So a Stray Cat Has Adopted You — Now What?
Sometimes a cat shows up in your neighborhood or on your doorstep, and it’s obvious that the cat is feral. There’s no way you’re going to lure the cat inside or touch her, and the best you can do is feed her, and hopefully, implement some TNR. The large gray area with free-roaming cats, however, are stray cats. A stray cat may seem feral at first. But given time, you might get close to them and even tempt them inside. With time, they might make a wonderful house cat, companion, or pet for you or another good home.
So, if it seems that a stray cat might be adopting you, what are the next best steps to take? Here’s the story of my Karma, and what she showed me about how to open your arms, and home, to a stray cat.
1. Go slowly, and be open to any curves in the road
Are the cats in question feral or stray cats? Photography ©Dovapi | Getty Images.
Start by determining whether the cat is feral. I know this is easier said than done.
Here’s how it played out with Karma. I began feeding her outside. Initially, she would not come close to the house at all, so I set the food on the other side of the yard, as far from the house as possible. I fed her at regular times so that she got used to the routine. Then I started to move the food closer to the house.
Karma showed no reluctance to come closer, even though she would run away if I came outside while she was eating. I got to the point where the food was right inside the garage and she was still coming in and eating. But I did this over a period of several weeks and I didn’t rush it.
2. How to get a stray cat inside
One day, I had a hunch that I might get her in the door. I shut all the other cats inside the house, and left the front door opened to a small enclosed breezeway we have. She came in. Somehow, I was able to close the door behind her.
Did she freak? Yes, a little. But fortunately she was so hungry that she got her head temporarily stuck in a Dixie cup full of food that I had grabbed quickly. That enabled me to quickly get the other cats in the bedroom and shut that door. Then, I opened the house door. She dashed in, but again, I had a feeling she was a gentle cat — just scared.
Initially she hid in a tiny utility room close near the front door. I gave her some time. I was easily able to reach in and scratch her chin. She began purring. I knew she was definitely not feral … but she could have come close to that line.
Every journey with taming a stray cat will be a little different. You sometimes need to rely on your observations and your gut feeling. Does the cat seem friendly? Scared or truly wild? To me, Karma seemed scared, but not yet truly wild. She was close to feral, though, and I don’t think she would have survived long, had she turned feral or not been integrated into our household.
3. Once inside, isolate the stray cat until you can take necessary health care steps
If you succeed in getting your stray cat inside, don’t let her have any contact with your other cats (if any) until you’ve had her vaccinated, checked and tested for contagious diseases like feline leukemia. Wash your own hands if going between these cats in a multi-cat household.
4. If other cats share your home, introduce them to the stray cat slowly
Introduce a stray cat to your other cats, slowly. Photography ©Wanderer Lindsay | Getty Images.
Let the cats get to know your stray cat from either side of, or under a door. Eventually, I might put the new cat in a carrier, and let the other cats take their time checking her out. I might even put other cats in carriers, and let the new cat check the house out. I might introduce her to one cat at a time, if there are several in the household.
I use my intuition a lot, and this is no exception. If it feels as if it’s going really well, it may be a fast (and successful) introduction. If someone seems really bent out of shape, I’ll take my time and make sure that all the cats get some extra love during this time of transition.
5. Be ready for surprises with your new, formerly stray cat
We can never know the baggage that a rescued stray cat may carry, but it may manifest once we get to know these newcomers better. Be ready for surprises.
My cats are indoor cats, but several months after Karma’s successful integration to the household, she managed to escape outside. We almost did not get her back. Once outside, it was as if her personality changed. She became “distant,” seemed almost wild, and would not respond to us.
When we were able to get her, thank goodness (we remained very calm and moved very slowly, so as not to set off more of her skittishness), we took her inside. Once inside, my husband held her up to the window (thinking that he was showing her that all was okay) and she shrank from the outside. Of course, she loves to look out windows now, but it was a strange experience. Be ready for these.
Kieran, another stray who adopted me, would not look out the windows for many months, and didn’t know how to play. It was as if he needed to learn to be a carefree cat. So be ready, and patient, when some of these surprises surface.
Rescue is a big calling. Whether you’re able to integrate a stray cat, or find him a home, or help a feral cat get through another winter — this is all good Karma. (Pun intended.)
What experience have you had with stray cats that have adopted you? What have you learned, and what have you done to make the process smooth? Share your stories in comments!
Thumbnail: Photography by beeboys / Shutterstock.
This article was originally published in 2015.
Read more about what to do when you find a stray cat:
- My Cats are Mad that I’m Feeding a Stray Cat Under Their Noses
- Do You Get Too Attached to the Feral Cats in Your Care?
- How Blind Parking Lot Kittens Led Two Friends to Care for their Local Feral Cat Colony
About the author
About Catherine Holm: Told that she is funny but doesn’t know it, accused of being an unintentional con artist by her husband, quiet, with frequent unannounced bursts into dancing liveliness, Cat Holm loves writing about, working for, and living with cats. She is the author of the cat-themed memoir Driving with Cats: Ours for a Short Time, the creator of Ann Catanzaro cat fantasy story gift books, and the author of a short story collection about people and place. She loves to dance, be outside whenever possible, read, play with cats, make music, do and teach yoga, and write. Cat lives in the woods, which she loves as much as really dark chocolate, and gets regular inspiration shots along with her double espresso shots from the city.
12 comments on “So a Stray Cat Has Adopted You — Now What?”
