Is it worth catching other people's cats?
Pets end up on the street by accident: they fall out of a window or slip through an open door. They don’t find their way home and become homeless. It is worth catching the fugitive in order to return it to the owner. Such individuals make contact; people are familiar to them.
Street cats are not easy to catch because they are wild.
Sometimes other people's cats are caught and taken to an animal shelter or taken into foster care. These are noble goals that justify cat traps in basements and near trash cans.
As a rule, there are no other reasons to catch a cat.
Note! Catching is always fraught with risk - a stressed cat is capable of biting and using its claws. Living on the street, he could catch infection, infections, insects.
Use a trap
Whether you make a homemade trap or buy one, make sure that the product you choose will not harm your kitten or you. It's probably best to use appetizing food to lure your baby out of hiding. For example, you can try canned fish. They are inexpensive and cats really like their scent.
If you are planning to purchase a trap, ask the seller to find out which product is best to choose. If you plan to make a trap, make sure it will not harm or kill the kitten you will be trapping.
The expert recommends that you don't simply try to grab your kitten if it passes you on the street. It is better to prepare thoroughly and return the next day, taking with you a trap, as well as bait. You can use the microwave to cook something delicious.
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It is very important to be kind to your kitten. Remember that he doesn't have much experience interacting with people. Perhaps he was already scared of random passers-by who were trying to catch him. When your kitten is caught in a trap, be quiet, calm and gentle because it is a traumatic experience for him.
What to consider when catching a cat
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The health status of street vagabonds is questionable. To protect yourself, approach the matter thoroughly:
- prepare traps and treats;
- wear protective clothing with long sleeves and gloves;
- They observe the behavior and habits of the tramp: where he lives most often, what kind of treat he likes.
Important! Animals feel threatened and resist. Aggression is a reaction to fear, not a character trait, and therefore should not repel the future owner.
Homemade cat trap
How to catch a street cat that is afraid of people
Pets are driven outside by curiosity and sexual instinct. At such moments they often find themselves homeless. Sometimes people deliberately throw tailed animals into the world to fend for themselves. It is difficult to understand the motives, however, the domestic cat ends up in the company of stray animals.
How to find a cat if it has run away or is lost on the street
Before catching, it is important to understand whether the individual is on the street or lost. The method of capture depends on this. From the outside, this is not always easy to understand.
Note! A stray cat fed by compassionate people often looks clean, well-fed, and well-groomed. If the animal is not starving, its fur is neat. Hardening and good immunity help resist infections and parasites. Therefore, the chosen individual is observed for at least a week.
How to distinguish a street tramp from a lost one:
- The cat spends several days in the gateway in the evening and at night. If the owner let him out for a walk, the animal would return home at night;
- The kitten is wearing a flea collar. This is a sign of home keeping. Before a walk, owners protect their pet from insects;
- A tag with an address and telephone number was found. Owners anticipate the possibility that the furry one will get lost. To make the search easier, caring owners microchip their pets;
- if, having met a stranger, the kitten is timid but makes contact, it is domestic. He associates a two-legged creature with warmth and food. A wild animal runs from people.
External signs also tell us that the cat is domestic, but feral, or homeless since birth. The second type is more difficult and dangerous to deal with.
What does appearance indicate:
- The paw pads are soft - the cat lived with a family and did not walk much on the bare ground. Hard, trampled paws indicate street origin;
- clean eyes and ears, well-groomed claws - home inspection. Wounds, scratches - the cat defends its life in a severe struggle;
- There are no signs of castration or sterilization in wild individuals.
Observation and conclusions help to find the right way to catch a cat in a trap.
Cat carrier
Carrying and special cages for cats
Pets travel with their owners to the countryside or on vacation. This cat will go in a pet carrier. He will remember the sensations and will go into the cage if there is food there.
The floors in some models are designed in such a way that the door slams shut when an animal steps on them. If this is an ordinary carrier, then you should not slam the door yourself, as cats have a quick reaction and the animal will run away. It’s better to tie a string to the door, stay in ambush, and close the trap by pulling the rope.
Another option is that veterinary clinics and nurseries have cage traps. The device is rented for the duration of the capture. You need to lure the tramp with the fragrant food inside.
Important! When the four-legged dog falls for the trick, the cage is covered with thick fabric so that the kitten can rest in the dark and come to its senses.
