Alley cat visiting a lot...

Hi there! I live in the city and have a small fenced patio behind my rowhouse. I have a 15 year old adopted ginger tabby who hangs out in the patio when I'm home. Recently I have seen another car hanging out in the patio. He seems heathy and well fed but I think he's a stray. He's been coming closer and closer to the house and was actually sitting right at the back door today. My cat has chased other cats away in the past, but I've seen him sitting out back when this cat is in the patio. Weird. My question (I'm a complete newbie to this site) is should I consider adopting this kitty? I don't want to stress out my old boy though. And I have two small children. I'm just worried about this kitty. Any insight would be helpful! Thanks!

Hi bmorekitties, wow deja vu! Our rescued ginger TomJulian also made friends with a feral, who initially would take off like a rocket under the fence at the mere sight of a human; over the course of a summer he gradually got used to us, while we in turn made a point of avoiding making loud noises or brusque movements when he was around. We decided to adopt him sometime between the moment we realized that TJ truly loves him and the moment I found him taking a nap on my bed one day like he owns the place. Ultimately it was TJ's decision more than ours; he fell in love with a skinny, grubby thug from the back alley and invited him into our lives. He (the feral) was a serious fighter, putting him at very high risk for cat-to-cat transmissible illness, so our vet did a thorough blood panel before even considering flea treatment, vaccination and castration- all essential for an outdoor cat-so be prepared for some hefty up-front costs, and of course a frightened feral can bite or scratch a child who doesn't realize the cat perceives him or her as a threat, or feels cornered, so you may want to spend some extra time making sure your kids understand that he is frightened, and that they will give him the extra space he will probably need while adjusting.
My bottom line: it was difficult, expensive, and sometimes kind of weird (he never purrs, but talks constantly, like he's narrating his own life in the language of brooooot; he is still deathly afraid of all cat toys, but pursues a grim vendetta against his mortal enemy, shoelaces) and it is still, daily, one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. He's a beautiful soul, we are privileged to know him, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

bmorekitties said:

Hi there! I live in the city and have a small fenced patio behind my rowhouse. I have a 15 year old adopted ginger tabby who hangs out in the patio when I'm home. Recently I have seen another car hanging out in the patio. He seems heathy and well fed but I think he's a stray. He's been coming closer and closer to the house and was actually sitting right at the back door today. My cat has chased other cats away in the past, but I've seen him sitting out back when this cat is in the patio. Weird. My question (I'm a complete newbie to this site) is should I consider adopting this kitty? I don't want to stress out my old boy though. And I have two small children. I'm just worried about this kitty. Any insight would be helpful! Thanks!

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Welcome to the forums and thank you for reaching out to help this new cat.  First off, is the 15 year old ginger tabby neutered?  If not and the new cat is an unspayed female you will have kittens before you know it.  If you commit to feeding the new cat, you should consider if you are willing to spay/neuter the cat as well.  If not, you will end up with kittens or a tomcat who will roam and fight.  Cats do make friends with other cats and they since they appear friendly to each other that is a good sign they will get along.  Do you provide shelter for the cat who hangs out on your patio?  Will you do the same for the new cat? 

I hope you will provide some more information so that answers can be provided for you!

Thanks for the replies. To clarify, the orange tabby(Guthrie) is my house cat. We just let him out on the patio when we are home-- he's neutered/vetted and lives inside. (On the couch and in my son's bed, mainly! ) This new cat just comes around. I've seen him/her for a few months but recently he's made our yard more of a frequent stop. I haven't fed him yet-- my husband is opposed. He seems well fed though-- shiny coat, solid build etc. he runs away when approached but stays pretty close, although not close enough to touch. Guthrie has lived with another cat in the past (who passed away three years ago) and they tolerated each other bit weren't exactly friends. We had Guthrie first and got Dude when my grandmother went into a nursing home. That adjustment was fine-- no big fights or anything. Dude was the boss, basically. If I did adopt of course I wound spay/neuter and fully vet before bringing him in... Just not sure if I should even try?

You might want to start by asking some of your neighbors if they have seen the cat.  It might belong to someone and is just stopping by to check things out.  Snap a picture of him and ask around or put some fliers in mail boxes.  You can also check lost and found sites to see if he is a lost cat.  Here in my area we have a Pet FBI site where you can post pictures of your cat/dog if they are missing.  I would do the above steps before deciding to feed him. 

If you come up empty handed and he truly is a stray.  You could start to feed him or just trap him immediately and take him for a vet visit.  They could check for a microchip as well as determine if he/she has been spayed or neutered.  If he is not neutered he could start to fight or try to take territory or he could be a very gentle cat.  You just don't know.  Since you say he seems normal size and well cared for he just might belong to someone or he might be lost.

Thank you for caring for him and I hope you either find his owner or decide to take a chance and help him out.