Hello.
Last week, a stray cat reappeared on my back patio. A year ago I came home from work, to my 3 resident cats sitting in front of the patio door staring out at something. As I looked out, I realized there were a pair of eyes staring back,from under my patio couch. The cat looked to be in good health, shiny coat, well groomed, etc.. I set out a bowl of food for him, just in case, he ate,let me pet him, and took off. I had not seen him again until last week. I saw him come out from under the fence that separates my subdivision from the rail line. He came right up to me once he spied me, While I am sure this is the same cat that visited last year, this cat's condition is not the same. He is very wary. Came near but won't let me pet. VERY emaciated, has lost one of his ear flap, has recent wounds at the nape of his neck which a couple of days ago looked infected. His eyes just haunt me. I gave him a bowl of food and water, and let him eat. Again, once he ate he took off. I left food out for him, and for 2 days it remained in the bowl, then I returned from work one evening and notice the food was gone. I assumed it was him, but, it could have been another animal. I filled the bowl up again. 2 nights ago, just before I was going to bed, I looked out the window down onto the patio, and noticed a cat curled up asleep on the wicker couch. When I got up in the morning he was gone, but, was there when I got home from work that evening. He has been hanging out on the patio off and on ever since. I am leaving food out for him, and he watches me thru the patio door when he is around. When I go out outside, he moves away but does not leave the area. He has let me pet him briefly a time or 2.
I feel he was once an family pet. I see the longing in his eyes to be able to finally trust someone again. And it is painful to look into this kitty's eye and see his fear. I spent all day at work, worrying and wondering how I could help this kitty. I do not necessarily want to add another animal to my all ready full house hold, but I decided I would try and help him if I could.
I stopped on the way home at the hardware store and purchased items to make a shelter for this cat so he could be out of the elements if he chose to. I was all set to start building this shelter when I got home. When I finally got home this evening, he was there on the wicker patio furniture. The minute he saw me thru the patio glass, he jumped down and ran to the patio door like he was waiting for me to come home. The food bowl was empty, so I went out to fill it, went back inside, and when I turned around to watch him eat,and there was another cat eating out of the bowl with him! The new cat is clearly more skittish, and kept moving back when it noticed I was watching them, or heard any kind of noise. I think it is feral. Anyway, once they ate they left. But, now I am hesitant to continue on with my intention to intervene.
My idea was to get the first cat comfortable enough so that I may get him to use the shelter, and eventually move him into my garage, then take him to the vet, and then possibly introducing him to the house once cleared by the vet. Now that there are 2 cats involved, I am not so sure it would be a good idea to intervene. Can someone who has more experience with helping stray cats, tell me, what I should expect? I fear that if I continue to offer food to this one cat, additional cats will come with him to be fed. I do not live in an area where my home can be a safe haven for a bevy of cats. I do not know if I would be doing the right thing trying to intervene. I would appreciate any opinions regarding the situation from those that have more experience in assisting strays. Thanks.
Last week, a stray cat reappeared on my back patio. A year ago I came home from work, to my 3 resident cats sitting in front of the patio door staring out at something. As I looked out, I realized there were a pair of eyes staring back,from under my patio couch. The cat looked to be in good health, shiny coat, well groomed, etc.. I set out a bowl of food for him, just in case, he ate,let me pet him, and took off. I had not seen him again until last week. I saw him come out from under the fence that separates my subdivision from the rail line. He came right up to me once he spied me, While I am sure this is the same cat that visited last year, this cat's condition is not the same. He is very wary. Came near but won't let me pet. VERY emaciated, has lost one of his ear flap, has recent wounds at the nape of his neck which a couple of days ago looked infected. His eyes just haunt me. I gave him a bowl of food and water, and let him eat. Again, once he ate he took off. I left food out for him, and for 2 days it remained in the bowl, then I returned from work one evening and notice the food was gone. I assumed it was him, but, it could have been another animal. I filled the bowl up again. 2 nights ago, just before I was going to bed, I looked out the window down onto the patio, and noticed a cat curled up asleep on the wicker couch. When I got up in the morning he was gone, but, was there when I got home from work that evening. He has been hanging out on the patio off and on ever since. I am leaving food out for him, and he watches me thru the patio door when he is around. When I go out outside, he moves away but does not leave the area. He has let me pet him briefly a time or 2.
I feel he was once an family pet. I see the longing in his eyes to be able to finally trust someone again. And it is painful to look into this kitty's eye and see his fear. I spent all day at work, worrying and wondering how I could help this kitty. I do not necessarily want to add another animal to my all ready full house hold, but I decided I would try and help him if I could.
I stopped on the way home at the hardware store and purchased items to make a shelter for this cat so he could be out of the elements if he chose to. I was all set to start building this shelter when I got home. When I finally got home this evening, he was there on the wicker patio furniture. The minute he saw me thru the patio glass, he jumped down and ran to the patio door like he was waiting for me to come home. The food bowl was empty, so I went out to fill it, went back inside, and when I turned around to watch him eat,and there was another cat eating out of the bowl with him! The new cat is clearly more skittish, and kept moving back when it noticed I was watching them, or heard any kind of noise. I think it is feral. Anyway, once they ate they left. But, now I am hesitant to continue on with my intention to intervene.
My idea was to get the first cat comfortable enough so that I may get him to use the shelter, and eventually move him into my garage, then take him to the vet, and then possibly introducing him to the house once cleared by the vet. Now that there are 2 cats involved, I am not so sure it would be a good idea to intervene. Can someone who has more experience with helping stray cats, tell me, what I should expect? I fear that if I continue to offer food to this one cat, additional cats will come with him to be fed. I do not live in an area where my home can be a safe haven for a bevy of cats. I do not know if I would be doing the right thing trying to intervene. I would appreciate any opinions regarding the situation from those that have more experience in assisting strays. Thanks.