home Diseases How to tame a wild cat from the street. Street kitten. How to tame? Reasons for refusing a tray

How to tame a wild cat from the street. Street kitten. How to tame? Reasons for refusing a tray

Many cities are full of stray cats. For example, there are more than 70 million stray cats in the United States. In Russia, where the population is noticeably smaller and there is no practice of keeping similar statistics on animals, the numbers will be somewhat different, but this does not change the seriousness of the situation. Many municipalities are unable and unwilling (due to lack of funds and interest) to solve this problem nothing more than catching and euthanizing animals. Due to the deplorable situation of a stray cat or kitten and the high risk of the animal dying from accident or illness and hunger, you may feel it is your duty to help it self-help. This process will take some time from you, so you will have to be patient. However, successfully taming and helping an animal in need will give you an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

Steps

How to lure an outdoor cat

Learn to distinguish lost stray cats from feral ones. A stray cat had owners in the past and is only now left without a roof over its head, while a wild cat was born on the street and is initially hostile to people, so it is usually considered unsuitable for taming.

Take precautions. Feral cats can be unpredictable, so it's wise to take a number of precautions if you decide to try befriending one. Cat bites often become inflamed, sometimes quite severely. Before you have any contact with your cat, be sure to wear long sleeves and long pants.

Another danger is the lack of knowledge about whether the cat has a rabies vaccination and whether it is infected. Rely on the feeling common sense. If your cat hisses and growls at you, appears sick (has discharge from the nose and eyes, is covered in scabs, is sneezing/coughing, or is breathing heavily), or is acting strange, do not attempt to approach her. Call the catching service and return to your home.

Cats are quite capricious, freedom-loving, independent animals. Each individual, even within the same breed, has its own disposition, temperament, habits, and character. Some mustaches constantly require the attention of their owners and literally do not get off the laps or hands of their beloved owner, others are reluctant to make contact with a person and allow themselves to be stroked and cuddled only when they have the desire and the mood. How to raise an affectionate, easy-going pet? How to accustom a kitten to being held? You will learn the answers to these questions from this article.

Unfortunately, not all small kittens are happy to sit quietly and spend time in the arms of their owner, especially in stressful situations or if the pet is very scared. In addition, not all furry cats require increased attention and avoid close contact with humans. This applies not only to wild street adult cats, cats of certain breeds, but also to kittens that you left helpless little lump. But you really want to cuddle and caress your beloved pet.

Cats tend to be arrogant. In most cases, cats allow themselves to be loved, accept our care, guardianship, and attention. Even a small kitten will not always sit quietly in your arms, allowing itself to be squeezed for hours. Remember that cats are very capricious and freedom-loving animals.

Why don't cats like to be held? The reasons for this behavior may be the following:

Breed characteristics, genetic predisposition.

Fear of heights, loss of balance. There are cats that are afraid of heights, weightlessness and do not like balance. Sitting in your arms, the kitten experiences fear and discomfort.

Incorrect socialization, adaptation.

Frequent stressful situations , movable type nervous system. If the cat is scared, has suffered severe, even the most calm kitten, feeling anxious, will try to escape from his hands and run to a safe place.

Rough treatment of animals. Cats remember their abuser very well, and if you used physical violence, the pet will no longer fully trust you.

Sharp unpleasant odors , according to the cat, coming from the owner and his hands. Cats do not like the aroma of perfumes, especially citrus notes, or the smell of tobacco. Perhaps you have previously petted another cat or dog and the smell of the “stranger” scares the kitten away.

We quickly accustom a kitten to hands (British, Scottish)

How to train a cat to sit quickly in your arms? The complexity of this process largely depends on the age, character, temperament, breed characteristics, and upbringing of your mustachioed pet.

For example, British, Scottish fold kitten It will take longer to get used to it.
As a rule, kittens develop socialization skills around the second week of their life. Therefore, from now on, you can carefully pick up the kitten in your arms, gradually accustoming it to hands and affection. The process of socialization and adaptation should be as favorable as possible for a small pet.

