by Penelope Moore

Created on: November 28, 2008   Last Updated: December 23, 2008

We called him George; a beautiful orange and white tabby that hung around my grandparent's home and would not go away. So what did my Grandpa do? He gave it warm milk one night. Oh that did it. Now that cat was glued to his doorsteps. He didn't know what to do to get rid of him. Eventually he just decided to let me keep him. That's how I have learned how to deal with stray cats.

Most stray cats are very cautious and defensive. A lot of them were abandoned by their owners or abused, thus suffer their own form of Post Traumatic disorder. This causes them to be very fast, that constantly scratches and bites. Sometimes they growl and hiss too.

After you have found a way to bring the cat inside just by leaving the door open and the milk or water alone, they get to it themselves. Then you can shut the door and begin your own form of psychological therapy. In the same way you got the cat in the door, keep moving the bowl until the cat is eventually in a small room all by him or herself. This is where the cat should live. Place the litter box and the whole works and shut the kitty in to let him get used to his setting.

Eventually just sit in the room and do things to let the cat get to know you and your smell. Keep trying to call it by his new name that you gave him with cat friendly noises and a very light, friendly tone. After a long time, maybe a month, the cat will become friendly enough to brush against your leg or even will let you pet him or her.

After a long time, the cat should be allowed to know the rest of the place. Just let the cat tell you when he or she is ready to be your kitty cat. Time is the key, and if they never do come around, then perhaps you just need to realize that the cat has a different way of showing affection. Don't expect the stray to be a lap kitty, but some cats are more of a "foot of the bed" kitty, or just a playful kitty. Each cat has their own personality, so it is you getting to know them, just as much as them getting to know you. It is all very simple; just don't force the cat to do anything. Force is what hurt the cat in the first place. That is all you need to know. Patience truly is a purr-fect virtue.

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