Here I go again...

What a difference!  He's a stunner.  You are correct about the "owner"  Sonny is far better off with you, even with the dust-ups with your other kitties.  Vibes they settle down and get used to one another soon!

Oh those irresponsible "owners" - I went through a similar situation with Little Ginger, who I rescued and (after a lot of vet bills) eventually re-homed.  It sounds as if Sonny is settling in with you.  And again I can empathize.  I have four rescue cats (3 kittens now cats, and their mother) and several months ago another one, Tiger Boy, slowly moved in with us.  He is happily now neutered and shots and coming around to the household, although like you there are some issues with our male cat.

Bottom line is folks who "own" cats (a term I detest, nobody "owns" a cat!) and neglect them cannot be trusted to provide good care.  Caring for a cat (or cats) involves a lot more than "oh I think I'll put some food out today") , it involves love and attention and doing our best to provide a safe home and regular good food, and trips to the vet when needed even when finances are tight and space is cramped. 

So kudos to you and all others who care enough to do this.

where are you with the black and white cat?  any chance you can give him an outdoor winterized shelter and regular food, much better than nothing?

I left another voice mail for the man who supposedly owns these cats. I've been leaving food for them in bushes in front of the house of a man who does not own these cats, but who consented to me leaving food out for them when I told him a few months ago that I wanted to try to at least TNR them (at that time I thought there were only 2 cats). I would not be able to set up cat shelters on someone else's property--I'm already pushing the issue by leaving food and little bowls of water out (which keep disappearing) on someone else's property. According to his daughter, the owner allows them in his house. I wish he would just return my call--or perhaps I can track him down in person--to get clarity about the situation. I wasn't at work yesterday so I didn't leave food out--we'll see if the cats charge out of hiding to the bushes where I feed them when I drive by today. They seem to know my car. If someone else is feeding them inside, then I shouldn't be feeding them, too. I think this man is probably lower income and doesn't want to be bothered with veterinary care for the cats, or perhaps he is against spaying/neutering, like many ignorant folks are because they think it's cruel. Maybe he's not answering my calls because he's afraid I'm affiliated with Animal Control or the Humane Society. I just don't know. I regret involving myself in this situation in the first place, but I am glad Sonny is healthy and will have a good life now. Even though I didn't want 5 indoor cats, lol.

Even though I didn't want 5 indoor cats, lol.


Shoot, I doubt any of us envisioned life with the number of cats we have! But Sonny is far better off now.

Ok, advice please. I did not feed the black & white cats yesterday. When I stopped by the bushes this afternoon on the way to work, the smaller one ran out to me, meowing for food. It even let me pet it. The owner didn't return my second call. If this cat is being fed by himbthen it must have parasites like Sonny did. Should I take it to the Humane Society? I hate the thought of it being in a cage for so long, frightened and alone and possibly not adopted. I could take it to my feral/stray vet and spend hundreds of dollars on getting it fixed up and foster it and try to find a home for it (though that didn't work with Sonny). I could get it neutered and de-wormed at my expense and release it back on the block. I could take it in and have 6 indoor cats and then try to get the other black and white cat to the Humane Society. What oh what to do?

Life in a little cage can be scary but it may be better than what he has right now.  He'll be fed and warm.  If the Humane Society can work with you and perhaps give you the opportunity to find him a home, that may be the way to go.

Otherwise, like you said, you'll have six (or more) indoor cats.  That's all well and good, except you know it won't stop there.  This may be an opportunity for you to expand resources.  That was the hardest thing for me to do - find like-minded people for support.  I still tend to go it alone but knowing there's help makes it a little easier.

Yeah, it would have to stop there because of limited resources. Unfortunately, all of my fellow cat rescuers are over their limit on cats in their houses, too, so a shelter is my last resort. I have some trust issues with my local Humane Society, but it may be my only option. I would have greater peace of mind if I could only communicate with the supposed owner of these cats before taking action. I just don't understand these type of "owners" at all.  

