Stray cats - that is, those that do not have a permanent home - are a huge problem all over the world. For example, it is estimated that in the United States alone there are up to 70 million specimens. Homeless cats have very hard and short lives; they are susceptible to diseases and to spread them; hunger leads them to kill songbirds (in addition to other small animals), in addition to the fact that the population of strays continues to increase because they reproduce easily, as most of them are not neutered or sterilized. You can play an important role in helping a stray cat find a home and be spayed or neutered to avoid overpopulation. Commitment is not easy and can take a lot of time and money, but helping even a single specimen is a great contribution to the whole neighborhood and community.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Stay Safe
Step 1. Determine if he is truly stray
Before you decide to help him, you need to figure out if he really doesn't have a home; try to find out if it belongs to some neighbor. Ask several people in the neighborhood to find out if anyone has lost a cat; sometimes, these animals run away from home and may move away from their yard a bit.
- Contact your local vet, animal shelter and find out if anyone has lost a cat similar to the one you think might be stray.
- Take a picture with your mobile and post it online on forums or social media dealing with lost animals. You can also decide to make flyers with the cat's photo and hang them in local shops.
- Take care of the cat while you wait for answers.
Step 2. Be cautious
Stray cats can be wild and have unpredictable behavior. Approach the pet with the reminder that it can spread diseases to you and cats you already own; your first responsibility is your safety.
- Cat bites can become infected and sometimes lead to serious consequences.
- Wear long-sleeved clothing, gloves, and long pants when approaching an unfamiliar cat; in addition to infections, its bite can spread anger. Remember that he has very sharp teeth that can penetrate through gloves and clothes.
Step 3. Be aware of the risks of anger
It is unusual for a stray cat to pass it on, but it is possible. If you live in an area where there are wild animals that you know for certain are carriers of this disease, such as raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes, you need to be extremely cautious.
- Check if the cat has an aggressive attitude, seems agitated and lethargic; it may be difficult to tell the difference between "normal" or unusual behavior in a stray cat.
- Pay attention if it makes multiple lines. When cats suffer from rabies, they may meow or moan more often than usual.
- See if he appears disoriented, paralyzed, or has seizures.
- Don't try to grab or catch him if he's acting strangely; instead he reports his presence to the veterinary office of the Municipality or to the competent ASL as soon as possible.
- There are no tests to diagnose rabies in live cats; it is therefore important to act with great caution when interacting with an unknown specimen.
- If it does bite you, clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water and go to the emergency room immediately.
Step 4. Keep the stray cat away from your specimens
To protect your pets from any diseases or parasites that may be spread by the stray cat, you must prevent the latter from approaching until it has been thoroughly examined by a veterinarian. Wild birds can in fact transmit diseases such as feline leukemia, distemper, rabies and parasites such as fleas.
If the cat appears lethargic, has runny nose, watery eyes, shortness of breath, or acts strangely, stay away. These are all signs of disease; if you come across a sick-looking cat, you must call the veterinary ASL, so that the animal is captured by experienced personnel
Step 5. Earn the cat's trust
It's not always that easy; a good way to start is to leave some food nearby. Place wet food and a bowl of fresh water in a protected location that is inaccessible to dogs or other wildlife. Stand or crouch at some distance, so that the cat gets used to your presence.
- If your cat is fearful, keep leaving the food outside for three or more days, until it begins to feel more comfortable when you get closer to where it eats.
- In the meantime, look for any signs of illness and pay attention to his behavior. Does it growl or hiss at you? Does he watch you when you are around? Is it approaching?
- If he doesn't seem uncomfortable in your presence, try offering him some wet food with the tip of a spoon; if he eats it, it means he can become your friend.
- Start offering him more food with the spoon and slowly reach the cat with your hand; see if he lets himself be caressed under his chin. Once he allows you to scratch his chin, you can start touching other parts of his head.
- Don't try to pet or grab a cat that looks aggressive or sick.
Method 2 of 2: Caring for a Stray Cat
Step 1. Schedule a visit to the vet
When the cat starts to trust you, you need to take him to the doctor for a check-up; make an appointment as soon as possible.
- To take him to the vet, put him in a pet carrier to ensure a safe and safe journey.
- Remember to inform the vet that the cat is a stray; Also, tell him if you have noticed any injuries, parasites, or other health problems.
- The doctor will examine the cat and treat him to internal or external parasites; he will also perform a test to check for feline leukemia by taking a blood sample from the vein. If the test is negative, she will give him vaccines (against rabies and distemper) and will want to make an appointment to have him spayed or neutered.
- If, on the other hand, he suffers from feline leukemia, you have several options, including giving it to some animal rights association that takes care of it and adopts it, keeping it yourself taking the necessary precautions for the disease or carrying out euthanasia. Your vet will help you make the right choice.
Step 2. Decide if you want to adopt him or work to find him a new home
Helping a stray cat doesn't mean just providing it with food; he also needs a new home, to guarantee him the best life possible. Sometimes, this house could be yours, other times the best help you can offer him is to find someone to take care of it.
Step 3. Consider joining an animal rights organization that captures animals for sterilization and release
There are different realities that deal with this issue, from national ones (LAV and others) to local ones; usually, the staff take the animal, sterilize it and release it around the place where it was found. These neutering programs help keep the stray animal population in check and are often a great solution for cats that you don't want or can't keep as pets because they are too wild or aggressive.
The veterinarian or the volunteers of the animal welfare associations or the cattery can tell you if such an organization exists in your area and if necessary how to contact it
Advice
- If you are unable to care for the cat, contact the kennel or animal shelter, who will be able to provide veterinary care, food and shelter for the cat before making it available for adoption.
- Make sure you have the financial resources to take care of the animal; this means having the money for food, as well as veterinary care. Before you commit to helping a stray cat, you need to make sure you have the money to do it.
Warnings
- Veterinary care can be very expensive, especially if the animal has never undergone any treatment before. If you can't afford to pay the doctor's burdensome bills, contact the cattery or a local animal welfare organization and ask for them to help you. Many of these shelters have the necessary funds to take wild animals to the vet.
- Some feral cats can be dangerous; be very cautious when you want to help them or let the proper authorities take care of it.
