Being out in the sticks, we have one or two feral cats around. They won't come anywhere close to you, and you only catch glimpses of them as they go about their business.

The other day I noticed a cat I have not seen before. Very friendly. Walked right up to me and let me pet it. No collar, and fairly thin. I don't believe he/she is feral like the others, and perhaps was dumped.

I don't mind the cats, as they will help control the rodent population. At the same time, if this guy was dumped, he may not be at the top of his hunting game. I was going to get him some flea/tick treatment tomorrow at the pet store. I have also left water out. What I don't want to do is feed him if it will discourage him from doing his cat thing. I have no intention of letting him move into the house. Should I put food out for him, or let him rely on his own skills?

The bleeding heart in me says feed him and check to see if he is declawed. If he is, he should be an indoor cat.

If you can't keep him, find a shelter that will take him in.

If he is fairly thin, a small amount of food.

He has all of his claws, and doesn't seem to mind being outside. He also knows what a house is, and what the doors do. That's why I figure he has been dumped.

My neighbor found two beagles the other day. Get this. On the side of the road with their dog stuff. Somebody dumped them AND their belongings. I've never heard of that before.

It's not fond of being photographed. I'll work on a better one.

Not knowing the right answer, I'll shoot off the hip. I would say it's all or none. If you feed him, then he's your cat. Plan on having an outdoor cat and plan on getting him his shots. Otherwise I would not feed him as he will then look to you for food instead of his instincts and rummage through you trash possibly too.

If you don't feel like keeping him around (outdoors only), then catch him and take him to the pound and hopefully he tugs at someone's heart strings. If he came up to you he is/was someone's pet.

Good for you.

We have a number of ferals here. They need good water of course. Put out food. They will eat as needed. They will catch and kill stuff even if not hungry.

Our house cats hunt too, and will sometimes share with us, like your kids buying dinner, sort of!

Feed him, he will still hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Feed him, he will still hunt.

This.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
My neighbor found two beagles the other day. Get this. On the side of the road with their dog stuff. Somebody dumped them AND their belongings.

Did your neighbor adopt the dogs?

Somebody who would just dump a dog, needs to be locked up in a cage in the pound with no possibility of parole unless / until somebody adopted them. I don't think a dog dumper is likely to be adopted, so s/he might spend a long time in a cage.

quote:

Did your neighbor adopt the dogs?

He already has two, but he posted it on facespace and found somebody to take them.

Here's a better photo of him/her

That's a good looking cat. Think he'll be alright.

That's a nice cat.
I hate those jagoffs that dump pets. Inexcusable.

That's a good looking animal. Try to do right by it.

St. Charles has an animal shelter, take the cat in and put up for adoption. It may even be chipped, which the shelter can check.

Just accept the fact you've adopted a cat.

Like alcoholism, the first step is admitting you've got a cat and you are powerless before it's subtle and innocuous subjection of you.

Congratulations, you are now a cat's slave.

I have six I am directly or indirectly subjected to...

Name him; "3-14-15".

Call him "Sweety"

Ok, just to explain how this works, because you are posting like you are in control of what is happening here, you are not. Cats are natural rulers, and we are destine to serve them, that cat chose you, he/she will be informing you shortly of what you will be doing for him/her.

Kidding, but that is a good cat, I can tell. Give it shelter and some food, you'll get plenty of love from it in return.

We had an outside cat in Illinois that we fed and took in for regular vet maintenance. He still hunted and was very successful at it. He did stop eating his prey.

We had indoor cats and I fed the outside cat when I fed our house cats. I would not leave food out for him, if you establish a schedule he will come for food. Their time sense is very good.

Oh, he is beautiful. Looks like one of ours. I would definitely take him in. Mine has a personality that won't quit. Spoiled rotten though. He is a splitting imagine. Care for him or find him a loving home. Please.

On my porch is a stout box with a clean towel inside of it. My outdoor car can get out of direct wind, rain, and snow (a heat pad in winter keeps it cozy). On the porch is water. And it gets food in a bowl a few times a day. I'll not leave food out, but invite the cat in to eat. Then back out he goes.

If it was an issue, like it was five years ago when he started eating here, he eats outside twice a day.

At this point, he keeps this side of the block clear of other pesky cats that would be sniffing about, marking porches and whatnot.

So I vote for a decent crate, a bowl of water, and a dish of hard food.