Accordingly, the sooner you accustom an animal to communication, the faster and easier it is to achieve the desired result. Even if you got a cat and he is not six months old, if the right approach accustoming an animal to your hands and raising an affectionate pet will not be difficult. Especially if the cat had a positive experience in communicating with the previous owner or with a person.

During the first days, do not bother your baby with your excessive attention. The little pet explores a new territory, gets used to the smells and surroundings. Everything is interesting and curious to him.

Protect the animal from stress, communicate with the kitten in a gentle tone, but at the same time pay attention to the cat as much as he wishes.

Do not squeeze or forcefully hold the animal in your arms if it breaks out. If the kitten meows, lower the pet to the floor, caress, calm, stroke, interest him with a toy.

At first, you need to hold the kitten in your arms for no more than 3-5 minutes, gradually increasing the time. Talk to the kitten in a gentle tone, treat him with a treat, and interest him in playing together.

You can take a feather and play with your baby when he is on your lap. As soon as the fluffy gets used to it and begins to trust the owner, he will sit peacefully and more calmly in his arms.

Advice! Pet and pick up a sleepy, just woken up kitten. Hold him in your arms for at least a few seconds. Over time, the baby will understand that the owner’s hands provide not only food, but also pleasant sensations.

If you want to pet a kitten and pick up a pet, do it as carefully as possible. The animal should not experience any discomfort painful sensations. Hold the kitten by the front legs while supporting the back legs. The pet will not like sudden movements and lifting, and he may be afraid of such actions.

Read also: Choosing a dry toilet for cats - review of devices

If the kitten refuses to come to you, does not want to sit in your arms, call him in a gentle tone and treat him with a treat. Take a toy, a ball, a bow on a string and make sure that during the game, chasing the “prey”, the pet jumps onto your lap.

As soon as the baby is in your arms, caress, stroke under the chin, behind the ear, reward with praise or a treat. Stroke your baby until he begins to struggle and become restless.

When the kitten is in your arms, monotonous, affectionate conversation helps to establish contact with the animal. A cat, listening carefully to the speech of its owner, calms down, closes its eyes, and feels safe.

If the kitten readily responds to affection and needs your attention, pick it up as often as possible and hold it for as long as it wants. No violent actions or insults on your part. Be patient, surround the animal with affection and care, and the furry pet will definitely reciprocate.

What not to do

Even if the kitten is reluctant to make contact, does not want to sit quietly on your hands or knees, never scream, and especially do not hit the animal. Violent disrespect will only make the situation worse. Just patience and consistency in action.

Do not grab the kitten by the scruff of the neck, do not pull the front legs, and do not make sudden movements. The animal should not feel that you are a threat. Your hands should evoke only positive associations. Make the animal want to sit on your hands and lap.

Many of us sooner or later see a kitten or even an adult cat on the street, which we simply cannot pass by, and then we face a serious problem: Should I take the animal into the house, and how can I then tame it so that it can always live in the family? This problem is extremely important, and its solution should be approached with all responsibility, because stray cats are not always easy to train and can take root in a home. Therefore, you will have to work hard.

First steps in a new home

If the animal recently came into the street (for example, it ran away from its previous owners or was thrown out), then it will get comfortable in the house literally in the first days, and there will be no special hassle with it. But a feral cat that has lived for a long time in street conditions will have to be tamed gradually.

So, a found kitten (or adult cat) is brought into the house, where should you start? First step (after first feeding) - water treatments. Even if the kitten seems clean, in reality this is far from the case. Therefore, taming a kitten must begin with a bath, and it is advisable to immediately wash the pet special shampoos against fleas and ticks.

