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Check any and all shelves and make sure there isn’t anything she can knock off and break. Check that there are soft landing pads around these areas too. At some point of her confinement, she WILL try to escape . Wear long sleeves, long pants, gloves, shoes, and bring along a piece of cardboard for a shield in case she attacks out of fear. Have your vet check for worms and parasites , test for FeLV and FIV, ringworm and lice. DO NOT use trapping equipment that is not specifically meant for cats.

Leave the same dish of food in the same exact spot every day, and as the kitty becomes more trusting she should start to visit the area more often. As you put the food out at the same time every day, the cat will notice and begin to come around when she’s expecting a snack. Dry cat food certainly works to get their attention, but wet food might be even more enticing.

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If you want to spare your cat the stress of a carrier, you have several options to do so. Ask your vet whether they require you to use a carrier. This includes a cat litter box, a place to snuggle up, and food and water. “ and a cozy environment will help the cat transition into this new life,” she notes. If you come across what you believe is an abandoned litter of kittens, time is of the essence.

Launched in 2011, Vetstreet.com features veterinarian-reviewed medical advice and has quickly become one of the top animal health and lifestyle sites on the web.See more. If your feral has ticks, let the vet and his staff care for the cat in a professional fashion, as ticks can quickly sap the life out of any kitten or cat. This generally only pulls the body off, leaving the head inside the skin, which can lead to extremely nasty infections and other problems. If you must get them off yourself, get a pair of tweezers, a bottle of rubbing alcohol, some q-tips, and a small jar. Pour some rubbing alcohol into the jar, set it aside, then take a q-tip, dip it in the alcohol and place directly on the tick. The tick will become agitated and raise its head out of the kitten.

Part 1 of 3:Securing the Cat Without a Carrier

The cat you’re helping may be feral if they approach you when extremely hungry, but will only eat the food you’ve provided once you’ve walked away. A cat is probably feral if they’re still unapproachable and cannot be touched after several days of feeding. Most feral cats can’t be adopted because they’re too afraid of people. It could also involve a similar process with cat treats.

If kitty has been inside your home, you also will need to rid your home of the fleas. Wash all bedding or towels from the room kitty was in. The soap and water should kill the fleas but, just to be sure, dry them on high heat. Flea collars are useless on cats, but they are helpful in your cleaning. Take a new flea collar, cut it into pieces and put it in your vacuum cleaner bag. Then thoroughly vacuum the room and surrounding rooms.

Unfortunately, veterinary care for stray cats is not free. Vetstreet.com delivers advice from veterinarians, trainers and pet experts who are dedicated to giving you the most trusted, authoritative information for keeping pets healthy and happy. Our Find A Vet service connects you with leading veterinarians in your area.