Article: Feeding is the most effective way to get a stray to interact with you. The cat is likely hungry and will respond positively to being fed. This gives you a chance to get closer to the cat and get him used to your presence.  Select strong smelling food. The easier it is for the cat to detect food, the better. Cats have a strong sense of smell. Canned food is usually more pungent than dry, especially fish flavors like salmon and tuna. However, do not leave human food, such as canned tuna or fish, out for a cat. This can upset a cat's digestive system and you do not want the stray to associate the food you leave with any unpleasantness. Leave the food outside in areas where you've seen the stray. Consistency is important. Leave the food in the same place every day and the cat will learn to come to this area when hungry. After a few days, stay outside while the cat comes to eat. It may take a week or so for the cat to trust you enough to approach you. Be patient. Do not try to force interaction.  Do not pet or interact with the cat physically during this time, unless the cat makes contact with you by rubbing against your legs or nuzzling you. Strays have often suffered abuse at the hands of past owners. It may take a stray a long time to warm up to a new person, and they can be easily startled. If you push contact preemptively, the cat might be wary about returning for food. While some strays may walk into someone's home on their own, most strays have trust issues. A humane cat trap is often the best option to get the cat inside your home safely.  Humane societies often provide safe traps to visitors trying to capture strays. Workers can also explain how to use the traps correctly. The best option is to visit your local shelter and ask them for advice on a cat trap.  If there is not a shelter in your area, you can purchase cat traps online. Be careful, however, as you want a humane that won't cause the cat discomfort or harm. Check all traps with the ASPCA website to make sure they are humane and safe. A cat will not simply walk into a trap, even if you leave food inside for him. The process of getting the cat safely into the trap takes time.  When the cat seems comfortable with your presence, start bringing a large crate trap with you when you go to check on him. Ethical traps, that provide no physical harm to the cat, can be found on Amazon or at local pet stores. Spend a week or two placing the cat's food closer and closer to the trap. Eventually, put the food just inside the crate but keep the door open while the cat eats. Your goal is to get the cat comfortable being inside the crate so when you latch the door shut the experience is less traumatic.  Gradually move the food farther into the crate. When you reach the point where the cat is comfortable going all the way in the trap, latch it shut. If you want to earn a cat's trust, you need to live with a stray for an extended period. Before you can do this, however, you need to make sure your cat is free from any diseases that could harm you or other pets in your household.  Before the check up, keep the cat quarantined from other people and animals. Keep him in a closed off room. If possible, a larger crate or cage kept in a heated garage would be the ideal option as the cat may have fleas and ticks that you do not want released into your home. Your vet can check your cat for a microchip. This is an identification chip placed underneath the cat's shoulder which can be used to find the owner.  Your vet will also run a basic physical exam and perform all necessary vaccinations. The cat will also be checked for ailments common among strays, like fleas, heart worm, feline immunodeficiency disorder, and feline leukemia.

What is a summary?
Earn their trust through food. Select a cat trap. Lure the cat into the trap. Get a veterinary check up.