There’s a kitten that comes to my porch all the time and my daughter feeds it. It doesn’t seem scared and follows us when I’m going to work or she’s going to school. It even has tried to come in the house when my daughter comes from school. We don’t have any pets in the house so what is my next step? Do I allow the cat in or try to call the local animal shelter first?
Yes! Let the cat in if you are ready for the commitment. Congratulations, you’ve been adopted !
Happy New Year & thanks for being here !!
In early December I was adopted by a stray cat. It was the Saturday of ” Snowstorm Diego” & it was just starting to snow. I was checking my mail box & a wet, muddy, long-haired white cat was under foot, yelling to be taken out of the snow, so I did.
She was hungry and scared, but it was obvious that she’d around people before. I’ve taken her to the local shelter for an exam & shots & worming. They think that she’s about 7 & has leukemia. Since the deworming she’s a new cat, of course. You can’t feel ribs anymore and she even acts like she wants to play some… until… she wants to scratch & bite the heck out of me ! She is very affectionate one minute & hostile the next. I let her have her space and don’t really push her, I hope.
Finally, can you tell me how to deal with a cat like her ?
BTW.. her name is Diego ) Thanks !!
Hi there,
Thanks for taking this kitty in! Here are some articles that might help —
https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-behavior-problems-tips-cats-aggressive-aggression
https://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/cat-aggression
https://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/cat-love-bites-what-do-they-mean
I recently had to move home after 6 years, during this time there I have seen so many stray cats in my back garden, 4 kittens who I was able to bring home and hand rear,- their mothers sadly were virtually kittens themselves who didn’t manage to feed them – luckily I was able to keep the 4 alive and are all doing very well today, despite the house move. In the meantime, 2 strays I was able to get close to eventually and for whom I built an outside shelter for also moved with me, which was a challenge as neither had ever been in a carrier or out of their domain, but delighted I took them too. I have read up on how to keep them safe, which has meant they have been in my large conservatory, with their own familiar cat houses, blankets etc for 10 days, but I want to get them to be able to wander around the new large garden. If anyone knows the best method to do this, ensuring they won’t be freaked out or try to bolt over the gate, fence etc, I would love to hear how. I did open the doors the other day for over an hour during daylight, but neither of them ventured outside. I have tried to get a collar on them, but this is not an option as they were so distressed. I want them to be safe and secure, especially as my new garden is now next to a quiet road, but cars nonetheless nearby. Thanks
Hi there,
Thank you for caring about these cats! We suggest you contact a local humane or rescue society for advice best tailored to your situation.
My cat Snuggles was formerly s stray cat in another neighborhood that I did business in s few times a week. I started to notice this swrrt ginger boy ewho apparently was being fed”people food” do I started feeding him cat food and leaving cans of food with the building janitor to feed to him on the days I wasn’t there. My friend named him Snuggles and he would react to my calling his name when I arrived. After a couple of weeks he was letting me gently pet him. I started to fall in love with him. After seeing him get attacked by two cats and seeing how scared he was and having seen him sick and curled up in a ball the decision to take him home was made. I needed him to have real toys to play with and not plastic bags Many people sacid he would have died if I didn’t take him. So I showed up with a carrier and he softly gave a few cry’s. The next day I already had arranged to have him neutered and vaccinated. This was over 4 years ago and I have never regretted for a minute becoming Snuggles “hooman.” He looks out the window but always avoids the front door. My shy and gentle boy now lowly purrs on a regular basis. ????
Our elderly princess, Chert, was a former stray. We don’t know how long she was on the streets, but she had been spayed before and was quick to take over my apartment when I started feeding her inside it. We just listened to what we wanted, gave her space, cheek ribbons and food. It was a very smooth transition as she clearly wanted to be a house cat once more. The first few months after we got her, she was distant and elusive when she would get out or be let out, but over time became more comfortable and would come beg for pets when I was out gardening.
haha, my cat was a feral cat…he lived for 2 years on the streets and i took him home. for a couple of weeks we locked him at home with us, then we opened our garden and let him out…he can go for days at a time and he always comes back home, it just takes time
I was lucky to meet a stray neighborhood cat we nicknamed Polly since she is a polydactyl gooden long hair tabby. She has been visiting for about 12 years, and we estimate she was about 1 or 2 when she first came around. We put out dry food for her when she stopped by, and she loved to sit with us and be petted. She was only afraid of adult men, and would run if they came near. We tried to keep her overnight in the garage one cold night, because she went in and wouldn’t leave (just kept peeking under the door). Overnight she tore the curtains off the back door, chewed on the garage door rubber in an effort to escape. I had my late cat’s litter box, cat tree, new water and food out there but she just wanted out of there.
She still comes to visit but scoots out of the garage if I try to close the door. She never liked to be picked up, but would climb into a seated lap. Last summer it looked like someone gave her a puppy cut haircut to get the mats off. The summers before I would try to brush them ou or pick out the burrs, sometimes she lost big patches of hair which I think got pulled out. She’s always thin and won’t eat dry food here but her teeth look like they have been cleaned at some point.
Now we have a new cat visiting (all black shorthair) we feed and it keeps its distance but is coming closer and started “talking” to us. Not sure if it is male or female. Can’t get close enough to see in the dark.
No, what she did was save a life. This is why there are thousands upon thousands of strays. People get tired of taking care of their cat and throw it outside to fend for itself thinking it’s ok for a cat to live on it’s own outside. They are starving,freezing, getting hit by cars, being abused by sickos and many other horrid things. Thank you for taking the time to save a cats life
Sounds more like you took a cat prisoner and wouldn’t let her go once she escaped :/