The little grey and white cat that started visiting us when Francis was around is now a regular visitor. I feed him breakfast and dinner everyday and he's usually there waiting for it. He hangs out on our covered front porch, but it seems mainly around mealtimes.
He came to us very skinny, but is starting to fill out a bit with regular meals. With the weather getting colder, I'm giving him a good amount of food with each meal and he seems to be eating it all up (before, he'd leave some if I gave him too much).
I'm 99.9% certain that this cat does not have a home. My question is whether he ever did and he's a stray/abandoned cat, or whether he's a feral cat?
He is skiddish around people, but doesn't necessarily run and hide until you get too close. He used to hop off the porch until I put the food down and walked away, but now he'll stay on the porch and let me within 4 feet of him. If I try to get any closer, he moves away (usually hides under the patio table), although he doesn't necesarily run off completely. I can tell that he's slowly learning to trust me, but he's definitely not at the point where he's going to let me touch him. I've never really seen how he is around other people. I asked the young girl downstairs to just let him be when he's around.
Since he's skiddish, I'm pretty limited in my options. The local rescue said to call animal control and depending on his condition, he might end up at the rescue. That's too much of a risk to me, considering I know the rescues have reduced the number of cats they take from animal control. Another local rescue (which I'm not a huge fan of, but at least it's a warm place for the winter) will take strays with a $100 fee, but will not take in ferals, as they are "unadoptable."
With winter coming, I'll have to do something. Given the rescue situation which would be my first choice, I've been thinking I'll make him an insulated shelter and put it on the covered front porch, continuing to provide food and water for the winter. If I can get a couple Snuggle Safe disks rotate them every 12 hours or so, at least there will be a bit of warmth in there for him.
If I can get him through the winter and build his trust, maybe in the spring I'll be able get him into a carrier and see how he does. At that point, I can either TNR and continue feeding him, or, if he seems tame enough, take him to a rescue.
This is a ways down the road, but I'm hoping that, when we eventually move from here, it will be time to buy a house. I'd like to buy somewhere with a place where I can keep rescues or do some foster work, so, in the event that this little guy is still around when that time comes, we'd take him with us.
Any advice/opinions would be appreciated.
He came to us very skinny, but is starting to fill out a bit with regular meals. With the weather getting colder, I'm giving him a good amount of food with each meal and he seems to be eating it all up (before, he'd leave some if I gave him too much).
I'm 99.9% certain that this cat does not have a home. My question is whether he ever did and he's a stray/abandoned cat, or whether he's a feral cat?
He is skiddish around people, but doesn't necessarily run and hide until you get too close. He used to hop off the porch until I put the food down and walked away, but now he'll stay on the porch and let me within 4 feet of him. If I try to get any closer, he moves away (usually hides under the patio table), although he doesn't necesarily run off completely. I can tell that he's slowly learning to trust me, but he's definitely not at the point where he's going to let me touch him. I've never really seen how he is around other people. I asked the young girl downstairs to just let him be when he's around.
Since he's skiddish, I'm pretty limited in my options. The local rescue said to call animal control and depending on his condition, he might end up at the rescue. That's too much of a risk to me, considering I know the rescues have reduced the number of cats they take from animal control. Another local rescue (which I'm not a huge fan of, but at least it's a warm place for the winter) will take strays with a $100 fee, but will not take in ferals, as they are "unadoptable."
With winter coming, I'll have to do something. Given the rescue situation which would be my first choice, I've been thinking I'll make him an insulated shelter and put it on the covered front porch, continuing to provide food and water for the winter. If I can get a couple Snuggle Safe disks rotate them every 12 hours or so, at least there will be a bit of warmth in there for him.
If I can get him through the winter and build his trust, maybe in the spring I'll be able get him into a carrier and see how he does. At that point, I can either TNR and continue feeding him, or, if he seems tame enough, take him to a rescue.
This is a ways down the road, but I'm hoping that, when we eventually move from here, it will be time to buy a house. I'd like to buy somewhere with a place where I can keep rescues or do some foster work, so, in the event that this little guy is still around when that time comes, we'd take him with us.
Any advice/opinions would be appreciated.
