Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Prepare
• Part 2 of 3: Catching a street cat
• Part 3 of 3: Finding a new home for the street cat
• Tips
• Warnings

In the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has officially adopted a policy to reduce the cat population. This policy is called Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), and aims to collect all street cats and to neuter or neuter them so that they cannot reproduce. If there is a sleazy kitten in your area right now, or a kitten on the chain in your front yard, you may need to keep him safe. Whether it's a lost cat that can be returned to its owners or a wild cat that doesn't have a home, if done right, bringing a street cat into your home can be a real boon to the community - and a rewarding experience. besides. Learn to safely catch a stray by preparing well, luring the animal, and making sure it is safe.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Prepare

1. Keep an eye on the cat for a while. Before you catch the cat, and even before you approach the cat, you should observe it. See if he has any illnesses or injuries. For your own safety and that of the cat, it is important to evaluate the cat's health and come up with a plan for when and how you can help it. If the cat has been around for a few days, keep a close eye on it for a while. If it's a friendly cat, your job will be a lot easier. If not, there is work to be done.
   • If the cat is fickle, breathing heavily, drooling excessively, or acting lazily or unusually, call the animal shelter or ambulance. Do not try to approach the cat if it is showing symptoms of illness.
   • Not every cat needs to be caught. Don't try to catch well-fed cats with collars on. Call your neighbors and investigate - see if a cat is missing somewhere.
2. Buy a cat trap. Cat traps are extremely safe and simple, and can trap cats easily and humanely. You put some food in the trap, and the doors will close automatically when an animal walks in. After you have caught the cat, you should trap it and take it to the vet. Do not trap the cat before taking it to the vet.
   • Vets and shelters can lend you a trap to catch a stray cat. You don't necessarily have to buy one, but it can be useful if you live in the countryside and often need to move animals.
   • If you can't find or use a trap, try using a cat crate or a box where you put food in. A cat trap is safer and more effective, but if you don't have one on hand, the other ways work too.
   • Do not try to catch the cat by picking it up or catching it with a bag or pillowcase. This only makes the cats angry and agitated; you also run the risk of injuring yourself or the cat. Under no circumstances pick up the cat with your bare hands. Treat street cats as you would other wild animals, even if you hope to take the cat into your home later. Give the cat some time.
3. Prepare a place where you can keep the cat. You will need to find a suitable place to keep the cat, even if you only want to take it to the vet. Ideally, you catch the cat as close to the spay / neuter date as possible so that you can take the cat to the vet immediately. However, if you need to take the cat home for a while before that happens, prepare a quiet room in your house for the cat to stay in.
   • Street cats should stay somewhere quiet so that the cat can feel comfortable and calm down. Basements, guest bedrooms, and other rooms where you can control the temperature and keep dark will help calm the cat and allow it to feel safe.
   • If you are going to take the cat to the vet within 12 hours, don't worry about the food. The cat will be fine, and it's a lot safer to leave the cage closed - you don't want to chase the cat again. Give your cat some fresh drinking water and let it sit in the trap.
4. Make an appointment with the vet to have the cat spayed / neutered. Whatever you plan on doing with the cat, this should be your first step.

