Adopting A Stray Cat
As a lifetime pet owner, adopting a stray cat isn’t a new experience. I recently adopted an older kitten(10 mos) that was more feral than I expected. I had to bring my new addition home in the same carrier the shelter managed to get him into. Yes, he was that difficult! He was indeed a street cat.
Meet Smokey
Smokey and his siblings were stray kittens in a trailer park that someone was feeding. They were being fed but had no real human interaction.
They were born in late December and were at least 5 months old when a local rescue shelter was contacted and managed to trap him and 2 of his siblings. Unfortunately, the others had disappeared and it is unknown what happened.
I found him online in October, which made him at least 10 months of age. I was told his story and that he was very shy. He sure was!
Once I got him home and into my bedroom to begin acclimating him, I opened the carrier and within seconds he was gone to the dark recesses of a corner way beneath my dresser.
He would scurry from one hiding spot to the next and so began the task of socializing this young man I now call Mokey.
*Note* I left the opened carrier outside of the bedroom door for my other cats to investigate. There was lots of hissing for a few days.
How To Socialize A Stray Cat/Kitten
For the first week, I would “ignore” him, allowing mokey to check ME out and hide wherever he felt safe.
Mokey had 6 hiding spots I had to deal with. If you think a cat can’t get underneath a dresser just because it’s only 3 inches off of the floor, yes they can!
This was the second hiding spot I plugged up. The first hiding spot I dealt with was a corner bookshelf that sits on a small plastic stool. How he managed to squeeze under there is another mystery but I used bubble wrap to plug that spot.
Use whatever you have on hand. Get creative! This is only temporary and once your new addition feels safe and secure the hiding will stop. (Unless it’s for a good game of sneak attack.)
Each day I would plug up another hiding spot until there was just under my desk where he could feel safe yet wasn’t totally hidden. He could still safely observe his surroundings. A cat tree is an ultimate tool if you have the room. Cats love to perch above the world to observe it.
Acclimating To A Multi-Cat Household
We have two other male cats, having lost two females within one year; the matriarch KitKat at the age of 20 and my beloved Skeeter at 17. Bob just turned 3 and it was he who I used to help socialize Mokey.
Twice per day, I would bring Bob into the room to sniff around and he would manage to find the new cat and approach him. Keep in mind that he already knew there was a new kid in the house because I left that carrier outside of the door. Once he could walk past that without hissing it was time to begin brief face-to-face encounters.
Bob is an outgoing and curious Norwegian Forest cat. Perfect for breaking the ice with Mokey. The moment any growls or major hissing ensued the visit was ended. These visits continued until Mokey clearly became bored with lodging in just one room of the house and was no longer hiding in the dark recesses. This took close to 3 weeks.
Why Do Cats Hide?
Hiding is an instinctual behavior in cats that goes back to before they were domesticated. By hiding they would keep safe from predators and also find their own prey easier. This is why they cover their poop as well, so predators can’t smell them out.
Have you noticed your cat (s) switching up their sleeping spots? This is another instinctual behavior to keep themselves safe.
Patience Is The Key
Socializing a street cat will take a little more time, but it can be done. By showing patience and allowing the cat to trust you, this new member of your household will thrive and love you more than you will ever know!
Adopting a stray cat from an animal rescue is recommended because the animal will have been checked and treated for fleas and taken to a vet for other tests, will be spayed/neutered, and microchipped. In most cases, there will be a re-homing or adoption fee to help defer the cost and you will be assured of receiving a healthy pet.
One product I decided to purchase was Feliway and I am so glad that I did. I only wish I had ordered it sooner because within a few days I could tell it was working. You can get yours today by clicking on my affiliate link below. * yes, this site does contain affiliate links that will take you directly to the product for purchase. These links are safe and cost you nothing, yet mean so much to this little blog if you use them. Bless you.
What Does Feliway Do
Feliway cat calming defuser emits an odorless pheromone that helps calm a nervous cat(new addition) and reduces hiding, unwanted scratching, and other behaviors. I recommend using this product if you have multiple cats with confrontational problems as well.
Have you lost a pet?
Losing a pet is hard and saying goodbye is painful, yet you can still keep them forever as I have done by visiting petsies.
They did such a good job replicating my beloved Skeeter I feel as if she is still with me! Visit losing a pet is hard
*This site does contain (Trusted) affiliate links to each product showcased which I own personally. Please use these links to make a purchase. It costs you nothing yet means so much to this little blog. Bless you, for your support.
