How To Befriend A Wild Cat Or Kitten: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Befriend a Wild Cat or Kitten PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Brian Bourquin, DVM

Last Updated: March 10, 2025 Approved

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  • Luring a Wild Cat to You
    • |
  • Taking Care of a Wild Cat or Kitten
    • |
  • Expert Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Warnings
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This article was co-authored by Brian Bourquin, DVM. Brian Bourquin, better known as “Dr. B” to his clients, is a Veterinarian and the Owner of Boston Veterinary Clinic, a pet health care and veterinary clinic with three locations, South End/Bay Village, the Seaport, and Brookline, Massachusetts. Boston Veterinary Clinic specializes in primary veterinary care, including wellness and preventative care, sick and emergency care, soft-tissue surgery, dentistry. The clinic also provides specialty services in behavior, nutrition, and alternative pain management therapies using acupuncture, and therapeutic laser treatments. Boston Veterinary Clinic is an AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) accredited hospital and Boston’s first Fear Free Certified Clinic. Brian has over 19 years of veterinary experience and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 18 testimonials and 90% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 371,991 times.

Many cities are full of stray cats and it is estimated that there are over 30 million stray, abandoned, and feral cats in the US alone.[1] Many municipalities are unable or unwilling to take any action, beyond capturing a few cats to euthanize them, due to a lack of time, money, and interest. Because there is little help to stray cats and their risk of death from injuries, disease and poor nutrition, you may feel compelled to help a wild cat or kitten yourself. This process may take some time, so you need to be patient, but it can be very fulfilling to befriend and help a cat in need.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 2:

Luring a Wild Cat to You

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  1. Step 1 Differentiate between a stray cat and a feral cat. 1 Differentiate between a stray cat and a feral cat. A stray cat is someone’s former cat that no longer has a home; a feral cat was born in the wild and is a cat that is wary of humans and generally isn't adoptable due to not being adapted to humans.[2]
    • You may have success at befriending a stray cat; a feral cat probably not although it may become acclimated to your presence.
    • Whether you have a stray or a feral cat around your home, capturing (or trapping) the cat and bringing it to the veterinarian for vaccinations and to be spayed or neutered is an excellent civic duty. Feral cats that are “fixed” can be released back where you found them.[3] You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing they won’t be able to reproduce and contribute to the feral cat population.
  2. Step 2 Take safety precautions. 2 Take safety precautions. Wild cats can be unpredictable so you will need to practice some safety precautions as you are trying to befriend it. Cat bites usually become infected, some very seriously, so you will need to wear long sleeves and pants when trying to befriend the cat.
    • Another concern is rabies in a cat of unknown vaccination status. Use caution and common sense. If the cat starts to hiss or growl, looks sick (runny nose or eyes, scabs, sneezes/coughs, breathes heavily), or acts bizarrely don’t try to befriend it. Call animal control and retreat to your home.
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  3. Step 3 Begin befriending the cat. 3 Begin befriending the cat. If the cat appears healthy and isn’t acting defensive and mean towards you, you can try befriending it. Find a place where the cat usually stays, and wait nearby until the cat reaches its spot.
    • Sit down or lie down, if you can, or at least crouch. The cat will find you much less intimidating that way. Stay there for a while. Teach the cat you won't hurt it.
    • This should be a fair distance away, 10 feet or so, so you don’t intimidate the cat.
  4. Step 4 Offer the cat food. 4 Offer the cat food. Try leaving out some smelly cat food (wet) or even a can of tuna to attract the cat while you are waiting for it to arrive. You want to get the cat to associate you with something good, namely a free lunch.
    • You only need to leave out smelly food the first day. After this leave out a little dry kibble to keep the cat coming back for more.
    • Cats are not as food-motivated as dogs. If offering food does not work, try giving them attention. Toys or small, moving things will encourage them to approach you.[4]
  5. Step 5 Continue putting little bits of tuna closer and closer to you. 5 Continue putting little bits of tuna closer and closer to you. Each day the cat comes to eat, move your spot another foot closer. If you hold the cat food in your hand for a while, your scent will be on it, too. This won't discourage the cat from eating it, but it may cause the cat to associate you with food, which is good in general. Put out your hand to let the cat sniff it.
    • If the cat starts hissing, whisking its tail back and forth, or its ears go back, etc., you're too close.[5] Pull your hand back slightly and slowly.[6]
  6. Step 6 Show the cat some affection. 6 Show the cat some affection. Eventually the cat should get close to you then put out your hand let the cat sniff your hand. Continue feeding the cat, and sitting nearby quietly, and eventually you should earn its trust to the point it will come up to you for food and gentle pats. Don't expect this to happen right away. Don't expect them to even eat any of the tuna right away.
    • Although you want to make friends, staring at the cat can be misunderstood as a sign of aggression. When it comes to befriending a cat, less is more. Sit quietly, sideways on, and ignore the cat. Let them come to you, but you can make yourself more attractive by scattering treats close to your feet.[7]
    • Don't be discouraged if the cat does not immediately approach you. Not all cats want to be touched and some may just be happy to be in your presence.[8]
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Method 2 Method 2 of 2:

