The urban cat is a survivor. He or she lives a life of hardship, constantly searching for that next meal, a warm spot to rest, and a sheltered location to spend the night. This difficult life is even harder for the female urban cat, which will devote most of her life to delivering and providing for litters of kittens, often at the expense of her own needs. An urban cat is a creature of the shadows, usually fearful of people and accustomed to being harassed, chased, threatened, or otherwise hounded by the many dangers lurking on the streets. Humans are a great threat, but urban cats are also constantly in danger from cars, buses, trains, and a multitude of other urban threats. An urban cat’s life is not completely hopeless, though, thanks to the many caring people who make a point of helping these street felines whenever possible. There are programs set up to capture feral cats and spay or neuter them to help end the cycle of uncontrolled breeding. Feral cats can seldom be tamed and turned into house cats, but their lives can be made better through spay/neuter programs, building of winter shelters, and caring neighbors who provide basic food and humane treatment of urban street cats. There are also special organizations that work to shelter urban cats, especially young kittens, and socialize them enough to make them adoptable. The most successful socialization of feral kittens occurs before the age of eight weeks or so. Kittens are brought into the indoor environment, and the person doing the socializing uses food and gentle persuasion to gain the kittens’ trust. Getting down on the floor is helpful, as is setting up a pen for the kittens in an area of the house where there is regular human activity. All of these factors combine to acclimatize the kittens to the world of humans and increase their chances of successfully being socialized. It is a slow process that requires immense patience, but thanks to volunteers, many urban cats have a chance to become an adored pet and enjoy the comfortable life they deserve. If you choose to adopt an urban cat, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind as you help your new pet adapt to their new life. First, remember that an urban cat will tend to be timid from a life on the run, so be gentle and patient. Keep your doors and windows closed to prevent them from running off, and make sure to keep food, water, and comfortable resting spots plentiful and easy to access. Next, make sure you spend time with your cat every day. Play with toys, offer special treats, or in time, simply sit and stroke the cat gently. The more you can get your cat to trust you and look to you for comfort, the more he or she will adjust to a new life off the streets. In general, urban cats are most successfully tamed and brought into the home when they are adopted as young kittens. Older cats are more set in their ways and have learned through experience to be wary of humans, but younger cats do not have as much negative life experience and therefore are quicker to trust a human who is kind and patient. Regardless of whether you adopt an urban cat who is younger or more mature, it is important to seek proper medical care and ensure the cat is up to date on all vaccinations. The urban environment is full of diseases, some of which can be transferred to humans, so the best way to ensure your own well-being as well as that of your cat is to collaborate with your veterinarian to provide whatever medical attention is necessary.