Feeding a cat that is not yours might not be the right thing to do, but feeding it raw meat is certainly not the right thing to do. Finally, another sad potential consequence of feeding is that you may encourage cats to cross roads in order to come to visit and inadvertently increase the risk of them being run over.
Feeding someone else's pet usually comes from good intentions and is considered a nice thing to do for an animal. Although it's a lovely idea, there are reasons why this can be damaging for the animal.
Why would you feed someone else's cat? People feed cats because they love cats, and often do not realise that their actions could cause the cat harm. Cats are very good at pestering for food. If someone sees a cat in their garden who seems hungry, they might think it was a stray cat and give it food out of concern.
If you know who is feeding your cat, go around and have an adult discussion. Explain kindly why you don't want them to. If your cat wears a collar or would tolerate one, you could buy one with a message on it.
Finally, feeding cats causes them to gather in large numbers. Cats often fight leading to injury, disease and the spread of parasites. Additionally, because homeless cats may not be spayed or neutered, breeding among these cats in turn leads to more cats, expanding and prolonging the nuisance issue.
To simply feed hungry cats that come to your door is an irresponsible, selfish, feel-good activity that facilitates the continued survival and breeding of free-roaming cats, which are a threat to public health. It also means great suffering for kittens.
Believe It or Not, Cats Do Care
They know who handles the morning feeding, who carries a bag of treats in her pocket, and who knows just the right place to scratch.
Scared and lost cats will enjoy coming back to your home as a source of food. We strongly recommend going beyond feeding stray cats and reaching out to a veterinarian and no-kill shelter to ensure the cat is healthy and safe. If you choose to feed the cat, opt for wet cat food or tuna.
Some people believe cats assume that getting fed every day is synonymous with love. However, this would an egregious misconception. Cats believe you feed them because that's what you're supposed to do. You're not showing love - you're simply fulfilling your duties as the caretaker you are.
For many cats, meowing at meals is natural. To minimize the crying, you will need to replace that behavior with another, more acceptable behavior. Although many cat owners don't realize it, cats are fast learners when they are properly motivated, and food is a good motivator.
If a keeper or caretaker has given a feral cat food and water every day for several years and has provided the animal with periodic veterinary care, that person is more likely to be viewed as an owner than a person who has merely fed a feral cat once a day for six months.
Cats will get fatter if they're regularly overfed. This means they get less mobile, more lethargic, less active, and can eventually get sick. Obese cats can get liver or heart disease, or diabetes. In our clinic, we see some families who have more than one diabetic cat, because that family tends to overfeed their pets.
If the owner isn't around, then you probably shouldn't; and you should return the cat to the owner if you know who the cat belongs to. If someone wants to bring the cat over and let you pet it, then go ahead.
Cats Get Jealous
They can be jealous of other cats, other pets, and often other people in the household. They may seem to be aloof, but they are watching and listening to the household goings-on, and if they are not given the attention they feel they deserve, they will be sure to let you know!
Sadly, many cruelty and neglect cases result in emaciated animals. However, abuse also occurs when an owner over-feeds an animal to the point of obesity.
The best way to get a stray cat to trust you is with food and water. Set down some strong-smelling cat food or treats to help draw them out of hiding. While you may be tempted to feed them something more enticing, like a piece of ham, it's best to stick to cat food to prevent stomach upset.
Some owners worry their cats will be less affectionate and more annoying if food is restricted. Other pet parents may feel guilty about depriving their cats of food. The good news is that recent research shows your cat won't hate you if you put them on a diet.
Don't worry – they're hungry, not starving. Just like us, a cat's empty stomach sends signals to its brain when food is needed, usually at around the times of day that they are used to being fed. If you're the person that feeds them, they'll look to you to fulfil this need.
Although there was clear individual variability in cat preference, social interaction with humans was the most-preferred stimulus category for the majority of cats, followed by food. This was true for cats in both the pet and shelter population.
Always look at the condition of their coat. Stray cats will look dirty as they are from a home where they are used to being well groomed on a regular basis and they won't know how to maintain their own coat. Feral cats are usually clean as they know how to look after themselves despite being in the wild.
Quench Their Thirst. A fresh bowl of water will help the stray felines stay hydrated. Place the bowl outside your kitty shelters to prevent them from becoming damp and yucky. If possible, look for a solar-powered heated water dish to keep the water from freezing in winter.
They can remember a person's face for up to 10 years! And kitties become seriously attached to their humans, so in case you were wondering, yes, your cat remembers and misses you when you're gone for a few weeks, and they absolutely mourn when a trusted companion drops out of their life.
Conclusion. Most cats don't understand that kisses from humans are a sign of affection. A cat will surely let you know if they enjoy being kissed or not. The best ways to show your cat that you love them are to give them toys, treats, and plenty of one-on-one time.
Anyone simply "present" in their life is someone they may remember, but not associate with any emotion. But as long as you and your cat have shared a pet or two, and as long as you fed them a few of their favorite meals, your cat will remember you as well no matter how long you are gone.