How do you best befriend Strays?

[kewpie]

What is a good way to befriend strays quickly? I notice that once they are gone from my lot, I never see them again -- so I figure I better befriend them quickly. I can find the horses easily with Twallan's SP mod, but the dogs and cats are hidden and I can never see them on the map to go find them.

[kayls42]

If you're not opposed to using cheats, testingcheatsenabled true will allow you to slide the friendship bar (in the relationship panel) up or down.

[kewpie]

Yeah, I don't want to do that. I can be best friends with anyone that way. I'd like to play it out.

[jenieusa]

i have cats and dogs...show up at my sims door step all through the day...very annoying...thank god for the gnomes...

you could put one of those gnomes on the lot to allow strays to show up more...

[kewpie]

I did that. I also put out a scratching post and food. In TS2 and TS1, that used to work. Strays would show up to eat the food and play with the post. I've had one cat show up to scratch so far and then it left before I could let it sniff.

[Drakesecaravdis]

I get strays all the time but they're only active when my people are in bed and when I wake them up, the stray is sleeping so you can't do anything with em. when the strays wake up they leave.
I did that. I also put out a scratching post and food. In TS2 and TS1, that used to work. Strays would show up to eat the food and play with the post. I've had one cat show up to scratch so far and then it left before I could let it sniff.
herein lies the problem, the scratching post and food keeps them too busy to interact with then they leave after right?