Taking Care of a Wild Cat or Kitten

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  1. Step 1 Help find the cat's owner. 1 Help find the cat's owner. Ask around your neighborhood to see if anyone has lost their cat. Cats that get outside can get lost or roam around. Make some calls to local veterinary clinics and pet stores to see if anyone is missing a cat; taking a photo with your phone and making up fliers or posting to social media sites can also help reunite a stray cat with its owners.
    • If the cat is feral instead of stray, it will not have an owner to be returned to.
  2. Step 2 Get the cat checked out by a veterinarian. 2 Get the cat checked out by a veterinarian. Once you are able to approach the cat and pet it, make an appointment with your veterinarian to have the cat examined and neutered or spayed. If funds are tight, call your local humane society to see if there are any funds available to assist with these costs.
    • The cat will have a tiny bit of blood drawn to test for the feline leukemia virus. If the results are positive your veterinarian will discuss options with you, which include isolating the cat from other cats for its life or euthanasia. If it is negative, a fecal sample will be looked at to determine if the cat has intestinal parasites and it will be given the appropriate medication.
    • In addition, the veterinarian will check for fleas and ticks and treat if needed. Vaccines (rabies, distemper, and possibly feline leukemia) will be given and its sterilization operation will be performed. A microchip may also be placed under the skin if so desired. This is highly recommended.
  3. Step 3 Find a home for the cat or kitten. 3 Find a home for the cat or kitten. Now you will have a healthy pet to take home after its operation and vaccinations. Your hard work will pay off knowing you have saved another cat from a harsh life on the street. Either adopt the cat yourself or find another loving home for it to go to.[9]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question Will food encourage a cat to trust me? Brian Bourquin, DVM Brian Bourquin, DVM Veterinarian Brian Bourquin, better known as “Dr. B” to his clients, is a Veterinarian and the Owner of Boston Veterinary Clinic, a pet health care and veterinary clinic with three locations, South End/Bay Village, the Seaport, and Brookline, Massachusetts. Boston Veterinary Clinic specializes in primary veterinary care, including wellness and preventative care, sick and emergency care, soft-tissue surgery, dentistry. The clinic also provides specialty services in behavior, nutrition, and alternative pain management therapies using acupuncture, and therapeutic laser treatments. Boston Veterinary Clinic is an AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) accredited hospital and Boston’s first Fear Free Certified Clinic. Brian has over 19 years of veterinary experience and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. Brian Bourquin, DVM Brian Bourquin, DVM Veterinarian Expert Answer Cats are not as food motivated as dogs, so, while treats are amazing, cats really like attention as well. Getting a cat's attention with small, little moving things will appeal to them. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 15
  • Question Is milk a safe alternative for food? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer No. Many cats lack the ability to digest the milk sugar, or lactose. This results in milk fermenting in their gut and causing diarrhea. If a wild kitten is too young to eat, then purchase some KMR (kitten milk replacer) from your vet or pet store. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 53 Helpful 134
  • Question How can I pet a wild cat with kittens? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer The first consideration must be the welfare of the kittens. If the mother is intolerant of people, then approaching the den will upset her and could lead to abandonment of the kittens. If she is tolerant of people, then help her get used to your presence by leaving offerings of food. Once the kittens are 2-3 weeks old, this is the ideal time to stroke them and start socializing them with people. Distract the mother with food and gently stroke the kitten, but without disturbing the nest too much. As the kittens get older and venture out, they are then more likely to approach you for food and petting. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 55 Helpful 103
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Reader Videos

Tips

  • If you adopt a stray kitten, spay or neuter them.[10] This makes your cat more loyal and affectionate, and helps to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • If the cat seems very sleek and well-fed, do your best to make sure it doesn't already have an owner. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
  • If the cat comes into your ownership, you may want to consider buying toys for it. Squeaky toys, scratching post, or even a ball of yarn can keep it occupied for those times when you are too busy to play with it. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
Show More Tips