Trap for a stray cat
A bag, blanket, or canvas are not suitable for the job. Extreme methods will scare the wildling. Although stress passes quickly in cats, they remember evil for a long time, so it will be difficult to establish contact in the future.
They resort to fishing gear. The net is fixed on a tree and food is placed under it. When the gullible, hungry mouser begins to eat, the tied ropes are pulled and the net covers the animal.
A fishing landing net is also used. A large triangular net is suitable for catching cats. They cover the animal with it, sneaking up unnoticed.
Note! The designs of the pots are made from scrap materials: boxes, cardboard boxes, basins.
Not all cats love valerian
Valerian for cats
The root of the valerian plant contains actinidin extract. The substance has an effect on the central nervous system of cats. This is not a sedative. Having sniffed, the ward falls into a state of drug intoxication - euphoria.
Important! Large doses lead to diarrhea and vomiting.
To lure a cat, soak a toy or a rag with valerian. When the animal relaxes and falls into a trance, it is picked up with bare hands.
Lure your cat into a more confined space
It's easier to catch a trap when you don't have to do it outdoors! Place food in a smaller space that you can get close to, such as a garage or shed. Hide and wait for the cat to come in, then close the door behind it. Before you lure your kitten in, prepare the room.
Clear the space of any possible hiding places, then lean one large board against the wall. Set up a trap box and hide it behind the board. When a cat is confined to a smaller space, it will immediately try to find the nearest hiding place. Since you only left her with one option, she will rush behind the board and possibly straight into a trap.
How to catch a cat at home
Friends at home do not like to travel, but they get used to moving with their owners. Intuition tells them that a trip is coming as soon as the owners begin to prepare for the road. Cats hide, sometimes so successfully that there is no other means except to lure the cat.
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Cats hide in a secluded corner and are afraid of strangers. Finding and luring out an animal in an apartment is not difficult. You just need to not open the doors to the balcony and staircase, as the cat will slip through unnoticed.
Note! They lure their friend out of the shelter with tasty cat food. Dry food does not dissipate the flavor, so they offer canned food, sausage, and boiled meat. Pets are most willing to eat canned fish.
The bait is finely chopped, the bones are removed, and laid out on plates. The kitten's name is with a friendly intonation. The irritation in the voice will cause the cat to retreat even further.
A cat's sense of smell is 14 times stronger than a human's. Seduced by the aroma of food, the animal will give itself away.
Personal safety measures when catching a cat
A small kitten is lured out with a rustling candy wrapper tied on a string. Children who are playful by nature will rush to the model, mistaking it for a mouse. All that remains is to lift the lump by the scruff of the neck and quickly press it to your chest.
Adults, despite their hunting instinct, will not fall for this. Cautious, taught by negative experiences, they use ingenuity to escape. You will need equipment for catching with bait.
Important! The cat catcher must protect against injuries and scratches. Wild animals can be infected with contagious diseases.
To catch, you need to wear thick gloves and a tight suit, which you won’t mind throwing away later. Sharp claws should not reach the skin.
What to do when a cat is caught
It’s especially pitiful for a street dweller in bad weather, when he’s shivering in a wet fur coat. The eyes beg for help, good people decide to catch and take in the poor fellow.
First steps after capture.
A stray cat should first be shown to a veterinarian.
Veterinary examination
At the clinic, a specialist will determine the breed. In cities there live cats, whose ancestors in the 1st-3rd generation were pets. They make contact and are taken into the family.
In the rural outback, emaciated forest and reed cats attach themselves to human habitation. Representatives of wild fauna are returned to nature. The exception is sick and old individuals. But they are taken into yard care, placed in enclosures, and fed.
The doctor will examine the city tramp for wounds, scratches, broken limbs, disinfect sores, scabs, check the skin and fur for ticks, lice, fleas - ectoparasites. If the latter are present, then the specialist will prescribe drops, sprays, and care products.
The doctor will take tests for intestinal helminths - endoparasites. After a visit to the clinic, a street kitten is given a bath and immediately treated for worms.
Note! The foundling is placed in a quarantine block for two weeks. At home, this is a separate room where the new resident is provided with peace, food, and their health and behavior are monitored. Make sure there are no open windows, as the cat will run away.
If he eats well, the fur is shiny, the eyes and mucous membranes are clean and pink, there is no smell from the ears, after 14-15 days the new resident is released into the apartment. It is not dangerous for children and other pets.
