Hello, my name is Catherine. I have long loved animals and have had several of my own over the years. Sadly, I saw two of my cats suffer with feline cancer, one of my dogs had arthritis, and, of course, we faced the usual calamities and injuries pets often face. However, I have had to navigate this on a relatively restricted budget, and through the years, I have gotten quite proficient at that. I work at a library and love doing research on pets and veterinary care as well as a range of other topics. I also love to write so decided to put my info in a blog. Please, explore and enjoy!
Keeping Your animals Healthy and Happy Without Overspending
Making a home for a stray cat
Ellen Lampi
If you are a soft touch for a cute ball of fluff it can be hard to turn away a stray cat from your doorstep. However, you want to make sure that you and any other cats in the home also stay safe if you let a stray into your home.
Give them some space
Many strays are used to being treated badly and needing to fight for their food and territory. They are also often distrusting of humans if they've had an abusive start to life. This can make them very hard to handle so make sure to use gloves or a towel if you need to pick them up, and give them lots of space while they are having a meal. Make sure that they feel safe in any space that you leave them and don't feel threatened by your presence.
Keep your other cats or dogs away from them
Stray cats and dogs have a much higher rate of infectious diseases such as FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). These diseases can easily be passed onto your other animals by scratching or biting. Make sure to isolate the stray from other animals, which might involve feeding them outside or keeping them in a confined room such as a bathroom while they are still getting used to the household and/or neighbourhood.
Take them to a vet clinic
It's important to take the cat into a vet clinic as soon as possible. A vet can scan the cat's neck to see if they have a microchip, and if they do, the vet can use the details to contact the owners. If the cat doesn't have an owner and you wish to adopt the cat, then the vet can also help you to resolve any health issues that have come from being a stray.
Many issues that strays have are relatively simple to fix, such as worms, fleas, and small skin infections, as well as low body weight from inadequate food. Stray cats also often get injuries from fighting, as well as accidents. The vet can help to recommend courses of treatments including medication and food choices. Finally, they can also give them any vaccinations that they may be missing so that you can confidently integrate a new cat into your household.
Stray cats can make loving and affectionate members of your household. It is best for the cats that you treat them with special care until you have helped them resolve any health issues.
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