How to wean a cat from the street

The process of weaning a street cat requires love and patience. It can be difficult for cats to adjust to life at home because many of them are either born outside or have spent some time living on the streets. Helping them feel safe and secure in a new setting, away from the threats of the outside world, is the ultimate goal.

It’s important to comprehend the difficulties these cats encounter. They may be afraid, apprehensive, or even suspicious of people. This piece will explore practical methods for fostering trust and preparing your home for your new feline companion. You can assist them in making the move from a life of homelessness to one of comfort with the appropriate strategy.

Always keep in mind that each cat is different as you begin this process. While some people can adjust quickly, others might take longer. You can gently lead them toward a happier, healthier life indoors by being persistent and patient. Let’s look at the actions you can take to ensure a seamless transition.

Which particular facets of weaning a street cat are you curious to learn more about? Are you seeking, for instance, success stories, emotional support, or helpful advice?

“I, a cat, go where I want, and walk by myself”

Some purebred cats who have never ventured outside their apartment walls view the street as a foreign place and become extremely anxious when they unintentionally find themselves outside. Such animals require extensive training to learn how to walk on a leash, and transporting them becomes an adventure in and of itself.

Nonetheless, the majority of feline members of the tribe are independent and freedom-loving, so after they’ve experienced freedom, they’ll be itching to go outside repeatedly. Notably, the striped and whiskered ones rapidly adjust to life in the wild, seemingly storing up all the knowledge of their untamed ancestors. Cats find the street appealing for a variety of reasons, some of which we can list here:

1. Genetic memory of ancestors. This applies to the ubiquitous cats of the "noble" breed, whose parents, grandparents led a free life and took care of their own food and safety.
2. Hunting instinct. A bloodthirsty predator slumbers in every cat, so the innate desire to ambush neighbors" pigeons or the excitement of mouse hunting can provoke frequent unauthorized absences.
3. Territorial instinct. The cat considers the apartment to be its territory, but individuals that leave the dwelling expand the private boundaries and set “control points” in the form of odor tags. Once in the wild, the cat first bypasses his possessions, explores the “messages” from relatives and updates personal marks.
4. Sexual instinct. The instinct of continuation of the genus makes sexually mature animals persistently look for a couple and acquire offspring. Everyone knows the loud night serenads of the March cats and cruel fights with the souvenists. Periods of sexual hunting in cats (estrus) can also flow very violently, accompanied by refusal of food, characteristic postures and draft screams.
5. Estimated instinct. Curiosity and desire to discover new horizons are especially characteristic of young animals, so striving to the street for a cat means to deal with boredom and monotony.
6. Social behavior. Despite the fact that many cats are loners, they are not alien to communication with their relatives and the corresponding manifestation of emotions.
7. Need for physical activity. Homemade cats are carried out in a sleepy and drowsy state up to 18 hours a day, however, to maintain muscle tone and general health, a motorcade is important for them and physical activity. At large, it can be a rude area, jumping, gymnastics and overcoming various obstacles.
8. Energy discharge and activation of metabolism. Undoubtedly, cats with regular access to the street do not suffer from poor appetite, hypodynamia and obesity.
9. Psychological hardening and personal experience. On the street, the animal is influenced by various stimuli, including negative and potentially dangerous, but gradually learns to choose the right line of behavior and confront stress factors. Undoubtedly, the nervous system of a street cat is much more stress -resistant than the psyche of an animal who considers the apartment the whole world.
10. Change of residence. It is known that cats are more attached to the place than to the owner. Therefore, moving can provoke the desire of the whiskered-striped to return to its homeland.
11. Lack of contact with the owner, bad attitude. Despite the relative independence of cats and the ability to distance themselves in communication with people, they are very sensitive to negativity and may prefer the street to a home where they are not welcome.

Dangers of self-walking

A cat that is used to going "AWOL" usually makes it back home, but the absence can be dangerous and cause problems for several days.

A solitary cat that walks can:

• die under the wheels of a car;
• wander far from home and get lost;
• become a victim of animal abusers;
• be maimed or killed by dogs;
• get injured in a fight with rival cats;
• become infected with an infection or parasites;
• eat poisoned bait or a rodent;
• climb a tree out of fear and be unable to get down.

A female cat’s street adventures typically result in an unexpected litter that needs to be disposed of. Apart from these unexpected events, the cat-walker actually starts to become a stray animal and only returns home once every few days for food and sleep.

Ways to wean a cat from the street

If the owner is adamant about turning a freedom-loving animal into a domestic pet, then significant behavioral and psychological changes will need to be made.

Naturally, the cat used to self-walking will at first view indoor keeping as "house arrest," protest, become anxious, and persistently request to be let outside.

To ensure the success of the "domestication" concept, further steps must be taken to address the interior, specifically:

1. It is necessary to install strong mosquito nets or bars on the windows so that the mustachioed-striped one cannot dive into the window or squeeze through the crack when the windows are open in ventilation mode. The cat"s stay within the closed balcony will brighten up the adaptation period, but if there is an open balcony, it is necessary to exclude the pet"s access there.
2. To reduce the cat"s desire to scratch the front or balcony door, jump on it and loudly lament about its hard fate, it is necessary to make the door an unpleasant and even frightening object. For these purposes, use spray repellents from pet stores, applying the contents of the can to the door leaf, lay out fresh citrus zest nearby or simply stop the cat"s decisive actions by spraying it in the face with a stream of water from a spray bottle, clapping your hands or expressing your disapproval with a loud shout. If the cat can open the door on its own by pressing the handle, it is recommended to place a small light box with dry peas on top, and as soon as the tailed clever guy pulls the handle, the peas will begin to bombard from above, physically without causing harm.
3. To diversify the cat"s leisure, various toys are purchased, a play complex with hammocks, hanging shelves, multi-level houses and teasers, as well as scratching posts of various configurations. To prevent the pet from getting bored and to be able to realize its hunting instincts, the owner should allocate about an hour a day for active games and fun with the cat, training and practicing tricks. A splash of energy in the right direction and the development of good manners will prevent such unwanted manifestations of cat protest as torn curtains, scratched furniture and torn wallpaper.
4. An “arrested” cat, who is upset, will need a secluded corner where he could calm down and forget himself in sleep. Such a personal space can be a comfortable bed, a closed frame house or a soft “burrow-tunnel”. It is strictly forbidden to disturb the animal that has climbed into the den.
5. In order to train it to use the toilet within the apartment, it is necessary to purchase a tray of the appropriate size and wood filler, as close as possible to natural bedding. Felinologists recommend installing 2-3 trays in different places, giving the cat the opportunity to independently choose the most suitable place. The main rule is that the toilet area should not be located near the cat"s dining room or sleeping place.

Also read:

• how to train a kitten to be handled;
• how to wean a cat from screaming;
• can you walk cats.

The process of weaning a street cat demands tolerance and comprehension. Since cats are naturally independent, it may take some time to acclimate them to a home setting. It’s critical to go at their pace and progressively earn their trust.

The first step is to establish a safe space at home. Ensure they have a comfortable and safe space. To help them settle in, provide food, water, and a litter box. It will be simpler for them to adjust if they feel more at ease.

Don’t hurry things along. Use toys and treats to gently engage in conversation with your cat. They may be more inclined to seek your company if they learn to associate your presence with enjoyment and safety thanks to this encouraging feedback.

Finally, remember that each cat is unique. Some people might adjust more quickly than others. Remember that your main objective is to give them a stable, loving environment where they can grow, and acknowledge any progress they make, no matter how tiny.

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