Part 2 of 3: Catching a street cat

1. Start feeding the cat, then stop. For a few days in a row, put out food or treats so that the cat will return. You want to make sure the cat has a reason to return first, and then a reason to take the food from the trap.
   • After you make the appointment with the vet, you can stop putting the food down for a day or two. This way you can set up the trap and make sure that he will enter it to get the food.
   • Use dry cat food or canned food. If you don't have anything to do, you can put a little bit of tuna or some other canned fish. You can do this if you don't feel like buying cat food.
   • Don't give the cats milk. Contrary to popular belief, cats have a hard time handling dairy products. So you can cause quite a mess if you give the cat milk. Only give the street cat solid cat food.
2. Set up the trap and put bait in it. Use the same cat food or treats that you use to feed the cat. Lay out some paper so that the cat doesn't have to walk over the bars, and put the food at the back of the trap so that the cat has to walk all the way in - this activates the spring.
   • Each trap will work slightly differently, but they are all pretty simple. In general, you only have to open the door and fasten it. When the door closes, the cat will be trapped.
   • Cover the trap with a towel or a rug, without hiding the entrance. This makes the fall seem less suspicious.
   • Do not put the food in a bowl or container. If the cat is caught, it can run around and do damage to itself if there are items in the cage.
3. Check the trap regularly. Cat traps are very safe, but you don't want to leave the cat outside unattended for extended periods of time. That is why it is important to check the trap regularly and see if the cat has already been caught. If so, take it home or take it to the vet right away.
4. Bring the cat in. If the cat is caught, cover the trap with a cloth and place it in the room you have prepared. The cat will be calmer if you put the trap away in the dark. So dim the lights and cover the cage with a rug or blanket.
   • Trap the cat. Do not release the cat just yet, or try to place it in a crate. If you do, you will have to do the process all over again. Once the cat is caught and moved, it will prefer to nestle in a small corner anyway - and the trap is perfect for that. The cat will be fine.

Part 3 of 3: Finding a new home for the street cat

1. If necessary, have the cat spayed / neutered and treated. Make an appointment with the vet if you haven't already. Here you can have the cat spayed / neutered.
2. Put the cat out again. If you have taken care of the cat, you can return it to where it came from or release it elsewhere. This approach is recommended by the ASPCA. If the cat seemed fine to dig in your area, you can just take it out there and put food out every now and then.
   • If you don't want the cat to come over again, put it elsewhere. Ask the vet about a possible solution, or look for another solution.
3. Contact a local cat shelter, or shelter. If you live in the city, it may be irresponsible to release the cat. Cat shelters and shelters are often a much better option. They will do everything in their power to find a suitable home for the cat.
   • Many shelters will cover the costs of the vet. So keep your receipts.
   • If possible, you can offer to take care of the cat until a suitable home is found for it. Some institutions have more cats than foster homes. Don't take it personally if she prefers to place the cat with someone more experienced with cats.
4. If necessary, try to find a new home for the cat. If you are sure that the cat does not have an owner and you are uncomfortable with moving the cat elsewhere, try to find a suitable home for it yourself. You can advertise, ask around, and try to find a suitable candidate.
   • Ask your friends and family if they know anyone who wants to take care of the cat. Ask your closest friends and acquaintances first. That way, the cat will certainly find a good home, and you can even visit him just like that.
   • Advertise the cat in the neighborhood. Make sure the profile is based on fairness. You can also place an ad online or in the local newspapers.
5. Consider keeping the cat for yourself. Some street cats make great pets when they get used to a human home. Think carefully about whether you have the time and money to take care of a pet. Also make sure that you can raise the cat in a good environment. If you plan to keep the animal, make sure it is properly examined by your vet and that it is a safe animal.

Tips

• Wear sturdy clothes in case the cat tries to scratch you.
• Research each facility before taking your cat anywhere.
• Some animal shelters and animal organizations will lend you a trap for free.
• Cats can be quite picky when it comes to people. If the cat doesn't get hot or cold from you, ask a friend of yours to try it.

Warnings

• Street cats can carry diseases such as the feline leukemia virus. So wash your hands and clothing thoroughly before coming into contact with your own pets again. Keep the stray away from your own pets and their belongings until you can take the stray to the vet.
• Watch out when you take kittens away from their mothers. Kittens should stay with their mothers for at least four to six weeks. If you catch a breastfeeding mother, the kittens can die if left alone.
• Animal bites can have serious consequences! If you get bitten, get checked. Keep the cat in quarantine. You don't want him to transmit rabies or other illnesses to others.
• It's okay to pick up kittens by their scruff. However, if you pick up an adult cat there, it could choke.
• Never feed a cat with an owner unless you have permission to do so. The cat can have a condition such as diabetes. The cat can also get used to being fed outside and therefore leave its owner.