How to Tame a Stray Cat

Stray cats rarely or never interact with humans. Many are born in the wild, while others are abandoned or lost by their owners. Regardless of their origins, these cats are usually very fearful of people and will scratch or bite instead of cuddling (at least in the beginning). This makes taming them a challenging task. If you're determined to tame a stray cat, it will require a lot of patience and time.

Prepare a separate room for the stray cat. They need to stay in a confined space until they become comfortable with both their new owner and the new environment. Set up a quiet, small room such as a bathroom, isolated from family members and other pets. Place a litter box, food, water bowls, and toys inside the room.

• Make sure to securely close windows and doors so the cat cannot escape. Also, check for any gaps or cracks in the walls that may allow them to slip through.
• Move any shelves (if present) out of the room to prevent the cat from knocking things over.
• Create hiding spots within the room (e.g., an overturned cardboard box with holes cut out).
• For the first few days, use organic soil as litter, as stray cats are more familiar with this than typical cat litter.
• Use a nightlight to illuminate the room rather than a bright overhead light. The dimmer lighting will help the stray cat feel safer in their new environment.
• To help the cat get used to human scent, you can place old clothing (such as socks or jackets) in the room.
• The stray cat will need several hours to adjust and settle in.

Place the pet cage in the room along with the trap. You will need to take the stray cat to the vet for essential medical care (such as vaccinations, deworming, FeLV and FIV testing). It's easier to transport the stray in a cage rather than a trap.

• Open the cage door, lay down a blanket, and place some treats inside to make the cat feel more at ease.
• Cover the trap and cage with a towel to create a safe hiding space.

Catch the stray cat. Don’t be surprised if the stray cat runs away when you try to approach it. Setting up a humane live animal trap is the most effective way to safely catch and bring the stray cat home. These traps are designed to close automatically once the cat steps on a plate inside.

• To lure the cat into the trap, place some tasty food deep inside the trap.
• They may be startled by the sound of the door closing, but rest assured, the cat won’t be harmed.
• These traps are available online. You can contact a local animal shelter or animal control center to borrow one.
• Prepare a comfortable bedding (such as a towel or blanket) inside the trap.

Feed the stray cat outdoors. Taming should be done indoors. However, their fear of humans can make it difficult when you first bring them inside. Feeding the stray outdoors can help them trust you, or at the very least, they’ll begin to associate you with food.

• Feed the stray at the same time every day.

Spend time with the stray cat without touching them. After the cat has settled in, you can start the process of interacting with them so they can get used to humans. To avoid being scratched or bitten, wear long sleeves, pants, gloves, and shoes when entering the room. You may want to keep a piece of cardboard nearby to block the cat if they jump at you.

• Establish a routine for interacting with the stray at a set time each day. Consistency will help them adjust to their new home.
• Knock before entering and move slowly as you enter the room.
• Speak gently to the stray while you clean their space (such as cleaning the litter box and replenishing food and water).
• Avoid staring directly at the stray cat, as this can be perceived as aggressive. Instead, look away and lower your head.
• When the cat becomes comfortable, you can sit beside them for about an hour in the mornings and evenings. While talking to them, you can read or work quietly on your laptop.
• Do not try to touch the stray cat initially. This will only result in scratches, bites, and hissing.

Engage in playful activities with the stray cat. This helps them feel more at ease before you touch them. You can buy light toys for the cat from a local pet store and let the stray play while you're in the same room. Alternatively, you can create your own 'cat teaser toy': attach fabric to the end of a string and secure it to a small stick.

• Never leave the stray cat alone with this toy. They may swallow the string, causing an intestinal blockage that needs urgent medical attention.

Watch for the stray cat's 'ready' body language. Touching a stray cat can be dangerous as they may defend themselves or attack out of fear. Observing their body language will help you determine when they are ready to move to a new level of interaction with humans. Actions like lunging, growling, or flattening their ears indicate they are not yet comfortable with human contact.

• The stray cat might hiss if they don't want you to touch them.
• If the cat seems calm when near you, this is a sign they are ready to engage with humans.

Help the stray cat get used to your hand. While still wary of humans, the stray cat will need time to adjust to your hand. To begin, place your hand flat on the ground and let the cat approach. Allow them to touch your feet, hands, or fingers.

• Do not pet the stray cat. Exploration is how they determine if you are a threat.
• Initially, keep your hand at a small distance from the cat. Once they become accustomed to your hand, you can move it and your body closer.
• Let the cat get used to the touch. They may react aggressively if you move too quickly.

