Stray Cat

[CagneyDog]

Hi Everyone,

I need some advice on a stray cat that has been hanging around me school for the last few weeks. First you should know that I don't know ANYTHING about cats, so thats why im asking you guys questions that probably seem very stupid

Anyways, the cat is gorgeous, it has blue eyes and really neat markings. I isn't very social but I've touched its back before but it didnt stick around for long. I left some milk and water out for it but I have no idea if it had some. So first of all, I'm wandering if there is some kind of food, or snack that the cat will be really attracted to,? I want to get it comfortable with me because I can't help it if it doesn't want to come close to me. Also, Should I leave milk out for it, or just water? Is there anything else I should be doing to make it comfortable with me?

I'm worried about it in the winter, it has already snowed here but the snow melted quickly. There is going to be at least a few weeks in winter that it is going to get down to at least -30. Do you think this cat will make it through this?

[lady_zana]

Try wet food. That's what my sister has used with the five stray kittys that are now her friendly pets.

Don't leave out milk. Milk can actually hurt little kitty tummys, especially if it's not watered down. The cat will appreciate the water though.

Try talking to the kitty. In really friendly voice, just talk to the kitty saying things like good kitty, nice kitty. Tell it anything, just keep your voice friendly and appealing.

Also, the last time I was helping rescue a stray kitty, someone told me to meow to it. I tried this and it worked really well! (Of course it convinced my neighbors that I was, in fact, a loon as I was meowing outside in my jammies at two in the morning....but the kitty enjoyed it!)

Hold out your hand to it so it can sniff you before you pet it. It'll want to know who you are and where you've been.

Try making it a cat bed it can sleep in. Truly, this never worked with my strays but perhaps you'll have better luck. Covering a box with plastic for insulation (leave a cat flap so kitty can come in and out) and place some straw in the bottom of it. Hopefully it'll sleep where you know it'll be warm until you can bring it inside.

If worst comes to worst, you can always buy a small trap at your local farm and feed store. My sister bought one and set food and water inside of it to lure the kitty in. She found out it worked well pretty quickly. She caught one of her own kitties...twice!

If you do trap the kitty, bring it inside and leave him in the cage for a few days, in a room where no other animal can get to it. After a few days, when the kitty is more tame, try letting it out but only in that room.

Good luck! I hope that helps; I've not had very much experience with strays but my sister has caught five and now they're her loving little furry monsters. Those are some of the tricks she used and they seemed to work pretty well for her.

Let us know how it turns out.

[QueenScoopalot]

I would keep giving the cat water (not milk) and bring a small bag of dry food along with you to leave for the cat as well. If you put out food at the same time every day, the cat will likely be waiting at that time. Are there any homes nearby? It's possible the cats and outdoor cat. Can you make up some fliers to post around if so? Call area shelters, and vets to see if perhaps somebody reported the cat as missing, and also place an ad in the newspaper under Lost & Found....most papers do this for free. Never describe the cat 100% but word it so the 'rightful owner' has to tell YOU details about the cats markings. This assures the person is genuine, and not grabbing the cat to sell to laboratories, or for fighting dog bait. Get the cat on a waiting list at shelters you contact as well. Many are overfilled, and unlikey to take cats until others are adopted to make space. Do you know anybody who's willing to house the cat until space opens in a shelter? Please try to get the cat into a safe haven before Winter strikes. It may not survive it. Keep us posted, and good luck, and also thanks for helping the cat...sounds like a beauty.

[catmandu]

If there is a Pet Food Store near you,they will have free samples of premium food there.
I would take some,and leave them,with a wated dish,and an Old Towel,so that poor Starry Cat,will have something nice to sleep on.
A Can of Tuna would certainly attract his attention,just a little bit,to tempt him. And the most imprtant things to et him approach you,sohe feels confident.
Thats how, I now have the Friendship of Scrappy 2,my Kitten.

[G535]

I'd also check carefully to make sure that he doesn't live nearby, nothing worse than taking someone else's cat. Yes I know he should be kept inside but unfortunately not everybody does this.