Bewildering Situation

I have been caring for a feral cat at my husband's office for a year. He has shelter, food and water, and stays at the office all of the time. We have tried to trap him several times, he even broke out of a drop trap. About 2 months ago, I went to feed him and found a part Persian, very dirty, flea ridden, very hungry and dirty. He immediately came to me and I brought him home. I took him to the vet, he was neutered and given all of the necessary medical attention he needed. I still have him and am taking slow introductions to my cats. About 10 days after that, 2 more part Persians showed up within a day of each other. All of these cats were approximately the same age, none altered, but very friendly and ready to be rescued. The other 2 were taken to the shelter I volunteer with and found homes immediately. I just assumed someone dumped them there and was grateful we found them and they all found homes. Today another one walked right into the office, much thinner and dirtier but looking exactly like the others. I am puzzled, if they were ferals why are they so friendly and affectionate, but if they are being dumped there, what should I do? We took this one to the shelter and will keep updated on him and if needed, I will bring him home and take care of him too. This is an office park, with some woods, but I really don't think these are wild cats. I'm sorry if this is so long, it is stressful to think there may be more and I hate to take them to the shelter as they are overcrowded.

On another good note, although the office cat has avoided the trap several times, he is now coming into the kitchen of the office and sleeping right by the door. He is cautious and does not want to be touched, but this is a great step in getting him to the vet. We now have a heated cat house for him and he has been using it at night. Hopefully some day he will become a permanent resident of the office!

They probably are not "feral" cats, but perhaps strays? There are far too many people out there who would dump a kitty for many reasons. Their willingness to get attention to me says they are indeed strays & not ferals.

I wonder if someone dumped a litter of kittens out there, or maybe has a female Persian they don't bother getting fixed, so they just dump each litter of kittens she has out there?

Good on you for helping them all out!

Thanks for the replys, I am feeling so guilty for sending this latest one to the shelter. I should have just at least taken it in for a few days, but between my own cats, fosters and my new rescue, I am overloaded. I hope there are not any more, the funny thing is the first three strays were the same age, between a year and a half and two. This one is just like the others, although much thinner, poor thing. How could anyone just abandon them, they were not used to fending for themselves.

At least they do not require traps, they willingly go right into a carrier. If only we could get the office cat to do that-this guy has watched 4 cats in the last 2 months be rescued. Maybe he is content having shelter and food, but does not want to live inside. Regardless, we are committed to caring for him and hopefully one day he will choose an inside life.

Originally Posted by KRZ

I hope there are not any more, the funny thing is the first three strays were the same age, between a year and a half and two. This one is just like the others, although much thinner, poor thing. How could anyone just abandon them,

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I agree with SarahP, they are surely dumped or abandoned cats. Although my theory is it was a "kitten factory" who dumped them. Unsold, not kittens anymore and now impossible to sell for full price, and thus practically worthless for their owner.

So my hypothesis is there could be more of them in the beginning, but the others didnt make it. Predators and or fatigue and sickness took them.
Or possibly, hopefully, some perhaps found other friendly people...

These here were lucky to survive so long, and to found at least one good human.

Of course, being friendly they surely tried with a lot of people. It isnt necessary every person is a cat-savior. It is enough if some are... One exactly, as long as they find this good woman or man in time...

It does sound like someone is dumping a lot of cats out there, and the fact that they are persians tells me its probably a bad breeder who is trying to rid themselves of unwanted cats. You are a saint for helping them!!