What Does It Mean When A Stray Cat Comes To Your House?

Have you ever come home and seen a stray cat outside the door? Or maybe he’s seating against the front door with an expression that begs the question, “Where the hell have you been, human? I’ve been waiting for you for a while.” Your first reaction might be to chase him away so he doesn’t get too used to you, or feed him and send him on his way.

However, have you ever wondered what does it mean when a stray cat comes to your house?

In our article, we will talk about the reasons why a street cat comes to your house, what to do if you find a cat on the doorstep, and even what it means from the spiritual side.

Why a Stray Cat Might Come to Your House?

If you saw a stray cat near the door of your house, you are probably wondering why he was here. There are several main reasons why an outdoor cat would come to your home – it could be simple curiosity, a cat could like the plants in your garden, he could be sick or he could be looking for shelter. Let’s look at these possible reasons in more detail.

The Cat Is Curious

Cats are very curious animals who like exploring or examining anything or someone that has piqued their attention. The new cat can be drawn in by the meows and cat odor that have been emanating from your house if you already have a cat or cats there.

Cats are incredibly perceptive to sound and scent, and they won’t hold back when they are curious.

The Cat Likes Your Garden

Your home garden may attract feral cats if it has lots of plants, shrubs, and trees. It has been observed that when cats are sick or in the mood to chew on some greens, they will eat certain types of plants. Most likely, the cat likes something in your garden.

Be careful not to apply any pesticides that may be dangerous to the animals if you find that cats are frequenting your home or garden.

Consider growing cat grass in a quiet place for your cat to eat if you enjoy having stray cats visiting your garden. To avoid any unfortunate incidents, cat owners who grow a wide variety of plants at home need to be aware of which indoor and outdoor plants are harmful to cats.

The Cat Is Sick Or Injured

Cats are very smart animals. Usually, when cats are sick or injured, they seek shelter where they can hide from other animals. This reaction is in their nature. But they understand if their illness is serious and they need help. There are many stories of homeowners finding cats at their door that needed veterinary care. If you see a sick cat, take him to the vet or to the nearest animal shelter.

Seeking Safety And Shelter

The cat may get lost, or he may hang around your house looking for food and water. The smell of cat food may have attracted him to your home if you have other cats. On the other hand, the cat may be aware of the impending cold or rain and wish to find shelter.

The fact that there are so many stray cats roaming around in need of food to survive is heartbreaking and terrifying.

What To Do When a Stray Cat Comes To Your House? 6 Steps

What to do if you see a stray cat at the doorstep? There are several options, but remember that “chasing the cat and ignoring” is usually not the best option.

Identify The Cat – Feral Cats, Stray Cats, Abandoned Cats, Lost Cats

Before taking any action, you need to make sure that the cat is really homeless. A stray cat or a lost indoor kitty that has forgotten how to get home – it will be easier for you to choose a course of action if you can distinguish between them.

1. Lost Cat. The most likely explanation is that the cat you’re seeing is the pet of a nearby resident who just got missing. This is frequently the case when the cat wears a collar and appears to be well-fed and cared for.
2. Abandoned Cat. A recently abandoned cat would typically appear slightly better than a stray, with a smoother coat and a generally well-fed tummy, similar to a lost cat. Since the owners who abandoned it probably didn’t take good care of it, an abandoned cat won’t often have a collar and may not appear as attractive as a lost cat.
3. Stray Cat. Stray cats are socialized and tend to feel at ease around people. If you try to pet them, they may get a little embarrassed. Perhaps local cat lovers will take care of them. If you can get close enough to him, you can see that one of his ears has been clipped, indicating that he was trapped, neutered, and returned to the street. Learn more about what trap-neuter-return is in this article.
4. Feral Cat. An unusual scenario is an encounter with a feral cat. But this is also possible depending on where you live. This is possible if there are forests or mountains around, feral cats sometimes go to the suburbs in search of food, like raccoons and other wild animals. But since a feral cat is not socialized, it can be unpredictable. Feral cats are not used to being around people, unlike abandoned cats. They want to remain hidden and avoid eye contact. Be extra careful when approaching feral cats.

Give It Cat Food And Water

The first thing you can do is give some water or food in a bowl. You don’t have to put food right in front of the cat’s nose; you can just put food where he can see it and walk away. You can still put the bowl of food and water where the cat was if he ran away when he saw you.

Naturally, if you feed the stray cat or the feral cat, it will almost probably return the very following day for more food. Therefore, you might not want to leave cat food to the animal if you don’t want that.

Check For Identification

The first thing you should do if a cat happily enters your home is to see if it has a tag with its owner’s contact details. In this case, contact them immediately. They will no doubt be worried about their missing cat. Remember to keep your cat away from your pets. This is in case it contains parasites or fleas that can infect other pets.

