Rescuing a stray cat can be a very rewarding experience. A successful rescue can bring a new pet into your home or into someone else's home. However, a successful rescue requires work and patience. Since each cat is different in personality and needs, a rescue may occur very quickly or it may take a very long time, if at all.
Things You'll Need
- Cat food
- Water
- Blankets
- Protective covering like a tarp or plastic bag
- Small place to shelter a cat
- A room to hold the cat after the rescue
- Litter box
- Patience
Instructions
Leave food and water out for the cat, and allow the cat to eat by itself. Use a mixture of wet and dry food, as the wet food not only has a strong scent, but has moisture to help the cat have some water. Place the food and water in a place where the cat will have privacy.
Construct a protective housing for the cats. You can buy a small dog house for this, but you may have success using a large garbage can lined and covered with blankets for warmth. Use food to lure the cats into the housing, as they will be afraid of it at first. Cover the housing with a protective covering, such as a tarp or a plastic bag to protect the housing from weather. Locations that offer privacy for the cats will make it more likely that the housing will be used.
If the cat begins to consistently arrive to be fed, you can begin to slowly interact with it. A good starting point is showing the cat the food, placing it near or in the housing and then standing a far distance away so the cat can eat. With time you can start getting closer and closer as the cat trusts you more.
When you believe the time is right for a rescue, set up a "cat room" for the cat to live. This place should be separate from other animals as the stray cat may have parasites, such as worms. An ideal situation would be clean room that has a litter box, food and water, along with toys and a place to sit and rest.
To rescue the cat, make sure you have something that can close quickly so that you minimize the risk of losing the cat. This is a critical step in the process because if you don't succeed with the rescue the first time, the cat will often run away and no longer trust you. Use food and patience to lure the cat into your rescue container, and very quickly move to lock the cat within the container once the cat is in.
Bring the cat to your "cat room" and let it out to explore and leave the room. The cat may not like being enclosed and may be angry for a short time. However, with a constant food supply and safety, the cat will begin to trust its new surroundings.
Take the cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Because it has been outside for a long period of time, it may have worms, fleas or infections that need to be addressed. The cat will receive a physical exam and any additional medical treatment the veterinarian deems necessary. Also, ask about anti-flea treatments to prevent the spread of fleas.
Determine what your next step will be. If you are keeping the cat, take the necessary steps to get it acclimated to your home and other animals, if needed. However, don't do this until the cat is cleared medically, as you don't want to infect your other animals or children. Also, keep the "cat room" as clean as possible, and wash your hands whenever you leave. If you don't plan on keeping the cat, contact local animal shelters, animal rescue centers and your veterinarian for assistance. Some animal rescue centers offer spaying and neutering services at reduced or no cost to you. Regardless of what you do, make sure you spend time with the cat and get it acclimated to human contact.