Advice on the mystery feeder?

Hi everyone, needing a little advice.   So my potential moving day approaches - currently planning end of May.   I begin to suspect that there may be a second person feeding feral cats somewhere nearby because Hercules disappears sometimes and comes back and seems fine.  There is a second cat that sometimes eats from his bowl and when he does he only eats 1/4 of a cup like he's barely hungry.   During the winter Herc never ever missed a feeding no matter how cold it was or how hard it rained or even if I was hours late putting it out.  It is spring here so maybe he's hunting, but I wonder.    If someone here is willing to feed him it would be better for them to take over rather than me put him the trauma of relocation somewhere.   So far he makes eye contact but shows no interest in getting closer to me than twenty feet away, so he doesn't seem too interested in socialization but clearly wants a human regularly putting out food - he's about two years old now.

So my dilemma....how do I find this mystery feeder if they exist?   I've considered putting up flyers at my apartment mailbox with a picture saying "have you seen this cat?" to get them to call me.   BUT if I do that I've drawn the attention of everyone, cat friend and foe, to my dear Hercules and this could put him in danger.   What do you all think is best?

Golly.. that's a tricky one. I definitely wouldn't go with the signs.  As you say, it could create problems for your boy.

You could pretend you'd lost a cat .. describing him.. and see if anyone says they've seen/been feeding him.  It feels a little dishonest, but about the only way I can think of to locate the mystery feeder.

I wish there was an easy answer!  I have wished that there was a way to attach a GPS to these roaming ferals!!  I believe that Patches has someone else who feeds him as well.  Yet I have no idea who it might be.  I have gone around to mail boxes as well as posting signs on utility poles asking if anyone has seen Patches.  I never stated he was a feral or lost, just asking in big bold letters HAVE YOU SEEN ME?  I then gave my phone number.  I only received one call out of the 50+ I distributed.  It was someone who had seen him over the winter, but nothing recent.  You could make up some fliers and see what happens.  I figured if anyone seriously called me, I would let them know he was a feral and that I had been feeding him off and on for 2+ years.  I also wanted the other feeder to know that he was recently neutered.  The man who did call me was a vet and completely understood my situation. 

I hope you find the feeder so you can make the best choice for Hercules.
 

Maybe you could ask some local cat rescue places if they know if someone feeds the ferals near you. When I talk to the people who do the shelter cat adoptions at pet stores some of them feed ferals too. That way you could try to find the feeder without alerting all your neighbors...I'm sure some who would want to stop the feeding of ferals.

Good luck. Hercules is lucky to have you caring about him.

Thank you all so much for the advice!   I'm still mulling what to do, Hercules is gone for a second day today, again - these absences seem more frequent.   I'll keep you guys posted!  

good advice from all of the previous posts, the only thing i would add is if you do put any posters up make sure to get a throw away cell to use for a contact number.

Bastfriend, i really hope that there is a happy ending for Hercules, i know how much you care about him.

Hi Whaler, good thought about the phone!  I'm planning a walkabout the apartments to see if I see feeding bowls out then to see about the flyers.