Should I take care of a stray (maybe) cat?

I have seen a lot of cats in my backyard, and my city is sub-urban which to me is very odd. lots of neighbors have seen these cats but don't do anything. I don't even know if these cats already have a home and are just wandering around. I just want to feed them and give them water occasionally because my parents will not take care of any cat at all. That way, if a few of these cats already have a home, they still get some food and water. if they are stray, they won't get neutered and won't have a home but still have food and water that they see is sometimes outside the backyard. How should I go about this without my parents knowing? Should I put food and water outside the backyard sometimes or everyday? What is safe for cats without attracting raccoons and other animals? Thank you for any reply to this thread, and sorry if I post this in the wrong section or sub-section.

By the way, I don't know if my neighbors actually do anything, I am just making this assumptions. I have heard neighbors saying, "Oh look, that stray cat again!"

You honestly will  have more bad come from good when feeding a stray cat that way. If the cats are staying within your block it's most likely his or her block or its his or her own route that they like to take. Most cats if their stray won't go past a one block radius for about a week unless there's other factors such as dogs etc... I'd report it to a humane society in your and ask them what you should do. They might capture the cats and have them scanned for a microchip. If that cat isn't acting weird, or looking malnourished the chances are that it's probably someones cat close by. If your parents don't like cats or won't let you get or keep one, I would just go to a shelter everyday after school and spend sometime with some kittens and cats, and while you do that study into cat behavior so you can understand why cat X is doing X at the shelter better.

Thanks for your reply! I'll try to report it to the humane society, but it may not be necessary because they seem well nourished. I guess I won't try to put food outside for cats that wander in the backyard because they might have a home already. I agree with your statement of "its his or her own route that they like to take," since they usually slide through the bars of the back gate and sit in the shade. After that the just climb the wall and go to the neighbors house every week repeatedly, so it is probably a route they take. I don't usually go close to them so I can't tell the difference whether they are the same cat or not, but they never seem to have an ID tag. I like your suggestion about going to the shelter after school, I'll try to convince my parents to let me do that. I really appreciate your reply, it really helped my question. I probably worry to much about cats wandering around too much because I immediately think that they are strays that have lost their homes. xD

Sparkymema gave an excellent answer.  

So, dont put out food unless you have  a plan with it, so to speak.    This may even make things worse, actually.

You dont want to give food to cats whom DO have a home.  This may cause them not to return home, and make strays of cats who have a so so, but still, own and even decent home...

And real strays  and semiferales -  if they are unspayed, they will tend to multiply, and thus, make the problem worse.

So with known strays, you either plan on spaying them  (cooperating perhaps with some rescue group or a shelter who do such work) or adopting them.

So, you do put food out, its  only if you KNOW these who eats it, are already spayed  strays.

OR if you apparently notice a freshly dumped or astray home cat.   A hot alternative for such a cat is to simply take it home, etc.

Such freshly astray cats must be helped immediately, they are virtually helpless,  the death ratio is highest in the beginning.

If they survive a month on their own, and still are OK, they survival chances are if not pretty good so at least decent.  And its not the same desperate hurry to help them NOW.

So I too recommend you to volunteer at some nice shelter.   Or volunteer with some nice, friendly rescue group - but this is more complicated, esp if you have somewhat reluctant parents whom arent really cat friends.

ps.  If your parents are reluctant at letting you volunteer at a shelter, and help with socializing fostering caretaking, etc,

tell them its a school project,   your teachers wish you to participate an your free time in such a work.   Helps you build up your character and your good sides.

Hey, you can surely even get your teachers to give you an official approval from them teachers!

Thanks +StefanZ,, I really appreciate your help! I'm going to ask my teachers to give me approval to volunteer at a shelter, but I don't know many animal shelters that allow me to volunteer at an age of under 16 independently. I'll probably just explore educational programs about cats or join a clubs/rescue groups involved with cats. Once I get to high school, I'll try to start fostering, caretaking, and volunteering at shelters. Since, I can't even get near a cat as I'm scared of frightening them, I'll try not to put food outside at all.

"Most cats if their stray won't go past a one block radius for about a week unless there's other factors such as dogs etc..."  Completely untrue.  Unneutered males can smell a female up to 7 miles away and will travel in search of her. 

You aren't making things worse by feeding them.  Most feral cat community caretakers start out by simply feeding the cats.  You will get to know them, you will see who comes regularly and who does not.  You will know who the strays are.  Cats that have homes are generally cleaner and look better fed. Strays are often dirty and thinner than outside pet cats. 

If you really want to help, see if you can get involved in a TNR program in your area.   There can be no TNR if we don't first feed, that is the first step.  Once the cats are coming regularly to feed then we move on the trap, neuter and release portion.

But feeding strays and/or providing winter shelters (which I highly recommend if you live in a colder climate) is not causing more harm than good.

Strays and ferals need all the help we can give them.  Feed, shelter, spay/neuter. 

​ Thanks for your insight +AprilC, I am unable to go to a shelter independently because I'm under 16, but I'll consider trying to feed a stray (only sometimes and only in the daytime or just provide water) when I get older and when my parents allow me to. I still am not sure whether or not a cat has a home or not, I've never been very close to the cats that go to my backyard, I just watch them from the window. I really appreciate your comment!

I have had a few cats come by (I live in a rural area but there are a few neighbors not too far away) my yard and I'm always wondering if they are feral, stray, or someone's pet. If you can pet or touch the cat, I have put a yarn "collar" with a note attached to see if the cat has owners. I put my phone number and a brief message asking if this is a pet cat. I have had the cats return with reply messages, some phone calls, and sometimes the collar goes un-noticed and eventually falls off....the ones that have no action are usually the feral or strays. I use yard because it is soft, can be broken fairly easily if caught on something, and it doesn't seem to bother the cats as much as a collar (and is much cheaper to replace). I realize this won't work for every case, but it has helped my seperate the strays/ferals from the other neighbor's cats. Of course, I swear that the cats talk as I seem to get more cats coming by when I have the food bowls full. Everyone is full, fat, and sassy! I like to try to fatten up the local strays for winter as it can get pretty brutal in the Pa mountain areas.

Jim

I believe the thinking behind making it worse was that by feeding them but spaying or neutering them, it gives them nutrition and allows them to breed more successfully.  Any good plan should include having whatever cat you feed fixed.  It will make their lives much easier.  Outside life is rough enough without having to deal with raging hormones.

Males fighting can spread diseases and having repeated litters can cut a female's life short.  Plus any kittens that survive will start the process over again.

You should be commended for caring.  But please do the whole job.  If you feed them, fix them.  Thanks!