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A stranger may claim to have found your cat, but if the claim is genuine, you should contact them and ask them to describe the cat. Don’t give money to people who try to steal your cat. To make a kitten feel at a home, kitten-proof the house by checking for potential hazards like accessible cleaning supplies and unsecured windows before bringing your pet there. Next, purchase or make a warm, soft bed for the kitten and place the bed in a quiet area of your home. Then, place the kitten's food and water bowls near the bed. Finally, set up a kitten-sized litter box and purchase a few small toys for the kitten to play with.
They will never be comfortable around you if you only come to give them food and clean the litter box. Jessica Char is a Cat and Dog Trainer, Behavior Consultant, and the Founder of Feline Engineering and Canine Engineering. She specializes in modifying challenging pet behavior problems, such as fear and aggression, using positive reinforcement training protocols.
How You Can Teach Your Cat To Come Home
Consider your cat's behavior on a personal level, and her behavioral patterns in the last couple of weeks. Please enjoy this video from Jackson Galaxy, a well-known cat behaviorist and host of... Although not all cats will like or respond positively to being trained, many cats can and have been successfully trained in various ways. Upload an image of your cat and a description of it on your Facebook profile, as well as any local community Facebook groups. You might also supply your neighbors with an up-to-date photo of your cat and his or her name, telling them to keep a look out for him or her.
You may also hang up his blanket or leave objects with familiar scents in areas where you search for him. When your missing cat catches a whiff of a familiar scent, it could help serve as his guide as to which direction is home. Porch or up a tree), or lounging inside a stranger’s house. Friendly and curious cats are more likely to be comfortable in the presence of strange animals or people.
But What If They Don’t
In this stage, you’ll still want your cat to wear a collar and a bell. Leaving the harness on for extended periods can also be a good idea. That way, your cat will learn that the harness, though uncomfortable and new, doesn’t hurt.
You’ll also want to maintain the area around the litter box. Vacuum and dust the area around your cat’s litter box regularly. At the end of the day, keeping a home with a cat is a tad easier than keeping a house with a dog clean. Cats, for the most part, are pretty adept at cleaning themselves. If you’ve ever seen your cat just hanging out on the couch and grooming and licking their fur, you’ll see they’re pretty capable of cleaning themselves.
Healthy Cats Home
The first thing you should do is kitten-proof your home by viewing each room from kitten level. Close or block off windows, vents, and any nooks and crannies she might be tempted to explore. Move electronics and power cords, window blind cords, and any other strings out of reach. Completely remove objects that might pose a choking hazard. If the kittens will tolerate your presence, try using a laser cat toy in the night to see if they will come out to investigate. Think of this as taking a photo of the good behavior.
As soon as they do so, give them the treat and plenty of praise. Even subtle changes in their environment are enough to cause their stress levels to go sky-high. It’s because of this why your presence may stress a stray kitten, especially if it’s obvious that you are attempting to interact with it. By the way, I have noticed long ago that my cats tend to stay away from me each time I go home feeling stressed and exhausted and with a long face.
Why Adopting a Free Kitten Isn't Always a Good Idea
Despite its navigator qualities, your cat will be easily lost if she has not yet left the house. They are able to find their way by using their own senses of smell, and they use their sense of smell a lot when they are in search of food. If your cat can smell you, it is possible that she will find her way back home. If everything you’ve tried fails, you may want to think about seeing a veterinarian if your cat isn’t located. Some pets may require an examination for signs of injury or illness, and others may require an alert system to notify owners if they return home.
It’s very much possible, although it may not go as trouble-free as one would like. Beyond potty-training, training a kitten is usually about establishing and reinforcing boundaries and household rules. Again, rely on positive reinforcement to train your kitten, and avoid punishing her or speaking to her harshly. Instead, ignore her when she's behaving badly and give her affection, treats and praise to reward her good behavior. If ignoring isn't an option, redirect her attention to something else. For example, if your kitten bites or scratches your hand, give her a toy to play with instead.
Injuries, such as a rib fracture, are not always easy to spot. Your cat might also have caught a skin disease or fleas. If your cat was away for a long time, you don't want to traumatize it further. Let your animal rest for a few days and offer plenty of food. Talk to your animal and show your love.Don't let your cat out too soon after its disappearance.
The mortality rate of stray kittens ranges anywhere from 15% to 40%, especially among orphaned baby cats. This is true even for those that are already 12 weeks of age and fully weaned. If you establish eye contact with the stray kitten and it doesn’t seem to scare it, try blinking slowly, which is how cats smile. You’re closer to your goal of getting the animal to come to you if it responds with a slow blink, too. Making stray kittens come toward you is the first step to adopting them or taking them to the shelter.
You’ll need to notify your microchipping firm so that the information they have on file about you may be updated. If you’re starting the hunt for a missing cat, you may use our checklist to keep track of the steps you take. Leave a dish of water and some food out on the porch. A delectable reward, such as tuna, may be sufficient to entice your cat to return home. It is certain that posting and distributing missing cat fliers across the community will increase the number of individuals who are aware of your hunt. Lost cat flyers are a low-cost yet very effective strategy for locating an animal that has become separated from its owner.
Unless your cat underwent some difficult emotional or other trauma, or is suffering a physical condition, it is very likely that your cat will come back home. When caring for cats, keep an eye out for their appetite and what they eat. A vet should examine any signs of panting, wheezing, or coughing as soon as possible. Poor cats will avoid contact with humans and begin urinating in strange places as soon as they become ill. If your cat suddenly becomes extremely thirsty or begins drinking more than usual, it could be an indication of underlying medical issues.
Look for the closest hiding spots.
You can also just gently rub a towel on each pet, then place it where the other pet can smell it. If your cat is not ready to come and meet you, don't drag her out. Don't try to pick her up or chase her down, as that will only terrify her more. Stay on schedule with the recommended initial vaccines and while there, ask your vet about monthly preventatives for fleas, heartworms, intestinal parasites, etc.
If the worst case scenario occurs and your cat goes missing, respond swiftly and according to the strategy you have put in place. Please include a clear photo of your cat, as well as their name and your contact information. When an indoor-only cat escapes outside, the best strategy to employ is to identify the site of escape, which may be a cracked door that has been discovered open. Check the garage and garden as well, if you haven’t already.