The next step is that the found kitten must receive anthelmintic. If you don't know which one is best to give, consult your veterinarian. He should help you rid your new pet of ear mites, as well as conduct a full examination of the kitten and give an opinion on its health. Therefore, you should plan a visit to the doctor immediately. And be prepared for the fact that the kitten will have to be treated (most often for a fungus, but there are other “street” diseases), and if you don’t want to waste time on this, it’s better not to get a pet.

Taming a cat: basic secrets

The next stage of your life together with the pet there will be its taming. It's pretty difficult process, because stray cats often do not trust people, having had negative experiences with them. It will be easiest for you if you picked up a kitten under 7-8 weeks of age: the baby still fully trusts people and sees them as possible friends. In all other cases, be prepared for the fact that at first you will have to own experience find out what cat xenophobia is - fear, and often even dislike, of to strangers. It manifests itself in the fact that the animal simply cannot feel calm in the presence of people, and in such a situation, taming a cat will take a long period.

It is also worth preparing in advance for the fact that the animal (especially if it is an adult) will retain a number of “street” habits: stray cats actually never become indoor cats, maintaining aggressiveness and a negative attitude towards strangers even several years after getting into the house. Considering this, be patient: it is very difficult for an animal, like a person, to learn to live in new conditions. Here's what you need to do if you're wondering how to tame a cat without harming it:

more attention and affection, although, most likely, the found pet is unlikely to go into your arms right away, so try to express affection with your voice,

the ability to act gradually - taming a kitten begins with gradual feeding, and then training in “domestic” life,

the ability not to limit the freedom of an animal - those who already know how to tame adult cat, understand that the animal is often afraid of being locked in a cage, so he needs to create maximum freedom in the house,

ability to take cat aggression- at first the cat will be very tense and may see your every action as a threat.

How to tame a cat?

This is perhaps the most difficult thing! Sometimes the owners of a cat adopted from the street fail to do this, so don’t look for effective advice about how to tame an adult cat. Try to act on a whim. For example: Feed a cat and then reach out to her with the intention of petting her. At the first moment, the animal will jump away or even fall to the floor, but if you persistently hold your hand in the air, showing that you do not intend to harm the animal, the cat will sooner or later reach out with its muzzle to your hand. Don't try to forcefully pet her, just try to touch her head and make a few light strokes. If the cat stubbornly refuses to make such contact, try... playing with it! Offer an interesting toy, and sooner or later she will definitely respond to this offer!

You need to act in a similar way if you want to know how to tame a cat in your arms: if the animal trusts you, pick it up carefully and never hold it forcibly if the pet breaks away. It is better to show more patience and attention, waiting for a wayward cat to come to you on its own, than to scare away the beast in the very first days, and then constantly be tormented by the question of how to tame a cat that does not trust you.

What to do to accustom a kitten to being held?

Of course, accustoming a kitten to affection should begin as early as possible. However, the future owner does not always have the opportunity to observe the development of the kitten from birth and begin to accustom it to handling at two weeks.

Depending on the age of the kitten, the process of getting used to hands can take place differently. How smaller kitten, the faster he adapts to a changing environment and learns how to behave in different situations. Try to play with the kitten as often as possible so that sympathy and trust arise between you.

In any case, you will need to be patient and begin the learning process gradually, without exposing the kitten to a sudden change of environment.

If your pet readily responds to affection, then you can often pick him up and stroke him. But when a kitten is not very willing to be held, you can use several training methods.

How to accustom a kitten to being held?

First, you can use a treat as a reward. When the kitten comes to you, do not give him food right away, but take him in your arms, stroke him and only after that give him a treat. Gradually increase the time the kitten is held in your arms, but never forcefully hold him.

Secondly, pet the kitten as often as possible, even if only for a few seconds. Not immediately, but the animal will understand that human hands do more than just provide food. You will not pose a threat to him, but on the contrary, you will become someone with whom he will feel safe.

