The material describes the process of taming a stray cat step by step, and also identifies the problems of a domestic and psychological nature that arise during this process. Based on the experience of cat owners who were picked up on the street, the author offers options for adapting a street animal at home.
The desire to adopt a street cat can arise for various reasons. Some people pick up an animal out of pity, because not everyone can indifferently walk past a hungry and hunted animal. Others bring a wounded or sick cat into the house for first aid and are no longer able to return the creature that trusted them back to the street. Still others are captivated by the naivety and spontaneity of kittens born on the street.
Regardless of the reasons for the appearance of a furry tenant in the apartment, it should be borne in mind that the animal has already spent part of its life on the street and it will take a lot of time and patience to accustom it to new living conditions.
How to catch a street cat
Most adult street animals are wary of humans, and in order to earn their trust, the future owner must make some effort. If a small kitten is not yet afraid of strangers, and taking it with you is not difficult, then an adult cat, who has known all the “delights” of a free life, will keep a safe distance. To catch a street cat, you should take the following steps:
- Wait for the cat near the place where he appears most often.
- When an animal appears, you can squat down nearby, but not in direct reach (this position is perceived by the animal as less threatening) and try to talk to it affectionately.
- When leaving, you should leave some tasty food behind.
- On subsequent visits, you can gradually reduce the distance and try hand-feeding the cat.
- When the cat is completely accustomed to the presence of a person and allows itself to be touched, you can try to take it with you.
When picking up a cat from the street, you should act gently and carefully. If frightened, the animal can cause injury to its potential owner. In addition, having escaped, it will most likely never return to this place.
Street cat at home - what to do next?
So, the street cat is in the apartment, fed and watered, but the problems do not end there, they are just beginning. Without delay, preferably on the day the cat appears in the house, a number of procedures should be carried out:
- Wash the animal thoroughly (while being as careful as possible) using anti-parasite shampoo.
- Examine the cat for wounds, ringworm, and ticks.
- Take the cat to the nearest veterinary clinic for examination.
- Purchase and use broad-spectrum anthelmintic drugs. Advice on choosing an effective remedy can be obtained when visiting a veterinary clinic.
At first, it is not recommended to lock the cat in a separate room, or try to pick him up. An outdoor cat in an apartment should have complete freedom of movement and the opportunity to retire to a secluded place.
Tray training a cat
One of the first questions that a new owner has is how to train an outdoor cat to use a litter box? Following the hunting instinct, which requires them to hide traces of their presence from prey and enemies, in natural conditions cats necessarily bury their feces. In this regard, you should not immediately purchase litter for the tray - the cat simply will not understand the purpose of this substance. It is advisable to collect a small amount of sand or soil in the place where the cat lived previously and use it instead of filler.
You should be patient with the fact that at first an outdoor cat at home will relieve itself in the most inappropriate places. In this case, it is recommended to blot a piece of cloth or paper in the puddle and place it in the tray, and thoroughly wash the marked area and treat it with an odor-eliminating agent. It is quite possible that next time the cat will react to a familiar smell and defecate in a place specially designed for this purpose.
Having noticed that the cat is worried and is looking for a place to discharge its natural needs, you need to immediately transfer it to the tray.
How to train a barn cat to use the indoor litter box
Cats are naturally very intelligent, observant and quick-witted animals, but at the same time they are too capricious, capricious and stubborn. How these fluffy and purring creatures combine these qualities in their character remains a mystery. There is still no consensus on what actually happens: is the owner raising the cat or is it the owner? And if a small kitten is easy to accustom to the rules established by a person, then with an adult cat you will have to “negotiate” and seek a compromise.
If you decide to take into your apartment an adult cat with already formed habits and character, then be prepared to calmly and patiently go through the adaptation period, during which the pet will need to be accustomed to a tray, scratching post, etc.
Ways to accustom an outdoor cat to an indoor litter box
There is no universal way to litter train an adult cat, but there are general proven recommendations that are worth listening to. When choosing your own training tactics, be sure to make adjustments to the conditions in which the cat lived before, how it reacts to a new environment, whether everything is in order with its health and other factors.
So, first you need to purchase a deep and spacious tray, and also determine the optimal place for it in the apartment. A good place would be some secluded corner in the bathroom, toilet or on the balcony. The main thing is that the animal has unhindered access to its toilet, and that it is convenient for you to maintain cleanliness and order there. Cats are delicate animals and need to hide from human eyes to relieve themselves.
At first, sand will work as a cat litter if the cat previously lived in the yard and is used to going free to relieve itself. But you can immediately accustom him to wood or other types of litter for the tray, which are sold in any pet store.
On the first day, you need to carefully observe the cat’s behavior, and it is also recommended to temporarily limit its movement around the apartment, let it get used to the new environment in the room where its potty is. Or immediately, as soon as you notice that the cat begins to fuss and look for a secluded place, take it to the tray and put it in it. If the cat begins to protest and jump out of the litter box, patiently and calmly return her to the litter box again until she is able to relieve herself there. After each successful trip to the toilet, praise the cat, pet it, treat it with something tasty, because they really understand everything!
