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There he is again, sitting sweetly at the end of your drive. Meowing a good morning greeting. And you wonder, what should I do?

Stray cats can range from your neighborhood Tom, to the grungy feral cat, that has never been domesticated. Obviously, caution should be taken when approaching your stray friend (?).

First and foremost advice, if you are not interested in taking the cat in, do not feed it . Once you extend a food source, the cat will almost certainly remain. Possibly bringing a few new friends. You will quickly become know in your neighborhood as that "Cat Person"!

Before making the decision as to what course to take in regard to your driveway friend, you really should check with your neighbors. Make the rounds on the block to see if your stray kitty has a home. Finding out that kitty is the neighbor's runaway, can prove heartbreaking for all parties. Look for posters in your local stores. If you are able you could run a found advertisement in your local paper.

If you've decided against taking on the responsibility of a pet, simply call your local animal control agency to come and retrieve the cat. This benefits everyone involved, including the cat. Most towns have an agency that performs humane catch and release services.

These agencies humanely trap stray cats and take them to a local veterinarian for basic health care and neutering. In New Jersey the agency is called Animal Birth Control or ABC. Again a non-profit, volunteer based service. This one, however, does not charge for their services. Afterward the cat is released back into the area from which removed. An obvious precaution against spreading any illnesses to other neighborhood strays and pets. At the same time controlling the stray population.

Taking the stray feline to a shelter is another alternative, although it can be costly. Shelters operate on donations. Often this "donation fee" is set, approximating the cost for the animals housing and care for two weeks. This is something one should to keep in mind.

So you've decided to adopt, congratulations. Offering your friend a bowl of food is the most effective way. The best way to any stray's heart is through his stomach. When kitty shows up call to him, to see if he accepts your affections, on his terms. Repeat daily if desired. If kitty is willing, slowly begin your friendship. Eventually, he will amble to your door one day and stroll right in. Once kitty is secure in your home, you will find that he will take over, if permitted.

Be ready to introduce kitty immediately to his living and eating areas, and especially the litter box. It is pertinent to remember that a stray cat may never have had a litter box experience. Litter use is a taught behavior.

It will be in your best interest to keep your new friend in one room for about a week. It will give kitty time to settle in, while you get familiar his personality. If the relationship works, contact your local veterinarian for a check up. Seeing to his general health is just the wise thing to do.

Word to the wise, a male, un-neutered stray cat is going to "mark" his territory. In your home! The odor is astoundingly foul! Neutering him will eliminate this issue.

Good Luck! You are now a pet owner!

Learn more about this author, Andrea D. Hutchinson.
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