Sometimes we meet a cat that, although it is outside and is apparently stray because we see that it is very afraid, it is actually an animal that has been abandoned. And this, abandonment, is one of the most serious problems in our society, because that person who gets rid of his feline by leaving him on the street, has no idea how bad it is going to happen.
The feline is very sensitive, so much so that if it is seen living outside or in a cage of a kennel or shelter, it has a terrible time to overcome it. In fact, many die of grief. Therefore, if we see one that looks like a street but is not and we want to help you, then I will tell you how much does it cost to rescue a cat from the street.
How to know if it is an abandoned cat?
First of all, it is important to know how to differentiate abandoned cats from feral ones: the first are animals that, yes, they can feel fear when we approach, but they do not hesitate to do just that if we put a plate of food near where we are, and they will not hiss at us (or they will do it very little), and they may even allow themselves to be caressed while they eat; the seconds, on the other hand, will only eat if we leave the food several meters from our current position, and of course they will not want to be caressed.
How can we help?
An abandoned cat is an animal that has had contact with humans and that, surely, has lived with them for years, so the street IS NOT a place for it. Okay, he still has the body of a hunter, but this furry has not adapted to the outside, and will starve unless he receives help as soon as possible. So what do we do if we meet one?
Well, the first thing is to arm yourself with patience, since otherwise we will not achieve anything. Then, as normal is that we do not carry food or carriers by hand, we will try to make friends with him. We will get closer little by little, we will sit a few meters from him and we will call him opening and closing our eyes slowly. It may take time to gain confidence, but you will not hesitate to do so as soon as you feel confident.
Then, when he approaches us, we will let him smell our hand, looking at him with narrowed eyes, and we will try to caress him. If left, perfect; if not, we will be with him a little longer.
The last step is to get it off the street. For this, the ideal is to have the car close by, as it would only be to take it, wrap it with the jacket and put it in the vehicle; But if that is not possible ... I advise calling a loved one to come and help us, and incidentally bring a carrier 😉.
From there you have to take him to the vet to see if it has a chip, and if it is really abandoned (and not lost) decide what to do with it, whether to keep it or find a home for it.
How much does it cost to rescue him?
It has no economic cost. It requires patience and time, but otherwise it is not difficult to catch a cat that has been abandoned, as it is generally an animal that demands a lot of attention, pampering and, above all, someone who wants to help you and provide that security that your old family took away.
At first it may cost more or less for him to gain confidence, but the normal thing is that he is very grateful within a few minutes or hours of having rescued him.
I wish it were always so "easy." A couple of years ago I caught a cat that seemed lost from the street. I have several cats at home: I had to release it again. In Aranjuez the police tell you that they only take him to the kennel if he has a chip. That is, if you don't need it.