How do you welcome an unknow cat into your house?

Question

We've had this cat around our house latley.
Its been meewowing mostly so I thought this meant it wanted some food. So I some put tuna out alongside with some milk.

Everytime I open the door for it to come inside and be nice and warm it runs away.

At night it sleep in corner around everywhere but I dont know where in particualr. My family keeps saying that it will surely come back for some more food.

Please can you give me some tips so I can make the cat welcome in our house...without scaring it!

PS wt sort of foods do cats eat. i dont have any cat food and why do they meeyaw ?

Answer 1

I'd stop giving her milk -- it's actually bad for cats. A bowl of water would be much better. Commercial dry cat food is cheaper than tuna, and better for her. Don't worry about trying to coax her inside -- that will make her more nervous. Try to be outside near the food when she approaches or starts eating, but don't try to get close to her. Once she's accustomed to seeing you around, she'll probably get friendlier and eventually decide to come in. Don't be too worried about her being outside -- I have cats here in Canada and they can survive quite well outside in the cold (not extreme) as long as they have shelter; she's probably hiding in a garage or under a porch.

Answer 2

I have a cat visitor too but have a problem because I have 10 cats living in the house and they are not welcoming. I have opened the entrance to the house (I have two at the front and this can be closed off from the rest of the house) and have put a cushion on a chair so that the cat comes in. I am lucky that I have some barns and he does go there too, he also does rodent control.
Please don't give the cat milk. Cats love tuna but it is generally too salty, as another person suggested, dry cat food and water is good. My stray cat has now become very fussy and begs for chicken!
Best of luck you seem to have a very kind heart and it is good that your cat has found such a caring human!!

Answer 3

This brings back memories. Our cat came to us the same way and she had to overcome the obstacle of our jealous dog but she did it and was loving member of our family for twelve years until she died.

What to do is leave the door open then put out the food (any cat food will do at this stage although you'll find when she makes herself at home, she'll turn into Fuss Pots!). Then gradually move the food closer and closer until it's in the house. You can also try leaving a bed for it by the door, perhaps using an old cardigan or blanket that has the smell of the family on it. She just needs a bit of time and patience as she is probably very scared at the moment (especially if she was mistreated at some point).

When she does finally come into the house, don't jump on her. Just leave her to explore until she is comfortable. The key is the keep the food coming and don't act too excited around her.

Answer 4

Sounds like the cat is feral (born free and wild) or maybe has been abused. Cats eat cat food, dry is best for the purposes of leaving outside. Make sure he has access to water too. If he's scared to come in, try providing a wooden crate or similar with some straw or something inside so he can get warm...not too close to the door if he's scared. Put the food by it so he knows it's "his". Be warned though, other cats may show up once they know there's free nosh going!
Cats meow as a way of communicating, saying "hello" etc.

Answer 5

Stop giving the cat tuna - it is not good for him and can cause a serious vitamin deficiency if fed long term.

Get a decent cat food such as Natural Balance which I think Petco is now carrying. Give him some canned food too. That brand is good in both forms.

He may come to trust you, he may not. Feeding is the best way to start and then it just takes patience. With winter coming you might think of setting up a box with some straw and bedding (old towels, blankets, etc.) on your porch where he can have some shelter from wind and cold.

Answer 6

Cats are not like dogs, they do not cling to their owner the same. They very independent animals. Dogs usually starve if you do not feed them , but cats survive fairly well on birds or mice. A cat will decide if it is going to move into your house. Just leave the door open and don't make any fuss, put tit bits or tin cat food down for it, it may have a home already and return there, or it may move in to yours, it will decide.
I once fed a cat for weeks and it stayed with me 2 or 3 nights a week, then I discovered the owner lived several streets away and it also stayed at someone else's house a couple of nights a week, three of us thought it was OUR cat, crafty hey ha ha !!

Answer 7

OK, i have three cats and have had 21 cats through out my life. When a new cat is hanging around your house, leave out water because milk will make it sick, and unless the cat is use to eating tuna, lay off that. Go to k-mart or someplace and get some Meow-mix outdoor cats(make sure the cat isn't a kitten or get kitten meow-mix) open the door when it is eating so that it will know its welcome. (If you want to keep it, start to call it a name.) Have another bowl of food on the other side of the door. when it finally come in side, don't shut the door. Woo it to be comfortable in your home. Then after it is part of your family, take it to the vet!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Ask around and check the cat doesn't belong to anyone.

My neighbour told me that my cat often turns up at his house acting like little orphan Annie, apparently she does it with most of the neighbours! And shes treated like a queen at my house so its not like she needs the food or T.L.C!
She often disappears for a few days at a time and I'm convinced shes got a second family!

Is the cat really skinny and fur isn't looking its best? Then it might be a stray or a run away.
I'd just give it water or milk and some dried cat biccies. You don't want to encourage it too much, but then you don't want it to starve either.
Good Luck!

Answer 9

First of all is it a stray ? if it is then you can encourage it by cooking up some liver, Serve while it is still warm, cats find it irrestible.
Dont start on milk, it goes sour, give it water.
If the cat appears well fed it probably belongs to someone and it would be a shame to entice it away.
Cats are fickle, unlike dogs.
They meow because they are happy or hungry., an interesting observation has shown that cats purr either when they are happy or INJURED
Cats sholld be fed dry food , as it keeps their teeth in good shape.

Answer 10

Hi, I have a cat and she eats dry food from the pet store. The cat is meeyawing because she could be injured, hurgy, or tired, or maybe if its a girl she could be pergeant. Just let the cat keep coming back and still give it food and maybe it will not be so scared any more.