A feral kitty who lost his feeder when she was forced to move from her apartment complex has been coming around my condo. We trapped him and found that he was already neutered and had him tested and vaccinated and chipped to a local rescuer. It was decided that it would be in his best interest to let him go in his territory if I would agree to feed him. That has been going pretty well. We have named him Leo. Sometimes, I catch view of him eating, but have run into raccoons and some neighbors' outdoor cats trying to get the food. The food is pretty much hidden from the neighbors' view behind some tall plants. The only time I see Leo around is when he is eating. I don't know where he lives most of the time.
I would like to put housing for him on my lower deck, which is close to the ground. The problem is that my condo association is opposed to feeding stray cats. Also, my deck is visible to some hostile neighbors across the way who don't like cats. So, I would need a heavy (it is terribly windy in my area) enclosure that would look like a plant stand or other piece of deck furniture. We are allowed to put only plants and garden furniture on our decks. There is very little room for anything under the deck with less than a foot clearance on the level area. Most of the ground under the deck is a steep slope. Access to the ground for humans is difficult. One has to climb over the railing or take a rough brushy path up from the street.
Can anyone give me advice about this? Do you think the cat would even come up on the deck to stay in the house? Would the sight of my indoor cats through the windows put him off? He is a cute little guy so I would like to help him out.
