A lot of the world’s house cats started out on the street. A kitten under a car, a friendly tom who kept turning up at the door, a cat who chose a family more than the family chose it.
Street cats can make wonderful pets. But a cat that has lived outside has to learn walls, doors, a litter tray and you, all at once. A slow, quiet start makes it far easier.
The short version
- Make sure it isn’t someone’s lost pet.
- See a vet in the first few days.
- Start in one quiet room.
- Let it hide. Let it come to you.
- Keep it indoors for at least two to three weeks.
First: is it really homeless?
A friendly cat on the street is often someone’s pet. Before it becomes yours, ask the neighbours, post it in local groups, and have a vet scan it for a microchip. Our guide Found a street cat? walks through it.
Not every street cat wants a home, either. A cat born outside that has never been handled may be happier staying where it is, neutered and fed. Some get used to people slowly, some never do. Kittens are easiest. Alley Cat Allies doesn’t recommend trying to tame cats born wild once they’re past about four months old.
The vet, in the first few days
Street cats often carry fleas, worms or ear mites, and some carry infections other cats can catch. If you have cats already, keep the new one apart until a vet has seen it. Ask the vet to:
- Check it over, and scan for a microchip.
- Treat it for fleas and worms. Ask for a cat product, never one meant for dogs. Here’s why that matters.
- Plan its vaccinations, and a test for FIV and FeLV if you have other cats.
- Book the neutering, if it isn’t done. A tipped ear means it already is. Here’s how to tell.
- Microchip it, so if it goes back to wandering, it can find its way home.
Start in one quiet room
A whole house is a lot of new for a cat. International Cat Care suggests starting in one quiet room with everything it needs:
- Food and water, away from the litter tray.
- A litter tray. Street cats are used to soil or sand, so a little garden soil on top of the litter can help at first.
- Somewhere to hide: a cardboard box on its side, or a bed under a chair.
- Somewhere high to sit, a scratching post, and a toy or two.
Let it hide
Most new cats hide at first, and that’s fine. A scared cat may only eat and use the tray at night for a while. Don’t pull it out. Sit in the room, read, talk softly, and let it decide when to come over. A slow blink helps. If it hisses or swipes, it’s scared, not mean. Give it more space and try again tomorrow.
When it’s eating well, using the tray and coming out to see you, open the door to the rest of the house. Meet other pets slowly, over days, not in one go.
When can it go outside?
International Cat Care says to keep a new cat indoors for at least two to three weeks, so it learns this is home and doesn’t panic and run. Make sure it’s neutered and chipped first. Some former street cats are happy staying in. Others need the outdoors, and a safe garden or a cat flap is the answer.
Snap your new cat with Island of Cats, and keep its first photo forever.
