ear tipped feral kitty showed up in my garage, feeding question

What should I know about caring for a feral. Especially since I'm not sure how long we will be in this house. 

Ok, so a month ago we officially were given the neighbors cat that they had forced to live outside, I had a thread about her about 6 months ago. We had been feeding her and giving her shelter in our garage as she had no shelter at her house and I had a bunch of left over dry food after I stopped feeding it to my boys. 

She is now our indoor kitty. But my husband found out that apparently we have also been feeding this feral cat. My husband was in the garage and kitty came in under the garage door cracked open and froze when he saw my husband there. He is ear tipped so I guess he is has already been TNR'd. Up until a month or so ago our neighbor was feeding the girl we adopted from them outside too, so I guess he was eating at both our houses. They have now moved though and the house is vacant. Since our girl is no longer outside we stopped feeding her in the garage. 

I've never cared for a feral cat before, this guy has basically been seen as a flash running across the neighbors yard a couple times, afaik he doesn't let anyone anywhere near him. I've never seen him near our girl when she was still living outside. 

Behind our yard is a huge park and river with a decent amount of wildlife and we don't have a ton of traffic. He can easily get there without danger from cars. I'm guessing this boy must be hunting? No one nearby has outdoor cats now that our girl is with us so I don't know who he could be stealing food from. 

Should I just continue to feed him in my garage? I've only seen him a half dozen times in the last 6 months but he seems really stealthy. 

You can do as you think is convenient and according to your plans.

You dont have agrements with him nor anybody else about him...  And he seems to manage quite OK on his own. Probably a decent hunter, as you hint.

Otherwise he would try to beg or steal from garbage trash more often.

I understand it is oK for you to help him, now when he is here.

If you plan to perhaps trap him / foster him, yes do it at your garage, especielly as he did already found that place.

If you plan to let him live his live in the area, give him food where is most convenient to you...

Good luck!
 

ps. Yes, ear tip means they are neutered.

Well - someone in your area must be TNRing cats if this feral has a tipped ear. That is wonderful to hear. I am certain then there must be another caretaker in the area and this cat just comes by checking for a meal now and again. If you are moving - as you say you are not sure how long you will be in that house - then I would stop feeding this cat. If you are going to make the commitment to feed, then make an outdoor feeding station, not your garage. UNLESS, :lol3: you want to trap/socialize. But I am sure this cat is quite able to survive well without your food, if you so decide. Good luck!!!

Thanks, you are probably right and gave me more to think about.