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
  • When the cat is ready to be taken care of by you, let the cat roam freely from inside and outside. Sometimes, the strong scent of a human house can be intimidating for a cat to make its territory, so let it ease in on its own.
  • Generally, if the cat is clean it is feral. This is surprising, but feral cats become accustomed to the environment and cleaning themselves. Stray cats, on the contrary, are lost therefore they will likely be dirty.
  • Most feral cats won't be entirely used to human cat food, so you may need to try something else first.
  • Be relaxed when with a cat. They can sense fear which will trigger their predatory instinct.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Remember always to wash your hands thoroughly after touching the cat until you’ve had a chance to bring it to the veterinarian. Thanks Helpful 23 Not Helpful 0
  • Never run towards any cat. It will find this as aggressive behavior and it may try to bite or scratch you. Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 0
  • Refrain from posting about the cat in question online. It may be claimed by its owner that way but it can also be claimed by poachers, hoarders, people who use cats in dog rings, and people who sell cats to be tested on. If you really want to put an add online don't post a picture of it or describe it. The true owner should be able to describe it to you. Thanks Helpful 29 Not Helpful 4
  • Remember, only adopt a cat if you're willing to take care of it for its whole life, or find it another home. If you need to find it another home, it's best to find someone to adopt it, not to take it to a pound. These tend to be overrun by animals, especially cats, and may be forced to put down cats if they don't have any more room. So even if they don't specifically put down your cat, you may cause another one to be put down. Thanks Helpful 24 Not Helpful 4
  • If the cat is aggressive, don't try to befriend it. Even if you manage, it will still be a wild cat, and may be nasty. Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 4
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/pets-numbers
  2. ↑ https://www.alleycat.org/resources/feral-and-stray-cats-an-important-difference/
  3. ↑ https://www.aspca.org/adopt/feral-cats-faq
  4. ↑ Brian Bourquin, DVM. Cat Behavior Trainer. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ Brian Bourquin, DVM. Cat Behavior Trainer. Expert Interview
  6. ↑ https://www.petmd.com/cat/slideshows/cat-hissing-7-things-might-be-blame
  7. ↑ Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Veterinarian. Expert Interview
  8. ↑ Brian Bourquin, DVM. Cat Behavior Trainer. Expert Interview
  9. ↑ https://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/giving-up-your-pet/tips-finding-home-pet/
More References (1)
  1. ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/spayneuter-your-pet

About This Article

Brian Bourquin, DVM Co-authored by: Brian Bourquin, DVM Veterinarian This article was co-authored by Brian Bourquin, DVM. Brian Bourquin, better known as “Dr. B” to his clients, is a Veterinarian and the Owner of Boston Veterinary Clinic, a pet health care and veterinary clinic with three locations, South End/Bay Village, the Seaport, and Brookline, Massachusetts. Boston Veterinary Clinic specializes in primary veterinary care, including wellness and preventative care, sick and emergency care, soft-tissue surgery, dentistry. The clinic also provides specialty services in behavior, nutrition, and alternative pain management therapies using acupuncture, and therapeutic laser treatments. Boston Veterinary Clinic is an AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) accredited hospital and Boston’s first Fear Free Certified Clinic. Brian has over 19 years of veterinary experience and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. This article has been viewed 371,991 times. 62 votes - 90% Co-authors: 57 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 371,991 Categories: Featured Articles | Cat Training Article SummaryX

To befriend a wild cat or kitten, start by sitting or crouching 10 feet away from where you usually see the cat so you don’t scare it away. You may also want to place a can of wet food nearby to attract the cat and help it associate you with something positive. Then, move 1 foot closer to it each day, but move back a few feet if the cat hisses at you or pulls its ears back. Once the cat is close enough, put out your hand and let it sniff you. Repeat this daily until the cat comes up to you and allows you to feed and pet it. For tips from our Veterinary co-author on how to care for a wild cat or kitten once you’ve gained its trust, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Anjali A.

    Anjali A.

    Oct 16, 2025

    "I befriended a cute kitten. Thanks!" Rated this article:
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Brian Bourquin, DVM Co-authored by: Brian Bourquin, DVM Veterinarian Co-authors: 57 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 371,991 90% of readers found this article helpful. 62 votes - 90% Click a star to add your vote Anjali A.

Anjali A.

Oct 16, 2025

"I befriended a cute kitten. Thanks!" Rated this article: Nancy Troland

Nancy Troland

Nov 28, 2016

"It confirmed what seemed appropriate with a stray cat like the one who comes for dinner every evening. It let me..." more Elisa Rios

Elisa Rios

Mar 17, 2023

"This helps me a lot because there was a black cat who is always walking around my neighborhood and when I'm..." more Karen Nyhus

Karen Nyhus

May 18, 2016

"Ferals rarely are vocal helped ID as a likely stray: s/he's a yowler. Also learned to keep him/her away from..." more Alyson Jadlocki

Alyson Jadlocki

May 18, 2017

"This helped us figure out what we did wrong when trying to gain the trust of a nearby wild cat. We moved way too..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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