Are you considering adopting a stray? Perhaps you came home one day and found a cute, hungry furball at your doorstep. You fed the cat out of kindness, which encouraged her to stay, and now you’ve become attached. Or maybe you’ve seen an adorable stray nearby, and want to give that cat a good home. Kitties find their ways into our hearts in many different ways. Many wonderful, loving housecats were strays at one point. In this article, a local Marietta, GA vet offers some tips for adopting strays.
Approaching The Kitty
Just like people, kitties all have distinct personalities, and some are friendlier than others. Some strays will walk right into your house and immediately make themselves right at home, while others are frightened of people, and will bolt if approached. Friendly cats, kittens, or even shy furballs, often do very well at transitioning into being housecats. Kitties that are very suspicious, fearful, or aggressive, may have a harder time adjusting, especially if they’ve grown up wild. Feral kitties often make wonderful barn cats, however, so even if your furball is wild, that doesn’t mean she can’t find a good home.
Veterinary Care
Vaccinations, a thorough examination, de-worming, and flea treatment are all in order. If the cat is intact, spay/neuter surgery should also be done immediately. This is of course much easier if you can catch the kitty and put her in a carrier. Wilder cats may need to be trapped. Ask your vet for advice and recommendations. Whatever you do, don’t let the cat loose in your house, or allow her contact with other pets or children, until your vet gives you the green light.
Adjusting
Once the cat’s immediate medical needs have been seen to, the next thing on the agenda is incorporating her into your household. Start out by putting your feline pal in a single room, by herself, with all of her kitty necessities. Give her some time to adjust, and introduce other pets slowly, once she’s settled in a bit. Don’t force attention on your furball: let her come to you. Provide plenty of toys and stimulation. We also recommend keeping Fluffy indoors. While it may take time for her to adjust, she’s much safer inside, and the chances of her running away are lower.
Do you need advice on adopting a stray? Call us, your Marietta, GA vet clinic, anytime!
