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Ever heard the term, "You break it, you bought it"? When dealing with stray cats, the phrase might well be, "You feed it, you got it!" But we're getting ahead of ourselves. If a stray does come calling, first determine whether it actually is a "stray" and not just a neighborhood cat on the loose. You wouldn't want to go catnapping someone's family pet or taking the poor thing to a shelter when it has only escaped from a perfectly good home.

STRAY AWAY!

If you don't want anything to do with the uninvited guest, don't give it attention and definitely don't feed it. Stick to your guns and the cat won't be around for long. If you do decide to help, and the feline appears well fed, groomed, and seems personable, it might already have a home. If this is the case, don't try to keep it anyway, no matter how much sweet puty tat might rub against your legs or meow piteously. That's not fair to the pet or its real owners. Instead, make a good faith effort to find the cat's owner. Post fliers with a picture of the cat, a description, the location the cat has recently been seen, and/or your contact information.

WHAT TO DO?

It is not recommended that you bring a stray inside your home until it has been to a veterinarian, especially if you have other pets. Strays can carry a variety of diseases and parasites that can be dangerous and quickly infest your home and other pets. Not to mention, it might not be spayed or neutered, and that could be trouble if your Toughy Tomcat is feeling frisky or tabby Abby is in heat. If no one claims the cat, then determine whether you want to keep it. If you decide to care for the cat, make sure you plan to continue feeding it. Feeding a stray inconsistently may only draw it away from a reliable food source or diminish its capability to fend for itself. If you decide not to care for the stray, contact a feral cat organization, the Humane Society or a local shelter.

Just remember, caring for a stray is a responsibility. A well fed stray is more likely to breed, and if that occurs, you are only compounding the issue. While those pleadingly hungry eyes might tug at your heartstrings, make sure you are up to accepting the role of caregiver before interfering with Mother Nature.

Sources:

Meow-Aid Shelter for Homeless Cats. "Helping Homeless Cats Reach the Good Life." [Online] http://www.meowaid.org/helping strays.html

The Humane Society of the United States. "The Uninvited Cat: How to Deal with Unwelcome Cats on Your Property." [Online] 2008. http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_c are/cat_care/keep_your_cat_saf e_at_home_hsuss_safe_cats_camp aign/the_uninvited_cat_how_to_ deal_with_unwelcome_cats_on_yo ur_property.html

Learn more about this author, Kris Calhoun.
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