Thread: is it a bad idea to feed a stray?

My Zues was abandoned by a tenant who lived in my building about ten years ago.I took him in by request of the landlord.He hadn't been fixed and hadn't sprayed the whole two weeks I had him.He's been with me ever since and I couldn't imagine the world without him.He's fixed now by the way.

i'm not sure how to tell if he's fixed or not.. he seem very nice and calm.. and super friendly with the other cats.. i havn't let him inside.. but they sniff eachother through the glass..

i was resistant about adopting him.. but i really don't have it in my heart to leave him out to fend for himself.. i've spent a few nights out in the cold and i wouldn't allow that for anyone if i can help it..

the girl just rolls her eyes cause she knows there is no telling me what to do when it comes to animals.

The Vet will be able to tell you if he's fixed.However the obvious answer to look and see if he's intact which should be visible.You are doing the right thing.I'm rootin for ya.You should put a kitty kennel on the porch for him with a towel liner for warmth and a big bowl of fresh water in the meantime so he has a place to go till he gets all checked out.plus that will get him used to the kennel for transport.

there are already two cat transports outside for my other cats.. and i'm hesitant to leave anything out.. i have seen giant racoons and other wildlife right outside our patio on the weeping willow...

and there are canals everywhere around our house.. if he wants a drink all he has to do is run about 20 feet to a nice little pond.

for now i'm only bringing out food when he is there and i'm making sure he finishes it or i bring it back inside and throw it away..

i had a look under his stomach and spotted some boys.. but i don't know if the size matters or not when telling if he is fixed...

i'll just have to wait for what the vet says.

In this case size don't mattuh.if there there,they are there.As for the carriers,at least make a towel bed for him.The coons aren't going to sleep in it.I grew up in the sticks of Northern Michigan and know a thing or two as well bout coons.Just a towel bed so if the temp gets cold he has something.As for the water the coons won't care about that.It's food they want.

ok.. i put a towel in one of the carriers and left a bowel of water in there for him.. i won't leave food out.. but i'll keep an eye out for him and when i see him i'll bring out the food.. he took off earlier tonight and i'm sure he'll be back.. maybe he's down having a pint at the local panther club.

here he is next to my girl kitten. she is very small.. but his head is atleast 4 times the size.

If he hasn't been fixed he will mark territory in or out of the house. He may do that anyway if he was fixed later in life. IME introducing another cat into the mix may require a long period of adjustment for the cats involved. They are so territorial. Over time they will begin to tolerate each other and given more time may even learn to get along and be pals.

he hasn't marked anything as far as i can see.. the patio smells just fine.. he has taken to one of our patio chairs and i've gone ahead and given it a good whiff.. he doesn't spray..

the thing i've noticed is that he feels very comfortable around our apartment and has even strolled a few feet inside when i left the door open more than a few seconds..

i have a strong feeling that he belonged to the prior tenents and they left him.. he is very loving to me and even "plays" with my other two cats through the sliding glass door..

i'm thinking that this is his home and he is simply being accepting of me as a new guest in his home.

i hate to be a softy.. but he has my heart.. i won't let him go uncared for.

With out knowing the full story, don't knock the previous owners too hard. They might have relocated him locally (or reasonably locally) and he's decided he's not up for that and headed back to your place, or any other number of events that could have been out of the cats best interests and he ran away.

In any case, it doesn't much sound like he's leaving, some owners don't see their cats as much as you see this guy!