There's a stray cat on my street, & its getting cold out. I want to adopt her, but will she adjust to indoors?

Question

In my building, cats aren't allowed outside, they must be kept inside all the time.

Answer 1

It may take her some time, and you the patience of Job, but stray or feral cats can be domesticated. Have her checked by a vet, get shots and spayed and such, and give her plenty to play with and a box to hide in. litter box training is usually easier with feral or stray cats because they WANT to go in sand or something like it. It took our family several years to tame Bonzo Beenz, but he sleeps on my head at night now.

Answer 2

Cats will adjust esp if given food/water and a warm place to curl up in-----once you get her inside(If difficult for may be wary of human touch)you can get a humane trapping cage from the pound,ASPCA where you put food on the one side towards the very back of the cage , a prong lifts and keeps the other end-door open and when the cat walks in towards back once she gets past the spring-it releases the door which closes and cat is trapped but safe and does not get hurt-naturally you'd have to set trap where safe if you can't get to it right away. Cats make excellent pets indoors -may meow at first to go outside but does adjust-you just have to be careful can't scoot out the door I'd have a petition or babygate that anyone entering or leaving house can push aside but blocks cat from dashing out until she has adjusted herself.Also I'd advise she get VET checked ASAP and get at the least Rabies shot(is the law but ask for the 3-year Rabies Shot-for its healthier for the cat for found cats were getting cancer at the injection sites where they go shot every year.The Vet will not volunteer but will give if you state you want it.Makes my heart feel really good that you'll take this kitty in for so many peopel just do not care. Bless You

Answer 3

I took in a stray about 3 years ago. The vet going by his teeth he was about 3 or 4 years. So now he is I guess about 6. All cats act different. I really had no trouble with this one except he does strange things. He doesn't like people food, but loves to smell it. Only likes dry food. And the cat box, guess he loves it, be outside ALL day, come in and use the box, well, can't blame him. Every morning when I clean it, he comes over and checks it out, if I'm done, he climbs in and use it. But like I said, all cats are different. Oh, I think this makes a difference, he picked me, I didn't pick him. He really loves me.

Answer 4

I brought in a stray that was living under my deck for a few months. It was during the coldest part of the winter. What I did is I locked him in the basement away from my other cats and called the vet the next morning and took him in to have him looked over. The vet took blood, checked his urine and feces and pronounced him fit, but a bit skinny. He was someones pet because he was neutered and they had taken all of his claws out. The vet did warn me that he might be hard to keep indoors, as all my cats are inside cats, but he shows absolutely no interest in going outside. He knows when hes got it good. He has turned out to be one of the sweetest most loving cats I've ever had. He follows me all around the house and sits by me when I'm sitting in my comfy chair. Good luck.

Answer 5

Make a cat safeguard for her, I do this for my community strays interior the iciness. I take a great cardboard container and make a sq. front on one side, extremely extreme up from the floor so snow doesnt fall in. Then I take an exceedingly great plastic rubbish bag and place it over the container, and that i wrap the perimeters of the bag interior the outlet of the container and that i staple the bag edges down in place, so as that they finished outdoors of the container is sealed with the plastic. Then I pop in some newspapers and towels to help insulate the backside from the chilly. Voila, cat safeguard waiting. I positioned the containers in places that look risk-free, meaning no longer alot of individuals or dogs circulate by utilising, and additionally so the situation get much less snowfall, like below a tree or roof. verify the container each few days to make beneficial it hasn't gotten moist and collapsed.

Answer 6

I'm an animal well cat lover my self.Over time the cat will adjust but he/she will want to be out side sometimes or all the time at first depending on the cat.I say let the cat do as it wants just show it love and the cat will be forever yours.Considering its cold i would try to keep the cat indoors but you know if its not rainy or snowy an the cat wants out let it you don't want to hold t prisoner.The cat will show you what it wants if you pay attention.

Answer 7

That's nice of you. Sometimes a new owner is enough of a lifestyle change that a cat will adjust fine. As a plan B, if she doesn't want to stay in, you'll have lured her there to be hanging around, assuming it will take a bit of persuading to get her to come in initially. So you'd kind of want to try to find her a home where she would be able to live outside, otherwise your landlord might take action that's not so understanding.

Answer 8

2 years ago my neighbors moved, amazing to me they left behind their cat Lucy. Lucy is very shy, but food won her over. We fed her by the street and inched our way into our home. She soon was taking naps in the house and meows loudly when she wanted out. She soon was our cat. I just can't figure out how to stop her from running up and down the hallway at 3 in the morning sliding on the hardwood floors! Ha!
You are doing the right thing, take in this kitty, the laughter and love you will get in return will be worth it!

Answer 9

Sure it will. There was a stray cat around my house. I put up flyers to see if it's real owner was around, and after a week, no body claimed him, so I kept him for myself. I took him to a vet and got him all checked out. He was great. Make sure your willing to put the time and effort into this outdoor cat thou. You have to teach it where to use the bathroom. You have to scold it when it doesn't use the litter box. Teach it where it's food is and everything. I hope it likes it inside. Good luck =]

Answer 10

just put some milk out regularly,and she will get friendly
then move the milk indoors and leave the door open
and soon it wont be a stray cat anymore