Have you grown fond of a stray cat that visits your garden and decided to adopt it? Whether it is for this reason or if it has been another reason that has led you to make this decision, from our site we want to congratulate you on the great step you are about 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 in, care, affection and quality food. However, and especially if the feline is an adult, we must follow a series of steps to ensure that it adapts as well as possible to our home. Read on and discover our tips for adopting a stray cat
Take him 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 should be examined by a specialist to find out if it has contracted any disease, has fleas, is injured or suffers from any other he alth problem.
Keep in mind that the feline has been exposed to all kinds of dangers, including fights between cats, ingestion of spoiled food, poisoning by repellent products for felines, blows caused by cars or other vehicles etc So he could have been infected with leukemia, distemper, poisoning, 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 compulsory vaccinations that you must give him to keep his he alth in perfect condition, as well how to identify it with a microchip so that it can be found if one day it gets lost. Finally, we we recommend sterilizing it Especially if the stray cat is an adult, is used to looking for a mate during the mating season, if it is female, or going to the call of a cat, if it is male. To do this, your cat will most likely run away frequently.
The carrier
Take your stray cat to the vet will not be an easy task. To make it as comfortable as possible, you should get a carrier. Likewise, this utensil will also be very useful to take it home, if you have not already done so. Unless it is a puppy, an adult cat that has been living on the streets will rarely let you pick him up.
To select the right carrier, it is best to go to the vet and tell him about the situation, he will know how to advise you. On the other hand, it is essential that the cat assumes the figure of the carrier as a positive element, and not negative. If we force our new feline to enter, it can associate it with negative stimuli and adopt an aggressive attitude every time it sees it.
Be patient, get some cat food or treats, and use a soft, gentle voice to encourage your feline to come inside. You can also put a toy inside it and leave some food for it to entertain itself during the time it is in the carrier.
Homecoming
Preparing our home for the arrival of the new member is a crucial step in adopting any animal. Cats are much more independent animals than dogs, so it is recommended that your new feline has its own space in the home. In this sense, you have two options: give him an uninhabited room or let him explore freely and be the one who chooses his corner. When something in his daily routine varies, the cat tends to hide and go through his own adaptation process. And, of course, adopting him and offering him a new home is a very big change for him. Hence the importance of having a corner or room to himself.
The basic utensils that 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. Check out our article on the right diet for cats and provide him with the diet he needs. However, if your stray cat is an adult, during the first few days it is advisable to buy wet food, with a much more appetizing smell that will quickly capture its attention and favor his adaptation to the new environment. Remember: food will be your great ally to gain their trust. Also, if you have selected the space that your new companion will occupy, place the bowls of water and food in it so that it approaches and begins to familiarize itself. Otherwise, if you prefer him to explore and be the one to choose his corner, leave the food in a visible place; When you have decided on his favorite space, place the bowls there
- Sandbox. Remember that cats are extremely neat animals, so you should not place food and water bowls near the litter box. Even if they share a room, there should be some space between them.
- Bed for sleeping. After a period of time living on the street, your cat will appreciate that you provide him with a comfortable and soft bed to sleep on. Keep it near the food and also away from the litter box.
- ScrapersCats are animals that are characterized by having sharp nails, and they love to have them well cared for and prepared to defend themselves if they feel threatened. For this reason, getting a scraper is essential so that they can be filed down and prevent it from causing damage to the furniture or to you.
Let your stray cat get used to its new home and don't be surprised if the first few days it prefers not to leave its room or corner, it needs to find its stability and feel safe. Enter his space several times and share moments with him so that he gets to know you and begins to trust you, always without forcing him. If he won't let you pet him, give him time.
Contact with nature
Especially if the cat you want to adopt is an adult, used to living in constant contact with nature, hunting its own food, interacting with other cats, etc. Therefore, you must manage to adapt your new environment to cover that need and maintain your connection with nature.
Find windows that connect to the outside and place boards so that your cat can sit on them and watch the street. If your house has a patio, garden or terrace, decorate it with plants so that you can sniff them, explore and notice a little less the change of home.
The cat trees are extremely useful, as they manage to cover two basic needs for him and for you, his new companion: file their nails and climb. On the street, your feline was used to having to climb trees and other structures to observe what is happening on the ground from a higher perspective or flee from the dangers that could lie in wait for him.
Finally, to satisfy his hunting urge you should provide him with toys designed for that purpose. The cat is an animal with a highly developed hunting instinct to ensure its survival, so you will have to acquire hunting toys that, in addition, exercise it 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 canes with ropes and dolls at the end of it for you to play with. With this last type of toy, you will not only be able to keep your cat happy, but you will also strengthen your bond with him.
Respect their times
This advice is aimed at adult or elderly stray cats, since you can adapt the puppy cat to your rules without any problem. Keep in mind that the stray feline is adapted to being the one who imposes his rules, schedules and routines, or to follow other cats that are more authoritarian than him. Patience and respect is what he needs on your part to get used to his new habits and turn him into a house cat.
Especially if he has experienced dramatic situations, at first he may be suspicious of you and always on the defensive. Therefore, it is essential that we treat it delicately, 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 with caution, small steps and a soft voice. As the days go by, he will be more and more receptive and you will be able to increase the approaches
Respect his time and space. If he is the one who approaches, he lets him caress you and lie down with you, once you have gained his confidence and adaptation to the new home, you can start setting rules. Of course, you should not confuse respect with fear. Do not be afraid of him because then he will feel that you are afraid of him and will try to dominate you; he needs someone who is affectionate, kind and delicate but at the same time firm and authoritative
Is the stray cat running away?
It is very likely that your stray cat will try to escape during the first few days in its new home. To avoid this, the first step you should take is keep windows and doors closed If you have a patio, garden or terrace, you should put up a fence high enough to don't skip it. Remember that it is highly positive that your new partner has the freedom to visit the patio, so denying him entry is not the solution, you should look for an alternative such as fencing.
As we discussed in the first section, sterilization considerably alleviates the need to escape to reproduce, so don't 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 him a cat harness and a leash and train him to pay attention to you during outputs. We do not advise you to let him loose on the street, he can escape again.
Don't hesitate to consult our article on basic care for cats and start brushing their fur, taking care of their nails, etc., as soon as they have got used to their new home.
