Introduction:

If you’re reading this, you’re probably out looking for a way to tame that feral tabby you saw walking home. If so then you’re in the right place. In this informational article, I will provide many tips and tricks on how to properly tame and take care of a feral cat. 

Where?

First and foremost, you need to discover a stray. The best places to look for cats are neighborhoods without HOAs, (homeowners associations don’t like feral animals) or low income neighborhoods, and public parks. Make sure you are looking in these places after sunset. Remember, cats are nocturnal, so they will likely be more active at night. 

Cats can be predictable if you know how to predict them. Outdoor domesticated cats normally only go a few blocks away from their home, but strays don’t have a home to stay by. So instead, look for what they would stay away from. Cats are smart animals, so they will stay away from cars and only go out on streets at night to avoid them, but mostly you won’t find them hanging around a highway.

How?:

Okay now that you have an idea where to look, now you probably think that you can finally interact with one. Cats come in all different personalities, so before you run up to one you need to know how to deal with them and what to expect. Any cat you find outside will most likely be feral, meaning, an animal that has never been in captivity and has never lived with a human before. Feral cats are pretty skittish, run away, and can be mean. Well now you’re probably now asking yourself, “Well, how am I supposed to tame a feral cat if it runs away from me all the time?”, You just need a mindset full of patience and determination.

 Going out in the field:

Now it seems you think you’re up to the challenge and starting to pack up your Meow Mix and cat toys. Leave out wet and/or dry food in an area such as the ones I listed above. After a few days of leaving out food in the same spot at the same time, cats will quickly get used to the routine and hang around that area. This is a great way to get feral cats used to you. This process of leaving out food and water everyday at the same time will take at most a week or two, but it really depends on the cats and how friendly, mean or skittish they are.

After a while a few regulars will show up frequently. Cats may be friendly with you outside, but once you put them in a carrier, or take them in your house, they could get dangerous. That’s why I suggest taking your new furry family member to the vet before you take them home. It’s very important to take newly tamed feral cats to the vet to check for diseases and parasites. Many feral cats can carry such a rabies, ringworm, fleas, and ticks. But taking your cat to get checked for diseases is not the only reason to take them, your cat could also have a microchip. Remember, not all cats you find outside are non domesticated strays, some can be domesticated outdoor cats with families already. It’s important for you to take them in to check for a microchip so you don’t accidentally cat-nap someone’s house pet. 

Home care:

Now it’s time to actually take your new cat home! Remember to give it its medication given by the vet on a schedule (if the vet gave meds) and make sure you also feed it on the same schedule you were doing before. Cats love it when they can know exactly when they eat, it helps lessen extra stress they don’t need. Keep your cat closed off in a room such as a bathroom or extra bedroom, for 2-3 weeks to get them used to the new environment. Keep a litter box, food, water, toys, and an area they can hide, for instance a cat tree. But if you don’t have the money for a cat tree, you could try taking a cardboard box with a blanket inside and draping it over the top to enclose it. 

Feral and stray cats can be pretty skittish and hide from you, so it might take a while for them to warm up to you. Some ways that can help them get warmed up to your company can be letting them get used to your smell. Leaving dirty clothes like socks in their room or having them smell your hand before approaching them, can help them get used to your scent. Playing with them daily and giving them treats can also help. But mostly doing all these things on a daily basis, being quiet and not startling them and having patience are key ways on how to tame a stray cat.