Take the cat to the veterinarian to see if the kitty has a microchip if there is no obvious evidence to identify its owner. If the cat has a microchip, the contact details of the owner will be displayed, allowing you to return the cat to its rightful owner.

Find Out If The Cat Is Missing

Don’t assume a cat doesn’t belong to anyone if you can’t find information that identifies the owner. Do your best to track down the owners before claiming them as yours. Post missing cat flyers and/or ask around in your area.

Provide Shelter For The Cat

Providing refuge while figuring out what to do next is a smart idea whether the cat is stray, abandoned, or misplaced. Sheltering a feral cat is challenging and generally not advised for obvious reasons.

However, providing temporary shelter and attending to any immediate sanitary concerns, such as cleaning the cat and treating any potential skin and fur pests and parasites, are the correct actions to do in the case of a stray cat, lost, or abandoned domestic cat.

If the stray cat shows a desire to go inside the house, allow him to do so, especially if it is raining or freezing outside. Provide him with a warm blanket or dry towel so he can lie down and place him in a safe place away from your children and other pets.

Use a towel to dry your cat if she is wet and friendly enough for you to approach her. Do not stroke a frightened or angry cat until it relaxes and feels more at ease.

Take The Cat To The Vet

It is recommended to take the cat to the veterinarian as soon as she is safe, fed, and bathed, ideally the same day or the next. The vet can scan the cat for a microchip, check if the cat is in good health, give the cat the necessary vaccinations, and also sterilize the animal (this should be done only if the cat has no owners).

How to Locate the Cat’s Owners?

If the cat has a collar with the contacts of the owners or it is microchipped, then it will not be difficult to find its owners. But it happens that a domestic cat was not microchipped. In this case, there are some tips that will help you find his family.

Create A Flyer

The first way is to make flyers and put them up in your area. You can make your own flyers or use one of the free services. Please use a clear photo of the animal and a detailed description. Include any distinguishing characteristics on the poster, if any. Don’t forget to include your contacts on the flyer.

Let the staff know that you are caring for the kitty by bringing it to your veterinarian and nearby animal shelters. Post flyers near where the cat was found and in high-traffic areas. Placing flyers on high streets, gyms, post offices, and stores is also a great idea.

Use Social Media and Websites

Posting about the cat on Facebook is another smart move. Find your area and see if there are any pet-related groups in your neighborhood. Ask your friends to share the same information you posted on your personal page.

There are several websites that help connect lost pets with their owners, such as PawBoost, which is a useful resource for users of lost pet apps.

Speak To Your Local Shelters

What to do if you cannot care for the found cat while looking for its owners? Talk to a local rescue organization or local animal shelter if long-term adoption isn’t right for you. Ask the shelter to temporarily hold the cat if you are afraid that it will be euthanized. This means that you have a chance to take the cat if the owner does not show up soon.

Private Rescue Groups Can Also Help

Another option is private rescue organizations or private shelters. Although private rescue organizations rely on foster families and can only adopt a cat if they have space available, there is no time limit on how long the cats can stay with them.

If you can’t find the cat’s owners and can’t adopt a new feline family member, try to find a different cat forever home. There are many people dreaming of a cute furry friend and every animal deserves a family!

What does it mean when a stray cat comes to your house? FAQ

What do cats symbolize spiritually?

What does it mean when a cat comes to your front door? Many people are interested in the spiritual meanings. First, cats are considered a good omen in many cultures. At the same time, there is a common misconception that a black cat = bad luck. But this is not at all the case, black cats can bring no less luck and happiness to your home than kitties of any other color.

Another spiritual meaning is a test of your character. Cats are very independent, self-sufficient, and characteristic creatures, and not every person is able to shelter a cat and make friends with this amazing animal.

Cats symbolize curiosity. So the appearance of a stray cat at your home is considered a spiritual foresight of adventure and new interesting changes in your life. Whatever your spiritual beliefs, try to show kindness and care to the animal.

Conclusion

When strange cats come to your house, it means that you have a chance to help a cute fluffy. Kitties don’t just come to people, and it’s always good to find out why. If you see adult cats, they may be regular stray ones who just want to eat. If this is a mother cat, she may seek help and shelter. Many cats that come to people are actually lost and looking for their homes.

If the cat shows signs of injury and is very frightened, call him in a soft voice and try to take him to the vet or to a local shelter. Your care can not only save the life of one cat but also return happiness to its owners.

Like every “cat person” I am sure that a stray cat coming to you symbolizes good luck and a happy life and gives you a chance to help your furry friend find his lost or new home. Every cat parent loves to spend time with furries and is sure that our fluffy friends make life better.