Stray cat...what to do with him?

[Katieinwonderland]

About a week ago this cat showed up in our backyard. We noticed our three cats lined up against the sliding glass doors, totally mesmerized, so we turned on the light and there he was! He didn't look underweight or anything, but he was meowing like crazy so we put out a little bowl of food and he gobbled it right up! We also put out a bowl of water and he drank like he was super thirsty.

He's shown up twice a day, every day since then! I'm guessing he's showing up because we feed him, but we don't know if he has a home. His fur is kind of matted and he's a little dirty, but he lets me go near him and pet him, and every time I open the door, he tries to come into the house, so he must have been a house cat at some point, even if he has no home now.

So what should I do? If he has a home, I don't want to keep feeding him, I want him to go home! I've looked around for 'lost' posters, but no one seems to be looking for him - is there a way I can find out if he has a home? If he doesn't have a home, do I just call a local shelter to see if they'll take him? I would love to keep him but we already have three cats and a fourth is out of the question. He seems like a really sweet cat - right now he's fast asleep in a patch of sun on my patio! I know I could just stop feeding him and perhaps he'd go away, but I don't want to do that if he really has nowhere to go.

 

[christiane]

I would call your local animal control/humane society with his description in case someone has reported him missing. You could also call a few of the local veterinary clinics also.

Then, I would make some "Found" posters for the neighbourhood.

If there is no response in a week (or sooner if he looks ill or weather is bad), I would take him to the shelter myself. They can scan him for a microchip & look for a tattoo. If he is neutered, there is a good chance he has (or had) a home. If he is mature & un-neutered, it is unlikely that he has a home.

If you cannot capture him, most animal control have live traps. Some won't lend them out at this time of year if you live in a cold area. In that case, call a local cat rescue.

You're very sweet to look after this hungry guy until he can make his way home!

 

[dakcp2001]

Call all your local vets, rescues, and shelters they will file a found kitty listing and may have a matching lost kitty listing. I would also put his pic on a flyer and hang it at gas stations and quickie marts. Maybe put his pic on Craigslist? He sounds friendly, someone is missing him! If you can catch him you can take him to a shelter they can scan to see if he is microchipped.

 

[castmemberb4]

Any Vet's office or rescue can scan him for a micochip.
And then help with finding his home or a new one,
please don't let him go to animal contol, they are too
over welmed in most places. Wish we lived close I'd come get
him for you and take him to the rescue I volunteer with.
Good Luck with the little guy.
BTW - I have four it's not much different than having
three

 

[HeatherH]

First of all, BLESS YOU for feeding the kitty, I have been the crazy lady feeding the strays in our neighborhood, and I applaud you for not turning away and letting the poor thing wander off and scrounge.

I agree that if you can, I would try and take him in to a vet to see if he is microchipped (I'm going to guess NOT if he is not wearing a collar, people that are that responsible usually tend to collar and tag their pets too) and also to get him checked out. And go ahead and let the shelters know that you've found him too...I wouldn't post anything on craigslist because you just never know who could claim they were the cat's owner and do whatever with it. I'm just weird that way.

Are you willing to adopt another cat? I honestly hope so, because it sounds like he has chosen your house. As long as he checks out health-wise and you are able to quarantine him and your other cats are willing...sounds like you got yourself another kitty.

And if NOT, and I do understand that...I would try and find a rescue that will take him in.

Again, BLESS YOU for doing what you do.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

No advice, just a thank you, too

 

[quentina]

He chose you.....he now belongs to you.....Buy another litter box and enjoy him.

 

[epcotprincess]

He chose you.....he now belongs to you.....Buy another litter box and enjoy him.

LOL I would totally agree with this, but having 3 cats of my own, I understand there is a delicate social balance as well as simple issues of space and costs, so if you really can't keep him, it's ok to responsibly assist in his re-homing.

Start with calling local shelters with the cat's description as a previous poster mentioned.

You can put up FOUND posters, but this is really important! DO NOT list the cat's description or show the cat's picture on the flyer. Just put CAT FOUND along with your phone number, and something to the effect of "Please call and describe cat's identifying features." The reason is that people might either want a cat but not want to pay the adoption fee, so they would falsely claim ownership, or worse, they will sell the cat to animal researchers or choose to abuse the animal.

About the best thing you can do in this situation is either keep the cat, find someone you personally know to be loving and responsible to adopt the cat, or take the cat to a no-kill shelter or rescue league if there is one in your area.

Good luck, and bless you for taking care of the poor thing!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What about attaching a note to his collar and seeing if anyone responds?

 

[Katieinwonderland]

Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it.

We went for a walk around the neighborhood this evening, and all of a sudden, I heard a little meow - I turned around and there the cat was! He started rubbing up against me and purring, it was pretty cute. He'll let me pet him and even pick him up, so I think he would be easy enough to take to the vet or a shelter. My biggest concern is actually that he HAS a home in the neighborhood, and that they're keeping him as an outdoor cat - I don't want to start taking him to the vet or looking for homes for him if he already has one!

Tomorrow I'm going to call the local shelters I've found and see if they know of any missing cats - he only has half a tail, so he's easy to describe. I'll also make up some posters to put up in the area. I REALLY don't want to send him off to a shelter, but I just cannot keep him. My two male cats might not mind, but I've posted before about my female cat - she has some serious issues with the two boys as it is, they tend to pick on her and she gets really easily stressed out. It just wouldn't be fair on her and as much as I'm getting attached to this newcomer, the cats I have now have to come first.

Thanks again for the help - I'm really hoping at this point that someone comes forward to claim him.

 

[Planogirl]

It's nice of you to consider that he might have a home nearby.

Our escape artist was extremely friendly. Once someone posted on a local forum that he'd found a cat on our street and described him a little. Our cat was missing at the time. Someone posted that it was probably someone's pet and the person decided to let him out to see if he went home. Our cat showed up at the door a little later.

Escape artists can be a pain.