Any methods of getting random cats to come to you?

Scott Simonian · 05-16-2003, 04:52 PM

First of all, I am a cat lover. I love cats. They are just so cool. My friends also like cats too. You know what I wont go any further.

Uh. Dont take this the wrong way but this is what Im trying to fiqure out.

When my friend and I are driving around we will see some cats (ussually outdoor kitties) are walking around. When we see them, we get very excited and always am like "KITTY!". Sometimes if we are close enough we will slowly pull over to the side and slowly get out of the car. By this time either the cat is already long gone or is looking at us and not moving. This is usually as far as we get.

We try nice sounds and kissy noises and light clapping of our hands or something. We will crouch down and do this too.

Now this is usually when they run off. We know if we try moving forward they will dart off. Just yesterday I tried this and I slowly moved up on a cat and it took off acrossed the street.

One time we saw a cat while chilling in a parking lot. We had to follow it a little bit cause initially it sort of ran off. But we talked with it a bit and it aprroched us. (Me and my friend) This was awesome. It was all rubbin up against us. Giving us the head push. Floppin over onto its side. Heh heh heh.

We ended up petting this cat in the middle of the street for about 10 - 15 minutes. It was the highlight of our weekend.

Anyway. Does anyone have any good ideas on how to approch these random cats? Any good device or something. I dont want to "lure" them. We just like to play with kitties the same way people do with dogs. But everyone is into dogs.

I would just carry a can of cat treats with me but I dont want to open on up for them and have them take off. Ugh.

Tony Whalen · 05-16-2003, 04:56 PM

I'm a cat lover too Scott, but I don't know about the idea of giving a kitty a treat. Dogs will just take a treat and carry on... cats are more likely to follow you for another one, y'know?

Frankly, as a cat-owner, I think someone slipping my cat a munchie would freak me right out. (But my cats are all indoor-only cats, so it's a non-issue)

I'd just try and get their attention the way you have been..and leave it at that. If they come over to say "hi", great. If not, carry on.

05-16-2003, 05:19 PM

I'm no cat lover, so basically all cats love me. From my experience (and from what others have mentioned here on this very board) everything you are doing to try to get the cat to come to you, or at least stay still while you approach it, looks agressive to the cat. Think about what a cat does as it approaches its prey. It gets down low and slowly stalks it. That's what you're doing. Most cats will run away from this.

Since I don't really find cats appealing, but I've lived with 3 throughout my life, they seem to want to come up to me even though I'm trying to get them away from me. Our cat (that my wife wanted by the way) gets more friendly the more I try to push her away. If you ignore them, they will come.

Scott Simonian · 05-16-2003, 06:07 PM

Quote:

It gets down low and slowly stalks it. That's what you're doing.

No. Im not stalking the cats. This is what I dont want to have to do to get to them (insted of them approching me, the perfered way). I wanted to find a non-aggresive ways of getting their attention better.

I understand that somes species of cats arent "people-cats" and arent too friendly with strangers. But there are owners of cats that are friendly with everyone. Their owners dont care if they live outside. That is their problem and the cat too. So when I see them outside by themselves I think them might want some friendly attention from some people.

Would't ya think? I see cats all over town and they may not be "strays". We stay away from unhealthy cats; there isnt anything I could do for them without my parents help. My dad hates pets of all kinds. My mom has 3 cats and had others. But she wouldnt help with them. So I cant take strays anywhere.

Just chillin with some friendly cats.

Eric Samonte · 05-16-2003, 07:57 PM

I am also a cat lover but no cat in the house due to the wife. When I come across a cat outside which is usually a neighbor's, I make a high pitched "psswwssswpwsss"..or something to that effect.I know they like that sound (even read about it) because they usually look toward ur direction and stop. When they see u, they would either stop on their tracks or if they fell like coming over they will. U must also realize that cats have quite a myopic eyesight. Distant objects r a blur that's why when u approach even ur cat from a distance without making a familiar sound for him, the cat will bolt. Up close, it can recognize very well so he or she will always curl up to u or shag u a bit, which is actually "marking" u as its territory and not telling u he or she is urs....more like the other way around.
Try my "noises" and hold ur ground.At times, patience is the key. But also try to remember Garfield. He embodies catdom....if he feels like it, he'll take anything on. If not, he'll just open and close his eyes flirting and in his mind saying...."U want some pussy?.....work it baby work it!..." OK...maybe that didn't sound all that well.....

