Stray cat desperately wants to come indoors...not sure what to do

oyster

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I have 2 indoor/outdoor cats. We live in the country where barn cats/strays and ferals all come and go as they please. Everyone tries to stay out of each other's way. I let out my cats in the daytime only--for about 2-4 hours. Most strays and other cats come to our house in the evening when I put out food/water for them.

Today, a stray cat appeared on my back porch. It walked inside the kitchen behind me and startled me. But I led it outside and placed some food and water for it. The cat sniffed at it and didn't touch it. I shut the door but it meowed and scraped the door to be let in again. I couldn't because my 2 cats were alerted and were not happy about this intruder.

After a few hours, I took out a blanket for the stray to sit in. When I opened the door, the stray ran back in and lunged at my foot as if to nip it. I was fast but it unnerved me. I put the blanket out and ran back in. The stray clamped the blanket in its mouth and humped it for a while. Then, it dragged the blanket somewhere and disappeared. I just laughed it off and forgot about it.

3-4 hours later, stray reappears and meows to get in again. Freaks out the kids by trying to get close to them. He may be about 2-3 years old--can't say. He has a strange habit of lunging at you as if he's going to attack you so that makes me wary. But who knows what he's really trying to do. I love cats so am giving him the benefit of doubt. He has been marking everything around the house. I know it will drive my own two male cats crazy when they do go outside again. I have them indoors today. 

I walked outside again to figure out what it wanted and it seemed to lead me down the street and onto the main road. I followed thinking he's trying to find his way back to his home but he looked confused once we got to the main road. So, I headed back home and he followed me like a dog at my heels--literally. So now I have a cat sleeping on my porch--growling at the strays that come to eat in the evening. He won't leave and he hasn't eaten anything. I've given him water, milk, wet food, dry food... he won't touch it. Other than coming indoors, what could he want? What can I do with him meanwhile? I am guessing my cats will be housebound till we can figure out this situation. They won't be happy about it at all. We have called animal control to get him neutered but they won't come before a week, at the least. 

I don't know what I can do for him other than give him food/water and a blanket on the porch. 
 

Columbine

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Could you take him to a vet to be scanned for a microchip. That way is your best chance of locating his owners if he has any.

As he's not eating a general health check might be a good idea too. It's great that he's found someone to help him :)
 
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oyster

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Just an update: we took him to the shelter where they treated him for fleas. They are going to try and locate his family but if not, he will be put up for adoption in a month. He's already neutered. We will most likely adopt him if they cannot locate his family. We have posted ads on our local FB and in our neighborhood but he looks like he was abandoned.
 

StefanZ

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Just an update: we took him to the shelter where they treated him for fleas. They are going to try and locate his family but if not, he will be put up for adoption in a month. He's already neutered. We will most likely adopt him if they cannot locate his family. We have posted ads on our local FB and in our neighborhood but he looks like he was abandoned.
Yes, that was also my guess, he got astray or got abandoned, and that is why he wanted in, not even being used to get food outside...

So he was already neutered??

I see it ended well.   :)
 
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oyster

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Yes, that was also my guess, he got astray or got abandoned, and that is why he wanted in, not even being used to get food outside...

So he was already neutered??

I see it ended well.   :)
Yes, I think it did. :)
 

betsygee

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Just an update: we took him to the shelter where they treated him for fleas. They are going to try and locate his family but if not, he will be put up for adoption in a month. He's already neutered. We will most likely adopt him if they cannot locate his family. We have posted ads on our local FB and in our neighborhood but he looks like he was abandoned.
Lucky kitty to have found his way to you.  So good of you to consider taking him if no family is found.  
 

Columbine

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Great that he was neutered already. It sounds like you may well have yourself a cat :) :rub:

I just wish people didn't abandon their pets [emoji]128575[/emoji]
 

Norachan

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Hi Oyster,

I just wanted to say thank you for giving this cat a second chance. A lot of my cats were dumped near my house by their previous owners, it's a real bonus to find one that's already been neutered.

I hope he settles in well with your other cats. Keep us updated and let's see some pictures sometime.
 
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