I have had this little female stray cat hanging around my yard and yesterday i was feeding her and she actually took food from my hand! So that would be a sign of trust. I have not pet her yet but how do you know if a stray trusts you enough to let you pet it?
2007-07-18 03:48:49 · 18 answers · asked by XoFaithXo 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
Thank you all those who have answered you all have been a big help! I know she does not belong to anyone because everytime i have other people over or my neighbours try to get close she will back up a bit but when i try to approach her then shes fine.
2007-07-18 06:44:37 · update #1
Just try a bit. Let her smell you, then scratch her jaw a bit, she will go away, but soon she may start trusting you more.
2007-07-18 03:52:55 · answer #1 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you are almost at that point, if not already. When you feel comfortable try petting her under her chin. Raising your hand above her head will be a threatening act as far as the cat is concerned. Approach her slowly and pull your hand away slowy just after a pet or two...Pull your hand away before the cat has a chance to walk away..this way it is your decision not the cats and the cat will want more. Soon she'll have a name and hopefully some vaccines and a spay or neuter. To do it inexpensively you can contact a feral cat or cat rescue and ask for assistance in this area. Many times these agencies will help defray the costs or even give the cat the needed vet care and you can adopt the cat from them for a small fee. It's all in the paperwork not actually changing the cat's location. This usually works out well for everybody. Good luck!
2007-07-18 04:24:12 · answer #2 · answered by Dixie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give it a shot! If its eating form your hand, then you might as well try petting it!
Are you sure its a stray? It could just be an outdoor cat that belongs to someone else in your neighborhood...
Anyway, be careful, but give it a try... If you're not getting a good vibe from the cat then lay off, I don't think you want to get bit...
Best of luck!
=]
2007-07-18 04:00:23 · answer #3 · answered by guagna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fact that she took food from your hand probably means she belonged to someone at some point and is use to human contact. Once you feed her she will keep coming back looking for food. She is certainly beginning to trust you and senses you are trying to help. Next time you see her just let her smell your hand. Usually cats will smell a persons hand and will sometimes rub their head or check against your hand. from there she will become more comfortable with you.
2007-07-18 03:58:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, there is difference between "stray" and "feral". Stray just means they are out wondering around. A stray could potentially belong to someone, or just be lost. Strays could be used to be handled by people and may not be afraid of you. A "feral" means they belong to no one, they are not used to being handled and do not trust you. Feral cats usually run away when they see you. A feral cat would not approach you and eat out of your hand.
This kitty you found sounds like a stray and may be used to people. If you plan to keep her, that is great. Just be sure to get her to a vet for a wellness exam, vaccinations, and spay.
2007-07-18 03:55:25 · answer #5 · answered by tmrvt 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If it eats food straight from your hand it trusts you enough to pet it. You might consider that this cat may not be a stray, taking food from somebodys hand means this cat has had some human contact. pet it and see what it does.
2007-07-18 04:20:20 · answer #6 · answered by Jessica M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she trusts you enough to pet her, that means more than likely she has a family of humans out there somewhere who pry miss her deeply.
It might also mean she is in heat and seeking out a male cat. Some kittys even if wild can become tamer if they are in heat.
She might have been real hungry and took a leap of faith.
I am betting it is the first one. Check to see if she has a tag. If not, take her picture and make fliers. Get the word out that you have this cat. Some family or someone is pry looking for her and thinks they lost her.
2007-07-18 05:08:56 · answer #7 · answered by kickindevilbutt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IF you want to pet the cat try approaching it from the side not the front. Cats hate that. I think it is saying for a fight. If she does not run then let her sniff you then slowly pet her gently and sofly. And if you want to keep her you might want to check if she has a microchip. Take her to the vet and ask the vet to tell you about microchips. they are implanted in the animal so the owner can track them if they get lost.
2007-07-18 04:01:05 · answer #8 · answered by Nuri A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it was ferral (born in the ''wild'') it would not take food from your hand so you are correct in calling this cat a stray, and probally misses being petted on the parts of their body that itch and they can't get at very good and we can ''scatch'' them and they love it, somebody probally abandoned the cat, you are very kind to feed her and please continue to do so and quite possibly could make you a very good house pet!
2007-07-18 03:57:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if she is eating out of your hand she is starting to trust you are you going to keep her or
just feed her you have to be careful once you get her to trust your you don't want just to leave her it will be hard to trust people as far as petting her take it slow get a toy let her play with it and little by little she will let you pet her good luck
2007-07-18 06:51:03 · answer #10 · answered by some one but not sure who 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look her in the eye and blink slowly, once. If she relaxes, or blinks back, reach out your hand with the palm upturned so she can sniff it. If she seems comfertable, rub her shoulder, never her head or near her neck. It's good to hear that you are feeding a stray! Good luck! :)
2007-07-18 03:55:52 · answer #11 · answered by ebony_adrail 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