flea control) necessary for his good health. Finally, it is highly recommended to have it sterilized in order to avoid unwanted litters that would only create new stray cats.
Tip n°5: no outings before three weeks
If you want to make it exclusively an indoor cat, you will have to be more patient, because a cat accustomed to the outside appreciates its freedom. As a result, you may have to experience untimely meows at any time of the game and night and some inappropriate behavior. Don't worry, it should pass him over time, and you can help him by soothing him with your love or hormonal diffusers for example.
If, on the other hand, you plan to have access to the outside, take the time to create a bond between your new four-legged companion before letting him walk alone. It is necessary that he gets used to you and your family (children and animals included). If this bond is not strong enough, he may not come back and resume his life as a stray cat. Three weeks is a minimum for him to take his bearings and know how to return to his new home after an outing.
Tip n°6: Lots of love
Caresses, treats and toys, that's all your new cat will need to feel loved! Do not hesitate to do some game sessions with him using a feather duster or a fishing rod for example, they love it! Do not hesitate, either, to let him enjoy the warmth of your knees in front of the television!
That's it, your stray cat has become your best friend, for your greatest happiness, as for his. But did you know that cats are very social animals and they never say no to a new boyfriend? You know what you have to do if you cross paths with another stray cat!
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