Thirdly, you can gently stroke the sleepy kitten, take it in your arms and try to make it fall asleep and sleep on your lap. When the kitten wakes up, it will understand that in your hands is the safest and most comfortable place. Thus, you will become a reliable shelter for him.

You need to lift the kitten carefully; under no circumstances should you pick it up by the scruff of the neck or paws, or lift it abruptly, squeezing its body. The main thing is that your pet does not get scared.

If your plans include an exhibition career, then you need to accustom him to noise and large cluster people and other animals. And this process can also be quite lengthy.

Start by making sure your kitten is not afraid loud sounds: Gradually increase the volume on the TV or radio, turn on programs or movies with a lot of harsh sounds. When your pet stops responding to these stimuli, start taking him outside.

At first, you can leave the entrance for just a few minutes, gradually increasing the time and moving further and further from the entrance, on your hands. Then walk with the kitten, but at the same time follow safety rules: the kitten must be on a harness (even if you are walking without lowering the pet to the ground) and away from walking dogs.

Then you can visit stores together so that the kitten gets used to the hustle and bustle of people. At the same time, try to hold the kitten in your arms or on your shoulder, securing it with a harness.

One of the very successful methods of training for exhibitions is actually early start your kitten's participation in these activities. If you have the opportunity, try with enough early age(4 months) take your kitten to shows. To begin with, you can visit them as a guest, and then as a full participant. This way you can develop a wonderful show temperament in your animal.

Cats are very smart animals and can adapt to any situation. Your patience and love will help your kitten become an affectionate and calm companion, ready to accompany you in any situation.

Cats have long been tamed by humans, but stray animals are constantly found. If you pick up a small kitten on the street, but it doesn’t want to show its cute character, be prepared for the fact that it will take time for the baby to get used to it. How to tame wild kitten, not accustomed to affection, what his new owner needs to know so as not to expose himself to danger - about this and much more we'll talk in the article.

First of all, take into account the fact that a kitten hisses at people and is afraid if it was born on the street and did not live near them. But even such an animal can be weaned from displaying aggression if you apply effective methods. Remember - it is much easier to instill trust in a person in a small kitten than in an adult pet.

A mature cat most often hides in various basements, his character has long been formed, and teaching him good manners is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. Such animals are afraid of people, scour landfills in search of food and become too aggressive, as they are often forced to defend their lives in fights with other homeless animals.

The fact that a kitten or a grown-up pet sits still when it sees a person and is not too afraid of you indicates that it was most likely kicked out into the street. Pay attention to the fur: if it is clean, not tangled, and looks well-groomed, then you have a cat that already had a family and could have been on the street only recently. In any case, if you decide to pick up a kitten or even wild cat from the street, be patient: he will definitely scratch, damage furniture and play mischief in the house. However, with proper care and education, you can instill good manners in him.

When the feral kitten has calmed down a little, open the cage and gently reach out to him, not paying attention to his hissing. If an animal tries to hit you with its paw, brush it off - let it see who’s boss. Wait until the cat stops responding to your movements and give another treat, but do not put the food dish down.

After 15 hours, the tailed baby will be hungry enough to leave the cage on its own and take the goodies from your hands. If this happens, move carefully and calmly: any sudden movement or loud voice will frighten him. Hold the food in your hand, stroke your pet with your free hand, and then feed it.

Taming Rules

If a cat is not given to a person at all, it is necessary to accustom it to contact gradually.

Pour food into a bowl and place it outside the cage - this will force the kitten to come out of its hiding place. Then gradually move the bowl to the middle of the room. When the pet begins to move further, try petting it and then feed it.

The next stage in taming an animal is the tray. Stray cats relieve themselves on the sand or ground. That's why fill your cat's litter box with sand first. Every time the kitten starts to fuss, put him in the litter box. Thus, he will soon understand what his purpose is. Over time, replace the sand with purchased filler. Of course, sometimes cats are so stressed that they may urinate in inappropriate places. But any experience is temporary.