The Rescue is ON

So the first day I moved into my new apartment, I looked out my window and saw a cat wandering down the hill and along the fence that borders the complex. I wondered what a cat was doing in such a strange place because we are on top of an even bigger hill with no houses or restaurants around. Not really any good places for mice or rats either.
Over the next couple months, I've seen him/her walk down the same hill, always away from the apartment across the way from me, so I think someone is letting their cat out to roam.
I'm usually not too harsh about stuff like this because we did it back home and you can't convince everyone to keep their cats indoors. However.. We are right next to a busy 6 lane main street. There are also people who walk their dogs off leash on that hill. This is NO place for a cat to be running around..

So when I saw the kitty walking along the edge of the parking lot, I decided to see if it was friendly. I called to it and it stopped immediately in its tracks and stared at me. It didn't look like it was going to approach. I went back to my apartment and grabbed a can of food and came back calling for it. I accidentally startled it in the bushes and it ran down along the hedges. When I called to it again, it stopped and turned its head to look back at me. It stayed in that position, watching me as I opened the can and continuously called out and meowed. It eventually sat down where it was and continued to watch me. When I turned my head for a second, it disappeared into the bushes. I casually followed after it a few minutes later, and surprised it in another bush. It stared straight at me and I tried to make myself small and go around the bush to get closer to me, but once again, as soon as I looked down, it ran away.
I saw it again today as I was coming home. It was crossing the parking lot (which it never does) but i decided not to chase after it; I just called repeatedly as I walked by.

I don't think its a feral, I think its just like Grim, very hesitant around strangers. If it does belong to someone, I plan on putting a collar around it with a note asking the owner to keep their cat indoors. If it is a feral or a stray, I'm going to try to befriend it and eventually if I have to, trap it.
I think its way too early to tell what direction this is going to go in, but I plan to make it right.

Good for you Minka!   Does the cat look thin or unkempt at all?   I often don't know what to do when encountering a well fed looking outdoor cat.   On the one hand it could be someone's indoor/outdoor cat out for a walk, on the other hand it could be a newly lost cat.   The collar with a note sounds like a great idea.

Minka said:

 I plan on putting a collar around it with a note asking the owner to keep their cat indoors.

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Better to ask the owner to phone you, "as you arent sure if it is owned and OK or homeless and need your help".

So the owner hopefully phones you and then you can talk.

If you  write to keep the cat inside, the owner will prob get sour. Take off the collar and you will not be wiser than earlier.

At best he will let it stay at home. In this case you will get anxious: did he stayed home, or did the cars took him, or the dog become his fate??

Good luck!

Bastfriend - It's too hard to tell. Once I get closer I'll be able to tell, but for now its a mystery. I don't think its newly lost or anything since I've been seeing it since August. Although I suppose it could have escaped as someone was moving out/moving in. Guess we'll find out.

StefanZ - I've heard of people warning against putting your phone number in case they turn out to be coo-Koo and start harassing you. I think it would be a very rare thing for me to release the cat and then the Next day have something bad happen to them. If the cat disappears, I'm going to assume that its owner took it inside. :nod:

I really like Stefan's idea, but I understand your point...

there are a LOT of idiots around.

What about setting up a quick, easy, free e-mail address at yahoo or somewhere just for this situation?

That way, you might be able to communicate safely with the owner (if there is one.)

SevenWonders said:

I really like Stefan's idea, but I understand your point...

there are a LOT of idiots around.

What about setting up a quick, easy, free e-mail address at yahoo or somewhere just for this situation?

That way, you might be able to communicate safely with the owner (if there is one.)

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    Yeah.  And if you write up tel nr, use an anonymous, prepaid card for cell phone. ("mobile phone")

StefanZ said:

    Yeah.  And if you write up tel nr, use an anonymous, prepaid card for cell phone. ("mobile phone")

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That would be my suggestion if you don't want to give out your number. I like the idea of the note on the collar but I find that sometimes the collar (needs to be breakaway) comes off if the cat runs through thick bushes or climbs trees, etc. It is still possible that this cat is feral. Some will sit like that and watch you and only allow you to get so close. They know that humans = food so they tolerate our presence. I hope that this is just a shy stray. I know if Perkins or Perla ever got outside they would never go up to someone unless they were completely starving, that is. for this kitty! and to you for caring.

Not sure if it's the same cat, but now I have a momma cat (Marla) and a baby to catch.
It's been about freezing here at night though, so I'm not sure if the kitten made it as I haven't seen it in a few days, but the momma I see around all the time. I think she's probably feral. She lets me get within about 10 feet and then she slips away. I keep carrying food in my car, hoping that one day I'll have it with me when I see her so she'll KNOW that I mean food.

I had set out a trap for her with no luck, but that was because she moved to a different area of the complex. I know where she is now, I just have to get a good night to set it up again.