Next come scheduled visits to the veterinarian - the course of vaccination begins, which is mandatory for the cat family. These are vaccinations against rabies, calcivirus, chlamydia, etc.
Taming a kitten
If you bring a kitten into your home that has recently been thrown outside, it is not difficult to adapt it. He will quickly remember a person’s affection, will be grateful for food, and will soon become a pet.
It’s more difficult with a resident of the gateway, who was born from the same mother. But education and taming are a matter of time and patience. You need to work on the student.
The quarantine period is used to socialize the new resident. They show him friendliness, affectionately call him by his name, which is given to him as he was brought home.
At first, the pet is visited 2 times a day at the same time. They bring food and toys. Place the bowl on the floor and place your hand next to it. You can hold the treat in the palm of your hand. They call the animal, wait for it to come and try the treat.
Check readiness for contact - hold your hand above your head. If there is horror in your eyes and the cat hisses, you should not put pressure on the animal. If you are calm, you can pat him on the back.
Every time you enter a room, they knock on the door. The cat will soon realize that there is no threat and will begin to rub against his legs. A good sign is that adaptation is going well. Gradually they begin to be picked up. The first unsuccessful attempts are associated with stress.
Cats have different personalities. Some individuals never become furry, affectionate companions. But all felines can be domesticated. The main thing is not to be rude. But they immediately teach the prohibition commands “Ugh!” and “You can’t!”, which are accompanied by a clap of the palm.
Note! They instill one good habit after another: going to the toilet in a litter box, not stealing food, not climbing on tables.
Every pet should have cat toys.
What does a cat need at home?
The cat will feel loved and needed if you create the right conditions for it. What does a street dweller need:
- isolated room. There is a storage room, a balcony, and a bathroom. In a closed room there should be a tray, food, water;
- protection from strangers. First, the person who fed and caught it communicates with the foundling. Other family members and pets have short contact;
- own care and hygiene products: brushes, scratching posts, baths;
- toys. Varied and colorful, they attract your pet and don’t let you get bored.
Important! The main thing that owners must provide for a kitten brought into their home is love.
Methods of catching and procedure
To catch a wild cat, you must first carefully prepare the ground for luring it into a trap, accustoming it to your presence in the field of view. The most effective way is regular feeding. It is advisable to do this at the same time, for example morning and evening. First, you need to leave the treat not far from his shelter, moving away a considerable distance. To gain the trust of an animal, you need to constantly talk to it. With each subsequent feeding, the distance should be reduced little by little.
When the four-legged street child stops being panicky about his potential savior, it is recommended to offer him a treat inside the cat's bag. This stage consists of several stages: first, a bowl with a treat is placed almost on the threshold of the trap, then it is gradually moved deeper. The preparatory stage may take 2–3 days.
In the process of preparing to catch a tailed wanderer, you should not try to pick it up, much less grab it, even if it behaves calmly. Realizing that you can quickly slam the door without giving the animal the opportunity to run out, you need to act. It should be borne in mind that failure will cost the lost trust, and taming will have to begin again, and there is no guarantee that the animal will again allow a treacherous person to approach it.
As soon as the cat is in the carrier, it must be covered with thick fabric, creating twilight in it. This will help calm your cat, which is experiencing severe stress, at least a little.
How to wean a cat off the street
So that the tramp is not drawn to his usual habitat, he is surrounded by care. What the new owners are doing:
- create comfortable living conditions - a sleeping house, a place for games, a tray;
- They take you out to the balcony for a walk. First take care of mosquito nets and bars on windows;
- several trays are placed, the pet chooses where it is convenient for him to go to the toilet;
- well fed. The diet will be agreed upon with the veterinarian;
- castrate and sterilize animals;
- playing with a kitten.
Note! The cat is taken out into the yard in a carrier bag and is not left unattended.
Stray cats are pathetic creatures. When there is a desire to take the sufferer home, they find out whether it is a neighbor’s pet. They are caught using carriers and special traps. Maintain personal safety, as the cat may be infected with worms and external parasites. They organize quarantine at home and at the same time tame the cat. Patience and love turn a homeless child into an affectionate pet.
Take a break
Catching a kitten can be an unpleasant experience for you. The expert recommends being patient not only with your kitten, but also with yourself. Make sure you have enough time to complete the plan.
For example, waiting for a mother cat may take some time. After this, try to take a break before you start using the trap. You shouldn't be angry. The more relaxed and confident you are, the smoother the whole process will go.
