Will stray cats stay if you feed them?

If you feed a feral cat, the cat will usually wait until you leave to approach the food. If you stop feeding the cats, they will likely stay in the same area but be forced to expand their search for food. The large number of hungry cats can create conflicts with other cats and humans in the area.

Do stray cats come back?

Stray cats may be reunited with their families or adopted into new homes, but feral cats will find it difficult or impossible to adapt to living as pets in close contact with people. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to improve feral cats’ health and quality of life.

Do stray cats want a home?

If you’ve ever spent time with a cat, you know that they love tiny spaces. Whether it’s an empty cardboard box or a spot between two pillows, a cat will wriggle their way into the opening. “All cats need their own little hideouts, but former strays especially, as they’re so used to having all the space they want.”

What happens if you feed a stray cat?

By feeding the stray cat you are essentially inviting an intruder into your cat’s territory and giving them good reason to keep coming back. You should consider the impact that feeding a stray will have on your own cat’s happiness before deciding to feed it.

How do you get a stray cat to come back?

Feed a stray cat once and you can bet the animal will come around a second time looking for food. If you feed the animal a second time, you are reinforcing the behavior. It will come around again, and again. It will keep on coming as long as food is readily available.

Can you take a stray cat as a pet?

Take the animal to a veterinarian who can confirm it is in good health. Also have the cat spayed or neutered so it does not reproduce. Under these circumstances, a stray cat can make a very nice pet. You will be able to feed the animal, care for it, give it shelter, and even enjoy its company.

Is it OK to handle a feral cat?

Don’t try to handle a feral cat. Most feral cats cannot be adopted because they are simply too frightened of people. Feeding a stray cat has its pros and cons. If you decide to feed a stray cat, you have plenty of options. They would probably enjoy dry or canned cat food or some tasty tuna fish.