How to Approach a Cat Without Scaring It 😱

Approaching a cat, especially a stray or feral one, can be a challenging task. Cats are known for their independent streak, and this independence can make them quite difficult to approach.

This is especially true for strays that have been removed from ownership and are now living a feral life.

If your objective is to approach the cat, perhaps to lend a helping hand by supplying fresh food and water, the task could be difficult. Trust, in many cases, is often one of the very first things to go when a cat is abandoned.

Safety First 🛡️

Your main objective should always center around your own personal safety and the safety of others involved. Unless you truly know what you’re dealing with, and this cat is a known fixture around your neighborhood and has been around for quite a while, you essentially need to assume the worst until proven otherwise.

Stray cats can be extremely aggressive. For every stray that runs away, some cats want to lean in and will view your close proximity as a true threat. The very last thing you want is to take claws or take a bite from a cat that lives right off the land for the most obvious of reasons.

Approaching a cat involves being extremely cautious. If your true objective is to simply lend a helping hand, place a bowl of food (preferably dry food) and fresh water near one of the cat’s roaming spots. This can serve two critical purposes:

1. To help the cat with some vital essentials.
2. To build some level of trust, especially if the cat is able to see you and knows that you are the one responsible for providing those needs.

The Approach 🐾

Once a cat lets its guard down just a bit, you can make your physical approach. Use a soft voice, slow steps, and slow movements overall. You don’t want to present yourself as an obvious threat.

The end game here, if the goal is to actually pet the cat, could take weeks. It’s all about a familiar routine. The more you see the cat and the more the cat sees you, most notably sees you as the supplier of the goods (food and water), the more likely the cat will be to warm up to you.

While creeping closer is fine, ultimately the cat needs to walk over to you. Always allow the cat to approach. The final approach, if you will. Once this happens, it’s mission accomplished for the most part. This is proof, at least on a very basic level, that the cat no longer views you as a threat.

Because of this, the cat will be willing to accept you and also accept anything else that you have to offer that is positive. Of course, this could result in the cat choosing to come over to your place and sleep on your porch or patio rather than just wandering the streets of the neighborhood.

This is one of the many outcomes that could take place if the cat does slowly gain trust in you.

Understanding Cat Behavior 🐈

Not all cats we greet know us. Some are confident, but others are nervous or shy. It is therefore important to make sure we greet every cat in a way that lets the cat know our intentions are friendly and in the manner they feel comfortable with.

Our greeting should be an invitation to the cat to come and greet and interact if it wishes. It is never a command. If the cat chooses not to come or interact, that should be respected, and we should never pursue the cat or force our interactions, although intended to be friendly, upon the cat.

A cat that is allowed to choose when interactions take place and therefore has the opportunity to decline invitations to interact is actually more likely to choose to interact with people again in the future as it feels in control of such interactions.

Greeting should start by making sure your body language is as least threatening as possible. This involves bringing yourself closer to the cat’s level by crouching, kneeling, or sitting on the floor. Your body should be positioned at an angle to the cat that avoids directly facing it. This is particularly important for unknown and/or shy cats who may feel more easily threatened.

Slow blinking prevents direct staring, as does averting the gaze beyond the cat. Staring is something that cats can find threatening. When stretching a hand towards a cat, let it know you wish to physically interact. Coupling this with a chirp sound, the greeting vocalization of the cat, makes your invitation to interact as appealing as possible.

A chirp sound also helps prevent startling the cat when its attention is elsewhere. Notice how this cat is relaxing in the garden responds positively to the cherub sound before the person approaches to offer a hand for interaction. If you know the cat’s name, gently calling it also often works as a verbal greeting.

The outstretched hand should be a loosely clasped fist, an outstretched finger, or an open hand with palm facing upwards. These provide the cat with something to sniff and or facial rub on if it wishes to interact. Some cats require some movement of the hand, such as rubbing the thumb against the fingers or tapping the ground to get their attention. However, fingers should never be quickly run along the floor as this could encourage the cat to play with the fingers.

If the cat approaches the outstretched hand, time should be given to allow the cat to sniff and/or rub on your hand before attempting to stroke the cat. If the cat only comes over to your hand briefly then leaves, do not attempt to stroke it. Accept that the cat has declined the offer on this occasion. But if the cat does choose to rub against you, you can begin to stroke the cat.

Final Thoughts 🤔

If you want to approach a stray, you have to have some type of final conclusion in mind. Is it all about the petting, or is it to provide for the cat?

For more information on how to care for stray cats, check out our other articles on why cats are the best pets and how to tell when a cat is pregnant without going to the vet.

Do you have a story concerning a once fearful stray that is now a part of your day-to-day life? We’d love to hear about your experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ❓

Q: Can I approach a stray cat if I’m allergic to cats?

A: If you’re allergic to cats, it’s best to keep a safe distance. However, if you still want to help, you can do so by providing food and water without getting too close. For more information, check out our article on top 10 cats to get if you are allergic to cats.

Q: How can I tell if a stray cat is pregnant?

A: There are several signs that a cat might be pregnant, such as increased appetite, weight gain, and behavioral changes. For a detailed guide, read our article on how to tell when a cat is pregnant without going to the vet.

Q: What should I do if a stray cat won’t let me approach it?

A: If a stray cat won’t let you approach, it’s best to respect its space. You can still help by leaving out food and water. Over time, the cat may start to trust you. For more tips, read our article on why cats are the best pets.

Q: How can I help a stray cat in cold weather?

A: In cold weather, stray cats need shelter, food, and water. You can provide a small, insulated shelter for the cat to use. For more information, check out our article on is my cat too cold.

Q: Can I adopt a stray cat?

A: Yes, many stray cats can become wonderful pets. However, it’s important to take the cat to a vet for a check-up before bringing it into your home, especially if you have other pets. For more information, read our article on 17 best cat breeds for first-time owners.