How to Get a Stray Cat to Trust You
- 1). Place a dish of soft cat food and a bowl of water away from the home, but close enough so you can watch the cat eat from inside the house. Do this every day for about a week. Each week, move the dishes a little closer until you have the food and water about 6 feet from the house.
- 2). Watch the cat walk around the yard and eat, but make no eye contact with the cat. When a cat sees you looking directly at it, you become a threat -- an aggressive predator.
- 3). Offer the cat treats after it is comfortable coming to eat and drink and after the food dishes are close to the house. Stand away from the food and water dish, showing the cat the treat in your hand. Once the cat spots the treat, place it on the ground and walk indoors. Continue doing this for a few weeks or until the cat starts moving closer to you when you display the treat in your hand.
- 4). Sit outside when the cat comes to eat and drink only after the dishes are near the house and the cat has taken a few treats from your hand. The cat is now able to trust that you will feed it. It will become comfortable in your presence because you are the one feeding it. Make no advances toward the cat. Allow it to decide when to approach. Continue offering treats.
- 5). Keep your hand down in front of the cat after it takes a treat from your hand. Give the cat a chance to smell you if it wants. The cat is comfortable with you now. Don't be the aggressor. Let the cat come and smell you. At this time, the cat may rub on your hand or roll around in front of you. Just let the cat do what it wants.
- 6). Wait for one week after the cat has smelled you and/or rubbed its body on your hand to attempt touching it on the back of the neck. Slowly rub the neck with your fingers and stop. Move your hand away and sit back in your chair. You have now shown the cat that you can touch it and let it go. You have proven that you are not a threat.
- 7). Continue getting to know the cat. Eventually, you may be able to pet the cat's entire body. It may even feel comfortable enough to lie in your lap. Just remember to be patient. If you rush progress, the cat will retreat and you will need to rebuild the trust again.
