Stray cats are cats that once lived with human companions (either living entirely indoors or as indoor/outdoor cats) but are now living on their own. Some stray cats have been abandoned by their human companions, others that have been unfortunately lost. Feral cats, on the other hand, are those that have never lived with humans, but have been born and lived in the “wild,” whether their environment is city streets or dense woods. Feral cats are usually nocturnal and often live in colonies, choosing to forage for foodat night when humans are less likely to be present.
Since they were accustomed to living with humans in the past, stray cats can usually be re-socialized and often make excellent pets. Before attempting to bring a stray cat into your home, it is usually a good idea to begin by providing the cat with fresh food and water outside your home. This will help you to determine how willing to be reacquainted with humans. Some cats may not return daily for meals and water, because they are wary of humans and do not want to re-establish a relationship with people. Another reason a cat may not return daily is that it may not actually be a stray but rather a pet cat that is allowed to roam free. It is also possible that the cat could be a stray, but that others in the community are also providing him with food and water. Ideally, any cat that is allowed to roam free would have proper identificationbut this is not always the case.
Once a cat begins to show willingness to accept food and water you can slowly begin trying to interact with her. Some stray cats will practically seem to seek out a particular human companion, showing no hesitation whatsoever in interacting with them. Others are more leery of people and may require time and patience to begin trusting humans.
As soon as you have established enough rapport with a stray cat to begin petting him regularly, it is time to take him to visit the vet. It is important to do this as soon as possible, not only to be sure the cat is in good health, but to neuter or spaythe animal if this has not already been done. Spaying and neutering is important to prevent the population of stray and feral cats from continuing to increase.
Depending on your circumstances, it may be necessary to involve others in the life of a stray cat. If you observe a stray cat that appears injured or ill, or will not allow any interaction with humans, contact your local animal control department or Humane Society. This is also a viable option if you are not in a position to be able to befriend the stray long enough to gain her trust and bring her to a shelter.
