If you want to befriend stray cats near your home and encourage them to approach you, a Japanese pet columnist shares a tested method involving five steps. Although it might leave your legs a bit sore, the effort is well worth it to build a bond with these felines.
5 Steps to Open a Stray Cat's Heart
- Greet Them Softly: When you meet, say a gentle word to the cat. Avoid talking excessively; keep your voice soft and slightly higher in pitch. Loud noises can scare them away.
- Crouch Down Slowly: After greeting, slowly lower your body and remain completely still. Use your peripheral vision to glance at the cat, then casually turn your head away. If you make eye contact, slowly close your eyes.
- Stay Still Even When They Approach: Continue to face away and remain motionless. This helps the cat feel safe and builds trust.
- Maintain Stillness as They Draw Closer: Even if the cat comes near your body, do not move. Keep your head turned away and stay still.
- Let Them Leave First: Once the cat decides you are not a threat, it will leave. Only after the cat has walked away can you move. This is the first step in establishing trust.
The columnist repeats these steps every time he encounters a cat, even if it takes a long time or the cat leaves early. Eventually, the cat will complete all the steps, and you will gain its trust.
As for when you can pet the cat, the columnist advises that the cat will let you know. Once you're familiar, the cat might expose its belly or rub against you, signaling that it's okay to touch.
This method can also be applied to your own pets if you're not yet familiar with them.