It's actually working out well that I took Sonny in because now my young male cat, Harry, has a cat who is like him that he can play and rough house with. The two of them chase each other and leave the two geriatric cats in peace to sleep. Harry used to jump on my geriatric cats and my lame cat because he was bored and wanted to play, and now he focuses on mischief with Sonny. So I don't really regret taking in the 5th cat, though it wasn't something I had planned.   

Today when I went to leave food for the cats near my work campus, one of the black and white cats (I think it was the younger one) ran up to me and let me pet it. It was hungry and it was snowing a bit. I picked it up, brought it to my car and put it in the pet carrier. I then debated whether to take it home, to take it to the clinic where I take my ferals and strays to have it tested and fixed, or to take it to the Humane Society. I agonized over this and brought it to the HS. At first the women at the front desk said they needed to contact its "owner." I had the number somewhere in my phone but was confused which number it was. I told them the story of these cats, including the one I took in 2 months ago, and how the "owner" has not returned my calls. I showed them pictures of Sonny and one of the black cats and how they looked before I started feeding them 2 months ago, and how they look now. The staff decided to take the cat without trying to contact the owner. I decided not to make a report of  this "owner" to Animal Control. They are very crowded with cats, but I made it clear that before they would euthanize the cat, that I would adopt it, or if they decided it wasn't social enough for adoption, I would adopt it. I have its number and will check on it. I feel so horrible for taking this kitty to the HS--I know it will be as sweet and loving as its mate, Sonny, and it must be so scared right now. I found the "owner's" number while still at the HS and tried to call it--and again go the message that he wasn't receiving calls. I don't know if I did the right thing or not. My heart wants to rescue this kitty, too, but my head says that 5 indoor and 1 outdoor feral to care for is enough right now. My heart says maybe this kitty and its mates are better off being outdoor and having its freedom as long as the "owner" and I feed them sometimes, but my head says it's getting cold, and these cats will continue to reproduce. Please tell me if I am doing the right thing.    

Also, should I call the HS back and give them the first name and number of the "owner" to give him one last chance to take the cat back and care for it?

You did what was best for the young cat,  At the HS he can get medical care, proper food and hopefully spay/neuter.  He might even find a home.  If not you can try to help him/her.  You are so kind hearted and have done so much for these cats.  It is snowing lightly here as well today.  This kitty will be warm and safe tonight and for that you should be commended.

Thank you for caring!

I couldn't leave him at the HS. I redeemed him before closing and took him to the clinic where I bring my rescues and ferals to get neutered. HS did SNAP test him and he is negative, and gave him Revolution and distemper shot. They have a hundred cats there, and people were surrendering more when I arrived to take him back. The odds were too much against him there. I asked the clinic to keep him until Sat and then I may release him back to his community. I left another message on the machine of the "owner" explicitly telling him I'm not from the HS or Animal Control, and what my intentions are. Please say a prayer he will return my call. Otherwise I may have cat number six.

I feel much more at peace now.  This clinic where I take my strays and ferals are wonderful.

I am hoping the best for you and this new kitty.  He will be neutered which is huge.  My guess is the man will not call you back.  You are in my thoughts. 

I found the owner. I had been calling the wrong number. I met him today and he is a ver friendly guy who does take care of the cats but who hasn't had the money to get them fixed. He is interested in the low cost program I told him about. His house is small and he lets them out but I am returning the black and white cat to him. The sad thing is that he wants Sonny back so i am heartbroken about that. At keast i don't have to worry about feeding these cat anymire. He does not think the second black and white cat is his. I'm relieved but it will hurt to return Sonny.

I am glad you found the owner and he is able to care for the cats, but so sad you have to give Sonny back.  I truly believe he should let you keep him with all of the money you have spent on him as well as making him an indoor only cat.  I guess I would be concerned that he is not sure about the other cat.  He doesn't know it's his???  I wish there was a way for you to keep Sonny.

