Do you want to adopt a stray cat? It is certainly a very important step and you must take many things into account before making the decision. You surely want your new family member to be happy with you and adapt to his new life as best as possible. That is why, in this article we will tell you all the keys to make the change as bearable as possible for your feline.
Questions and answers about adopting a cat from the street
Why should you adopt a stray baby cat?
The main reason and motive for adopting a stray baby cat is to help reduce the number of abandonments and to offer a street animal the opportunity to live in the safety of a home .
Every year, during spring and summer, which are the breeding months, the number of stray baby cats increases considerably, becoming a problem. For this reason, individuals and concerned shelters dedicate themselves completely altruistically to capturing the cats and sterilizing them ( CES ) to avoid more litters and abandoned cats .
By adopting a stray baby cat you not only promote adoption , but you also prevent the animal from having to face the hard life on the street, the dangers that it entails and, in many cases, death from illness or accident. Despite what many people think, the life of a cat on the street is not easy at all and its life expectancy is much lower than that of a house cat; between 2 and 5 years compared to the 20 that they can live with good care.
By adopting a kitten you will be able to help it adapt better to your home, to the people and other animals it lives with, as it is not yet accustomed to life on the street. In addition, you will be able to educate and socialize it in its first months of life , which are crucial, and shape its character.
How to gain the trust of a stray baby cat?
The answer is quite simple and is valid to gain the trust of any animal, whether puppy or adult: time, space and patience .
Animals always need a period of adaptation that can last more or less time. During this period, you must give them their space and make them feel safe . The kitten must see that you are not a danger and that, on the contrary, you are something very positive for them.
The best way to achieve this is, first, to leave him alone for a few days so that he calms down and feels safe in his new space; then, by giving him treats and games that encourage him to interact with you, he won’t resist! Each cat is a world: some will trust you from the first minute, and others will take days, weeks or even months to feel safe and approach you.
Give your cat the time it needs , always approach it slowly and calmly, with slow movements and a soft voice, and never scold or punish it. Educate it positively by reinforcing good behavior.
Why adopt an adult stray cat?
Unfortunately, adult cats always have a much harder time finding a family than kittens. That’s why we encourage you to consider this option to give a chance to an animal with much less chance than others.
Please note that an adult stray cat is already accustomed to life on the street and, therefore, its adaptation may be much more complicated and longer than that of a baby cat. However, this is not always the case, as there are cats on the street that are extremely sociable and long to have a human family. Except for extreme cases of feral cats (which have never had human contact and are not suitable for living indoors), practically all adult stray cats will adapt without problems to life in a home.
As an advantage over adopting a baby cat , with adult cats you already know their character from the first moment: if they are shy, bold, calm, active, attached, independent… You just have to spend some time with them to get to know them. Of course, not all of them will show a friendly character from the beginning; that doesn’t mean they can’t become really affectionate cats.
From Tiendanimal we encourage you to choose to adopt an adult stray cat, you won’t regret it!
Adapting a stray cat and taking it home
Changes are always difficult, and with cats it is no different: when a cat is adopted, the first thing it will want to do is explore the whole house, but in the case of a cat recently rescued from the street it is very likely that it will stay hidden under a piece of furniture until it feels safe to investigate.
As we have already mentioned, you have to give him time and space until he gets used to it and never force him to go out because he will interpret it as something negative. Earn his trust with delicious food every day and with fun toys, without having to get too close or touch him in the first few days: only go as far as he allows you.
Try to prepare and adapt a space for him , with his water, food, litter box and bed, separated from the passageways so that he feels it is his safe zone. You can use pheromones to make him feel even more secure.
Accessories before adopting a stray cat
To have a happy cat and make the transition from the street to the house as comfortable as possible, you need to have a series of accessories for its adaptation:
- A cat bed : Having a comfortable place to sleep will make your cat feel good in its new home.
- A cat scratching post : Cats use their claws a lot, especially stray cats, so a scratching post will satisfy their desire and need to scratch. Here you can find out how to teach your cat to use a scratching post.
- Food: Offering your cat a healthy, balanced and tasty cat food is essential ; cats are sometimes very selective and demanding with their food, so you may have to find the one they like.
- A litter box : It is important to place it in a place where they can see it and that is not too close to their bed or their food, since they do not like to eat or rest near where they do their business.
- Toys: Cat toys will help your cat overcome its fears and will help you strengthen your emotional bond with it.
What to do if a stray cat doesn’t adapt to your home?
Living with a stray cat can be difficult at times, as it may have difficulty adjusting to its new surroundings. It is important to bear in mind that the cat comes from a situation where it imposed its own rules, routines and schedules, as well as living in an open environment rather than being confined to a home.
Getting a stray cat to adapt to its new life and become a domestic cat and an ideal companion requires patience and respect. It is essential to treat it gently and not force it . If, despite providing it with adequate space, quality food and toys, the cat is not able to adapt completely, it is advisable to contact an animal shelter or an educator who can help you understand what the problem is and how to solve it. It may be that without realizing it, you are acting incorrectly or you are not understanding the needs of your feline.
Contact and approach to the cat should be gradual and respect the cat’s pace, not yours. When you see that the cat feels comfortable and receptive, it will be time to advance a little more, but always avoid overdoing it, as this could cause a setback in its adaptation.
Last but not least, patience is a virtue. It is not unusual that even after a few days, the cat refuses to come out in your presence. It will wait for the quietest moments of the day to explore the house. It may try to escape at first, so it is important to make sure that the windows and doors are properly closed. Installing mosquito nets is essential to ensure its safety. Over time, the cat will adapt and you will gradually gain its trust.
At Tiendanimal we are committed to adoption and we encourage you to visit our physical stores to meet the cats we have for adoption waiting to find a family. We will help you with everything you need! And if you want to know some of our adoption stories,
