there is a really cute kitten that hangs out with my dogs, but every time i go to pet it it runs away. how do i catch it with out a trap or harming it or me?
2006-11-05 03:45:58 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Well, you can't catch it. It must adopt you!
See, what if a guy said, "What a pretty girl! How can I catch her! Wouldn't work, you see. And that is where the cat is coming from. He is sayin', "What?"
Invite. Put food out and keep a difference. This is a gift, not even an invitation really.
Then, if she likes that, you can probably get a little closer each day.
Isn't it strange that she hangs out with the dogs already, though? That's cute!
2006-11-05 04:04:14 · answer #1 · answered by smoothsoullady 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Slowly. You have to get the cat to trust you first. One idea is to put out food/milk when you know it's near by....it will recognize the smell on the bowl as being you. Slowly bring the bowl closer to your house/apt building to where you have a back door or a garage or cage. Watch the cat, see when it does what it does when it does it.....It may take a couple of weeks, but you can do it. Remember, this "kitty" may be part of a homeless family and taking it away may be a really bad thing.....try and see where it lives. If it is a kitten and not a cat it more than likely is part of a family.
2006-11-05 11:50:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My answer assumes that you wish to adopt this cat, not just charm it.
If the kitten is more than 4 months old, the odds are that it will retain its elusive non-social personality for life. Ferrel (wild) cats are impressed with jungle instincts which means avoiding humans. So you are competing against it's very instincts to survive. Along those lines, food is a basic survival instinct. That will be your best means of gaining this wild cat's trust. Start with offering food (boiled chicken is great) and then maintain a far distance that feels safe for the cat. Work you way closer over time.
But remember, cats born with mistrusting personalities stay that way. Lovers are born lovers - this one will never be a lover. If you do charm this cat into trusting you, don't expect it to ever be the cuddly type as it matures.
2006-11-05 11:57:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the kitten doesn't want to be caught, let it go. Wild cats don't make very good cats anyway. If you want a kitten, find one that was just born from a good home or check your local animal shelter. The way I always tell if a kitten will make a good cat is to hold it in your arms on its back and if it doesn't resist then it will be a good trusting, cuddly cat. Leave the wild ones be.
2006-11-05 11:50:35 · answer #4 · answered by Mustang Sally 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i know that many wild animals are very cute but the problems is that you shouldnt have it as a pet. Most all vet hospitals will not even look at wild cats because they want to defend themselves and will be very violent. I am sorry to tell you this but it is better to leave the cat alone. If you would like a cat go to your local animal shelter and they have many animals that you could give a home to.
2006-11-05 11:50:20 · answer #5 · answered by B/Blondie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have to groom them..meaning take your time letting them get to know you.
Ferals by nature DO NOT like humans and will avoid them.
We did tame one years ago however. We left food by the door for her and moved it closer and closer to the door with us sitting in the door watching, not touching. She eventually let us touch her and then she would come looking for attention. She was a kitten about 12-16 weeks old. She wouldn't housebreak and that was a problem. She became an outside cat for that reason.
AlleyCat Allies is a good source of information on Ferals.
Also be very careful, ferals can and do carry diseases as they don't get immunizations and tend to fight alot, which passes the infections and disease along. Many of the ones we have caught over the years had to be destroyed due to the diseases they had.
2006-11-05 12:01:03 · answer #6 · answered by rainysnana 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
get some soft cat food or raw meat and a wild rabbit trap cage. the kitten will run into the cage to retrieve the food and the door will then snap shut. and you can later, when the kittie is calm, open the door and save a sweet lil kitten!
2006-11-05 11:49:48 · answer #7 · answered by jess l 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there are traps that you can buy that are harmless they just have a spot for them to step on that shuts the door. if anythign it frightens the kitty. otherwise you could bribe it with food by going out there when you go to pet it with food or leave food near your door so it comes there.
be careful though, you said it is a wild cat so dont get too close if it doesnt want it to. it may have a illness or disease so when adn if you do catch it you should take it to the vet.
2006-11-05 11:50:31 · answer #8 · answered by nikki 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One way to catch a wild cat is to leave cat food out and wait till the cat comes. Or just snap your fingers and say "come here kitty kitty". The first one works the best thought.
2006-11-05 11:51:48 · answer #9 · answered by joe cool 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Start by feeding it canned food. After a while let is know you are watching it eat and slowly get closer day by day, but stop when it acts like it's going to run. Eventually it will start to trust you, when it's feeding time just sit near the the empty bowl and make it approach you and beg for food.
2006-11-05 11:50:42 · answer #10 · answered by mike1985x 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