Should I approach stray kitten/cat?

Question

Their are 2 of them, one is kinda big but the other one looks like a kitten and I've seen them before in my backyard once and they're here again. Should I give them food or just let them be? They look hungry but I don't want to scare them away.

Answer 1

Personally, I would feed them, but then I dont mind feeding strays. As long as u dont mind getting the food in every week because they will adopt you!

Answer 2

Feed them if you plan on keeping them around.

Answer 3

if they are very skinny my instinct would be to feed the poor cats. but only do that if you plan on having cats look inside your door at you. once they find food they will stick to that place for shelter. if you really want to just leave a little food out on a paper plate.

Answer 4

Please give them some food since you are caring enough to ask! Why wouldn't you? Put some food and water out for them, while they see you, but without going too close, so that you don't scare them. Don't try to catch them until they come to you, gradually.

Answer 5

If I were you, I would just leave some food out and stay away and let them approach the food by themselves or they could get scared and run away. I would also avoid contact with the cats, just in case because they could have diseases. But sure, I think it's a good idea to keep feeding them. Be careful, though. If you feed them once, they'll keep coming back. ^^

Answer 6

Feed them so they will learn to trust you and stick around.

I do not advise you to try and touch them since they could

have diseases. Once they have learned to trust you then

call your local animal control to come and pick them up.

Answer 7

Leave food and water on your patio every morning and they will be so grateful, plus fatten up.

Let them see you do this if possible and slowly stay outside when you put the dishes down. They may start coming up to the patio, soon and let you sit nearby. Eventually you will have 2 loving cats.  

Answer 8

ask your mom or dad if you can keep them(if you want to) to earn their trust leave cat food or some turkey where they usually come or  if its to far near your house let them come if you see them slowly come closer if they notice you or you see a reaction move back do this everyday soon they will let you hold them wear gloves to pet them in case they have something and take them to a vet if you wanna keep them.i see tons of stray cats.

Answer 9

Call animal control, or better yet, a local cat rescue group, if you can find one.  If they are feral, they will be too shy with humans to let you approach them.  The cat rescue groups tray, spay/neuter, and release feral cats so they won't keep breeding more and more wild ones.  If they aren't feral and you want to help them, either take them in and get them to a vet ASAP, or again, call someone who can take them to a shelter.  Feeding them won't really help them in the long run.  If you do decide to take them in, remember that they may have FIV or other diseases which could affect any animals you already have.

Answer 10

give them food but I don't suggest you touch them just incase they are sick.

If you plan on keeping them, put them in a box and take them to a vet

Answer 11

Put some food out for them once in a while.  

Answer 12

Hey What the Pho, here are some steps to take when you want to approach a stray cat.

Get the animal's attention: Usually, making a soft clicking noise with your tongue, or by talking to it quietly will be effective. It is imperative that you do not startle the creature.

Approach the animal VERY slowly. Do what you can to appear as small as possible and hopefully less intimidating, but remember to stay attentive. Do not get down on your hands and knees, it will make it harder for you to get away if the animal decides to attack. Only come within 10-15 feet of the animal.

Allow the animal to make the final approach once you are close. Call to it in a soothing voice and try to get the animal to come to you. Put out your hand, gently pat the ground, and you can also toss the animal food, throw the food to the side and not directly at the wee beast.

Avoid prolonged eye contact. Look to one side of the dog rather than staring it down. Dogs consider this to be a sign of domination. They interpret it as a kind of challenge and it can cause the dog to think you want to fight. (Ever notice that dogs you know will usually not keep your gaze for long? Or cats that glare at each other for as long as possible before a fight. To them it's very rude, so this is why. And why it's best to avoid it!)

Hold out your hand so that the back of your hand is facing the animal. This is less threatening to most animals, and also lessens the chances of your fingers being bitten.

Observe the animal's body language if it does not approach. It's best to let cats come to you, they are hunters themselves but small enough to know to know the perils of being the hunted! But for dogs you may slowly - very slowly - start to take a few SMALL steps toward the animal if it seems friendly but just shy.

Stay calm and slowly back away if a dog and snarls or bares its teeth... or a cat and it's growling or hissing at you. Do NOT run.

Remain motionless as the animal sniffs at your hand.

Allow the animal to finish it's examination of your hand and then slowly move your hand from the front of its face to just behind one of its ears, and scratch or pet gently. Remember that many animals have areas that they do not like having touched, so go slowly.

Last once you have gain its trust and companionship you you can feed them

Answer 13

I never begrudge a cat a meal- feed them if your prepared to keep it up.

I live where there is no help for stray cats - animal control just puts them down and the animal rescue places seem to spend all their $$ on the dogs.  

If I find kittens I feed, trap/catch, and give them away at the local grocery store.  I let the people adopting know that they are strays and have had no medical evaluation or care of any kind.  Most people don't seem to mind.  I am somewhat careful since cat hunters will use strays to train their hunting dogs, but I've been able to find homes for all I've done so far.

Catching them can be tricky.  Some will learn to trust you and come to you on their own.  Very young kittens, who have only recently been weaned by their moms (or even younger) will be very difficult.  If you have to play at chase and catch, I recommend gloves to protect yourself.  Kitten scratches are very fine, very dirty and hurt like the dickens.  These very young kittens are fast and furious when you try to catch them.

Adult cats don't get adopted as well and are more likely to become your cat if you feed them but sometimes you can find homes for them through your friends.

I have four cats and all were rescued from stray/wild.  

If you do wind up keeping them I suggest you get them spayed/neutered as sooon as possible or you'll have more kittens.

I find females are easier to housebreak than males- especially when you're talking about strays.  The exception to this is the neutered male stray.

Good Luck.  

PS   The advice given in the other answers about handling and diseases is important, especially if you have cats of your own already.

Also felilne leukemia is beleived to transfer to humans, so if you have young children you need to be very careful.