A few successful “get-togethers” in the tray, and in the future the cat will begin to go into it without reminders or mistakes. This describes, of course, the ideal and most optimistic scenario for the development of events during potty training of a cat. In practice, everything is not so simple, because cats are stubborn and unpredictable.
Difficulties in training a cat to use a litter box and ways to overcome them
“If the mountain does not come to Magomed, then Magomed goes to the mountain” - this wisdom is often remembered when a cat flatly refuses to go to the designated place to relieve itself. If attempts to make her potty friendly have not been successful, and the stubborn animal has chosen a completely different place for the toilet, move the tray there. Over time, after the cat gets used to the litter box, you will gradually return it to its place. After all, you are the boss of the house, right? With all the love for your purring pet, it’s hard to disagree with the fact that the hallway, kitchen and bedroom are not the place for his toilet. Hygiene, aesthetics, cleanliness and convenience of all family members always remain in the first place.
Cats have a very developed sense of smell, so it is necessary to carefully clean and disinfect the places of their “crimes.” The puddle can be blotted with a napkin, which is then recommended to be placed in the tray, as a pointer and guide for the cat, and the floor should be washed and treated with vinegar essence or ammonia. In case of an “accident,” shoes, flooring or upholstery of upholstered furniture should be cleaned and treated with special products that, with their specific smell, will force the cat to ignore these places in the future. There are also special products designed for litter box training; they are usually produced in the form of emulsions or sprays. The tray filler is treated with training agents. Don’t forget to also clean the litter tray and change the litter on time, because cats are very clean and squeamish by nature. The cat itself will tell you how often it needs to be cleaned by its behavior, just carefully observe its behavior, try to decipher its signals and hints.
Difficulties with litter box training may arise if you get a cat that is too selective and has a harmful character. If your patience and calmness are running out, and she still doesn’t want to go to the litter tray regularly, then try putting her in another toilet, removing the grate from it, or buying another litter. Some especially original cats can stubbornly ignore their litter box, but at the same time do “their business” in the owner’s toilet without any problems. As you already understand, each specific case requires an individual approach.
How quickly will a cat get used to the litter box?
It is impossible to predict exactly how quickly you will be able to toilet train an adult cat. Success will depend equally on the character of the animal, its intelligence, state of health, temperament, and on your diligence. Just don’t forget that there are no hopeless situations and nothing is impossible. With enough patience and consistency on your part, the cat will sooner or later be forced to obey the rules and recognize the litter box as the only permitted place for “toilet matters.” Sometimes litter box training can take several days, sometimes it can take a week or more.
What if you are lucky and the cat that you fell in love with and decided to take from the street to your home turns out to be very smart and will immediately master the litter box? Be persistent, patient and creative, and then the process of adapting a yard cat to home conditions will be successful, quickly and calmly!
Tags: raising cats, indoor cats, cats, outdoor cats
Psychological aspect
The owner should be prepared for the fact that at first the street cat at home will not behave quite adequately, seek solitude or show aggression. Who knows what the animal went through before it fell into caring and loving hands? It is quite possible that the cat will try to keep his distance, not be picked up and not allow himself to be petted. There is no need to worry too much about this; over time, the cat will understand that there is not the slightest threat from the owner and will allow itself to be stroked, combed, washed, claws trimmed and other procedures performed. The main thing is to be patient, and under no circumstances raise your voice, punish the cat, or force your company on it.
Many owners note that a cat brought into a home environment as an adult eventually becomes more devoted to its owner compared to a home-bred animal.
Gradually move the tray to the front door
The second method involves purchasing a tray. It is necessary to place the tray closer to the door. If it was in a fixed place, slowly move it towards the exit of the house. Progressively move the pot over short distances. Using its sense of smell, the kitten will find the toilet.
If the kitten constantly resorts to the former location of the litter box and poops on the floor, be patient. Keep a close eye on your cat. Before making a puddle, she can rake in “invisible sand” with her paws. At this moment, pick up the cat and carry it to where the tray is located.
If the process of outdoor toilet training repeats itself endlessly, don't lose hope. The animal will definitely get used to the outdoor toilet. After a few days, your pet will get used to the litter box being outside.
So, the tray has reached the finish line. Now you can safely put it out the door, into the yard. The kitten will look for him, and you will help him by opening the door. The kid will search for the “missing toilet”. He will either find a potty outside or use a hole in the ground as a toilet. The goal will be achieved - the kitten goes outside to the toilet.
During the experiments, the kitten will become so accustomed to the toilet that it will ask to go outside, emitting a pitiful call or scratching the door.
Of course, the yard would be the best option for a restroom:
- Firstly, the cat is in the fresh air, where there are a lot of options for how to relieve yourself.
- Secondly, the pet does not depend on its owners.
- The breeder will not have to wash the litter box.