You are in my continued thoughts.

I suppose I could make a strong argument with him for me to keep Sonny. He had my phone number and could have called me since he knew I had the cat. The question is whether or not I should try to keep him. My home is much better for him but I never wanted 5 cats and I have a better chance of getting Muffin in without him in the house too. Please say a prayer for good judgment for me with this and as I try to help this man in general.

Prayers being said.  I would be tempted to keep Sonny and say you found a good home for him (which you have).  But you're right, it will be harder to help Muffin that way.

Prayers being said

Called the guy and told him Sonny is better off with me. He became upset and defensive and said I took his cat. So I guess I will be returning Sonny to him tomorrow with Sam (who he doesn't seem to care about). I wouldn't hurt so much if I thought Sonny was going to a better home than mine, but he's not. If this guy cared so much why didn't he call me the past 3 weeks. I'm heartbroken, still at work and just want to cry.

It will certainly be very hard to give  Sonny back to a place where you have no idea how he will be cared for.  You are in my thoughts.

I took "Sam," the black and white cat, back to the guy who is the owner of these cats today after I picked him up from the vet clinic. I gave the guy the discharge instruction sheet for neuter surgery, and hand written info on everything that was done for him (which was everything), and gave him a print out of Animal Friends with info on low cost spay and neuter. I told him that if he didn't have transportation to the clinic that I would give him a ride, and re-emphasized the importance of getting the cats spayed and neutered. I told him I hadn't gotten the Drontal for his cats yet but could still get that for him. I made him promise that he was going to keep Sam--"White Tail" is evidently his name--and not give him  to the humane society, and he said he would keep him. I gave him info on how to get his new litter of kittens taken by the humane society even though they say they are full (tell them they're strays--which will be true in a few months, anyway). I did not want him just putting them outside.  He asked if "White Tail" needed any medicine and I said no. Then we said goodbye and I left. He didn't bring up Sonny, and neither did I! So I guess it's an unspoken understanding that I'm keeping Sonny!  I truly hope he will take better care of all of these cats now so I no longer have to feed them every day or worry about them being out in the cold. And if he doesn't take care of that little guy I returned to him today, and I see him out in the dark and snow crying, then maybe I will just pick him up and bring him back home with me.

Thanks Ondine and Shadow for your prayers and support!

I'm going to give Sonny a hundred kisses now!

Thank you for all you have done for Sonny, Sam and even this man.  You educated him and gave him resources as well.  You also spent alot of money out of your own pocket.  I truly home Sonny is yours forever.  Maybe the light bulb will go on for this man and he will take better care of the cats as well as getting them all spayed/neutered.  I wonder how many total he has left to spay/neuter? 

I bet you feel relieved.

Ok, so last night while I was driving home from work I saw "White Tail" running around on the street at 10:45pm. I picked him up and knocked on the owner's door and handed the cat to him and asked how the cats were doing and why he hadn't answered my two phone messages offering my help him get his cats fixed. He got very angry and accused me of stealing Sonny, and said his daughter was traumatized by losing her favorite cat. I asked him why, if this was true, did she tell me to keep the cat when I spoke with her on the street a month ago. While we were speaking, several cats were running in and out of his house, it was crazy. He kept demanding to know when I was going to return Sonny and accusing me of stealing his cat. Soooo this morning I called the police in his jurisdiction and explained the situation and filed a report, so if he tries to report me for stealing his cat, they will cite him for several broken ordinances. There is a 3 cat limit in that borough, for starts. I asked them to not cite him at this time because I don't want the cats taken to the shelter and likely euthanized, and I fear retaliation from him for reporting him. Now I know I can safely and legally keep Sonny. 

I guess there is a lesson in all of this for anyone who's rescued a cat who has not been cared for by its owner. Be pre-emptive and talk to your local police about the situation. They will most likely have your back.