Gently pet the stray cat. Petting a stray cat can be risky as you won't know whether they will accept it or react aggressively. Place a toy near your hand and keep your hand on the ground. As the cat approaches, sniffs, and gently nudges your hand, you can slowly lift your hand to their eye level.

• Gradually lift your hand to their eye level and begin petting them.
• Watch the cat's body language. Tense muscles, flicking tail, dilated pupils, and flattened ears are signs you should stop petting and give them some space.
• Pet them quickly at first. You should stop before the cat shows any signs of discomfort or disinterest in being petted.

Pick up the stray cat. If the cat is small, you can try lifting them and placing them on your lap once they feel comfortable with petting. Keep in mind that they are still wild animals, so wrap them gently in a towel, leaving their neck exposed, to prevent scratches or bites.

• Turn the cat so their head faces outward. Hold the scruff of their neck by gently grasping the skin near the back of their neck, but avoid holding too tightly.
• Carefully lift the cat's body and place them on your lap. If the cat remains calm, you can pet them and speak softly to them.
• Although kittens are often carried by their mothers by the scruff, don’t be surprised if the stray cat dislikes being held by humans in this way. Pay attention to their body language to determine if they are comfortable.
• Never touch an adult or kitten stray cat from the front.

Groom the stray cat. This not only helps them feel more comfortable with human interaction but also keeps their fur and skin clean. Use a pet brush with stiff bristles to groom them. You can also use a fine-toothed comb to remove fleas.

• Combs and brushes are available at local pet stores.
• Fleas in young stray cats can be dangerous as they may cause anemia and even death. In addition to combing, the cat should be treated with flea prevention medication (available at veterinary clinics).

Evaluate the stray cat's level of wildness. Stray cats can be entirely wild (having no contact with humans or showing negative interactions), semi-wild (having positive interactions with humans), or feral reverts (house cats that were abandoned and become semi-wild). Fully wild cats are extremely difficult to tame, while feral reverts are the easiest to domesticate.

• Semi-wild cats seek out humans for food but avoid close interaction. This minimal human contact teaches them some of the basic rules of human society.
• Semi-wild cats often live near human homes.

Estimate the stray cat's age. Determining the cat's age can help assess how easily or difficult it will be to tame them. Young stray cats, particularly those under 10 to 12 weeks old, are generally easier to tame. Older stray cats that have been living outdoors for a long time are much more challenging.

• Never separate a kitten from its mother until it's weaned, which is typically around 13 weeks of age. This is crucial. Puppies can be separated from their mother at 8 weeks, but kittens should not! Early separation can lead to behavioral issues and prolonged development. Experts recommend waiting until 13 weeks before separating kittens from their mother.
• If you find a feral kitten with its mother, you should trap both the mother and the kittens. Keep them together indoors until the kittens are fully weaned. Contact your local animal rescue group to arrange for the mother cat to be spayed and then returned to the wild.

Assess the stray cat's taming potential. This process is challenging and there is no guarantee of success. Taming is a long-term commitment and requires patience: feral kittens can usually be tamed within 2 to 6 weeks, but adult feral cats may take a year or longer to fully tame.

• Helping a stray cat adjust to indoor life and acclimate to its new environment typically takes a few hours per day, and can stretch over several months. Consider if you have the ability to commit to this responsibility.
• The medical care costs for a stray cat can be quite high. Be sure to assess whether you are financially prepared for the expenses involved in caring for a stray cat.

• Only attempt to tame a stray cat if you plan to keep it as a pet.
• Don’t get discouraged if you can't tame a stray cat. Not every stray cat is meant to live harmoniously with humans.
• Once fully tamed, a stray cat may prefer solitude. You should respect their space and allow them a private area.
• Stray cats are often not suitable for adoption as they typically bond only with the person who has tamed them.
• If they seem comfortable, you may gently pet the stray cat, but do so cautiously and slowly.
• If you’re unable to capture or interact with a stray cat, reach out to a veterinarian or local animal control center. Stray cats may bite or scratch, putting you at risk of infection.

• Stray cats are wild animals. You may be injured if you're not careful when handling them. Contact a veterinarian or your local animal control center if you're unable to safely capture or interact with a stray cat.
• Stray cats are highly vulnerable to various environmental conditions, such as exposure to elements (e.g., wind, rain), infections, and attacks from other animals. The mortality rate for feral kittens can be as high as 50%.