Street cats, or cats without permanent homes, are a big problem. In the United States alone, the number of street cats is estimated at 70 million. Street cats have difficult and short lives. This is because street cats are prone to contracting and transmitting diseases, preying on birds and small animals because of hunger, and giving birth to new street cats because they are not neutered. You can help neuter and find homes for street cats to keep their numbers from growing. While it is not easy and can be time and money consuming, it can be very helpful for the environment and society even if you only help one street cat.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Keeping Safe
Step 1. Determine whether a cat is a street animal or not
Before deciding to help, you must determine whether the cat is a street animal or not. Try searching for information in your neighborhood about missing cats. Cats that run away from home can sometimes roam away from their homes.
- Call vets and animal shelters and ask if there are any similar cat loss cases that you found.
- Take a photo of the cat and post the ad on lost pets forums or social media. You can even make a flyer with a photo of the cat and post it at local shops.
- Treat the cat while you wait for its response.
Step 2. Be careful
Street cats can be violent and behave in unpredictable ways. Approach the cat with care because it can transmit the disease to you and the cats you care for. Your primary responsibility is to protect yourself.
- Cat bites can often lead to infection and sometimes serious illness.
- Wear long-sleeved clothes, gloves and long pants when you are around unfamiliar cats. In addition to infection, cat bites can also transmit rabies. Keep in mind that a cat's sharp teeth can pierce gloves and clothing.
Step 3. Be aware of the risk of rabies
Although uncommon, street cats can become infected and transmit rabies. You have to be very careful especially if you live in an area where wild animals are known to be carriers of rabies such as raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes.
- Watch for the cat's aggression, restlessness, and lethargy. The "normal" and unusual behavior of a street cat may be difficult to distinguish.
- Listen to the cat's voice. When you have rabies, your cat may meow or growl more often.
- Watch for disorientation, paralysis, or seizures.
- You should never approach or catch a cat that is acting strangely. If you see one, report the cat to the veterinary authority as soon as possible.
- There is no test that can be done to determine rabies in a live cat. Therefore, you must be very careful when interacting with the cat.
- If you are bitten, clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water and call a doctor immediately.
Step 4. Keep the street cat away from your pet cat
To protect them from diseases or parasites that may be transmitted, pet cats should be kept away from street cats until they are examined by a veterinarian. Street cats can transmit diseases such as feline leukemia, distemper, rabies, and parasites such as fleas.
Do not approach a cat that is lethargic, has a runny nose and eyes, is breathing loudly or acting strangely as these are signs of illness. If you find a cat that looks unwell, contact the veterinarian to have the cat caught by a professional
Step 5. Earn the street cat's trust
Cat trust is sometimes hard to earn. Feeding can be a great way to start earning a street cat's trust. Try placing wet food and a bowl of clean water in a protected area where dogs or other animals such as racoons cannot access them. Stand or crouch a few feet away from the food so the cat gets used to your presence.
- If the cat is shy, keep the food there for 3 days or more until he feels comfortable even though he sees you near the food container.
- While providing food, pay attention to the signs of illness and the cat's behavior. Does the cat growl or hiss at you? Does the cat notice you when you are around? Is the cat approaching you?
- If your cat seems comfortable with your presence, try feeding it a little wet food with a spoon. If it eats it, the cat is ready to make friends with you.
- Give it more food with a spoon and slowly extend your hand toward the cat. See if the cat will let you touch the bottom of its chin or not. After your cat has allowed you to stroke his chin, try petting another part of his head.
- Don't try to pet or hold a cat that looks aggressive or sick.
Method 2 of 2: Keeping a Street Cat
Step 1. Take the cat to the vet
Once you've started to trust you, take the street cat for a vet check. Make an appointment with the vet as soon as possible.
- To take her to the vet, put the cat in a pet carrier. This is so that the cat is safe and protected.
- Be sure to tell the vet that the cat is a street animal. Also tell your vet about any injuries, parasites, or other health concerns your cat has.
- The vet will examine the cat and treat it if it is proven to have internal or external parasites. The vet will also check for feline leukemia by taking a small amount of the cat's blood. If the result is negative, the vet will give you some vaccines (rabies and distemper) and ask you to bring the cat back for neutering.
- If your cat has feline leukemia, you will be given several options; hand over the care and adoption of cats to animal-loving institutions, maintain their own cats with precautions against feline leukemia or euthanasia. Your vet will help you decide which option is best for you.
Step 2. Decide whether you will adopt him or try to find someone willing to adopt him
Feeding alone is not enough to help street cats. In order to live as well as possible, street cats need people who are willing to adopt them. You can adopt it yourself or find someone willing to do it.
Step 3. Consider joining a trap-neuter-release organization
The trap-neuter-release (TNR) organization will catch, neuter, and re-release street cats close to where they were found. These programs help control the cat population and are often a good choice for cats that are not suitable for keeping because they are too feral.
Your veterinarian, animal welfare agency or veterinary authority will be able to provide you with relevant information and how to contact the organization
Tips
- Make sure that you have the funds to care for the cat. The funds in question are for food and treatment at the veterinarian. Before deciding to help street animals, you must first make sure that you have enough money to do so.
- If you can't take care of the cat yourself, contact an animal shelter or animal welfare agency. The parties will be able to provide health care, food and shelter before finding adopters.
Warning
- Some street cats can be dangerous. Help with caution or let veterinary authorities handle it.
- Health care costs at the vet can be very expensive, especially for animals that have never been taken to the vet. If you can't afford the fees, call and ask your local animal shelter or cat rescue group for help. Many animal shelters have a budget for taking street animals to the vet.