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05-16-2003, 08:00 PM

Quote:

When we see them, we get very excited and always am like "KITTY!".

...and I saw this cat running down the street and it was like, WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I know, that's an old reference.

I've always called my cats with a whisper sound. Sort of that "Pssst!" sound when you want to get someone's attention. Try that three times fast. My sisters are convinced that all cats know "Kitty, kitty!", but mine don't.

Scott Simonian · 05-16-2003, 08:06 PM

We know that they do not understand "kitty" but we just say that to anounce to one an other that we spotted a cat.

Im hoping my mom buys a new kitten. One of my two oldest died recently of old age. She was the first cat that I remember from childhood. I was about 4 or 5 when we got her. I think she was 14 or maybe 15 when she died. I should find that kitten picture I have and scan it.

Now that I know more about cats I can give them all the right attention from the beggining. Hell yeah, I want a new kitty. Well, when I move out on my own pretty soon Ill get my own kitty. But until then I should tell her to still get a new kitten to cheer up the other cats.

I hope she is interested.

Jay Heyl · 05-16-2003, 09:01 PM

Based on my experience, the best way to get a cat to come to you is to desire in the strongest way for the cat to keep the hell away from you. I'm very allergic to cats and don't care for them all that much even aside from the allergy. Somehow this attitude is like catnip to most cats. If I visit someone who has a cat, the room can be full of people actively trying to get the cat to come to them and the cat will come straight to the one person in the room who wants it to stay away -- me. Next time you see a stray cat, take some Actifed and do your best to ignore the cat. It'll probably come right over.

Cam S · 05-16-2003, 11:50 PM

Personally, if I saw a car pull over with 2 people getting out of it chasing my cat, I would be out there in a second asking what the hell they were doing. I would be careful where you do this, as some people might not like what your doing.

Quote:

When we see them, we get very excited and always am like "KITTY!".

I tried, but I just can't picture a guy saying this

Scott Simonian · 05-17-2003, 01:28 AM

*sigh*

I dont see what is wrong with wanting to chill with a cool cat. Or being excited when you see one. I see people do worse than what I am doing with dogs and birds all the time. But I guess its okay cause they are not cats? Cats arent worthy of someone elses attention.

Maybe you just got to live here and go to my high school. I for one would love to just hang out with a cat following me insted of going to school. If they want the attention then why cant I show it?

Quote:

I tried, but I just can't picture a guy saying this

So guys arent allowed to like cats or something? Just cause we were excited doesnt mean we were getting semis from seeing a cat for petes sake! A stranger cat is more interesting to me and my buddy than any other BS in this hellhole of a town.

Quote:

Personally, if I saw a car pull over with 2 people getting out of it chasing my cat, I would be out there in a second asking what the hell they were doing.

We dont do that. I keep telling you we dont chase the cats. We arent harming them in any way. Infact we are very careful on our approach to not look mean. We cant tell if they even have owners. Almost every cat that we have seen has not been in any particular yard. They never have a colar. If it had a colar and could have a chance to read if, I would be more than happy to return it to the original owner.Otherwise, we pet them softly only when they let us. When we see they dont want any physical attention we just watch and admire their catness. They are so fun to watch look around and check out noises and such.

Hmmm. This sounds not to much different than people who bird watch. We like to go to borders and look at cat books and such. Trying to find out whats species we have seen.

Why does everyone think Im some sort of freak because I am friendly with cats out and about? People are always pettin and rubbin dogs that are being walked. That is okay then?

Julie K · 05-17-2003, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Why does everyone think Im some sort of freak because I am friendly with cats out and about?

I certainly don't think you're any sort freak.

However, I do think your eagerness is scaring away some of the cats. Some cats are more shy than others and it takes time to make friends with them.

I'll bet you're doing something that many cat lovers do - you're looking the unfamiliar cats in the eyes. Don't do this. Look at their nose or mouth but never stare at their eyes.

Daren Welsh · 05-17-2003, 01:30 PM

Quote:

...and I saw this cat running down the street and it was like, WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Gonads and strife....

Scott, all you need is a fresh tuna suit.