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- Nov 1, 2015
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Hello! I've been reading posts on this site for awhile, but only just opened an account. Actually, I opened this account because I finally needed to ask a question of my own!
A little bit of background: I live in an apartment block that consists of five small buildings all encircling a parking lot. These apartments are up against densely forested (but small) butte, which a lot of feral cats live (and actually thrive) on. Occasionally, some of these ferals will migrate down off the hill and into our apartment area. Our apartment management tolerates them because they kill and keep the mice away. And in case anyone is wondering, all of these ferals are adults. A TNR group comes through every year, and I've never seen any kittens or very young cats in the two years I've lived here.
What I HAVE seen are some recurring, familiar cat-faces. One particular, extra-friendly familiar face is a male, orange, tailless tabby named Thomas who has lived around the apartments longer than I have. He's turned into the apartment "community cat." He doesn't have a specific owner, and he isn't fed or watered by any one tenant regularly (because then our landlord would force that person to pay the pet fee), but everyone kind of looks out for him, checks on him, makes sure he's alright. And he's stayed totally healthy and content for the past two years, and still seems to be.
But for the past few days I have found him hanging around in the open-air hallway outside my apartment door. There's nothing wrong with him. I figured he was trying to get out of the rain. But he's been trying to work his way into my apartment, attempting to dart in when I open the door, pawing at the door when I try to close it, etc. and I have no idea why. When he sees me pull up in my car, it's like he darts to my door to wait for me.
I don't really understand it, because I've never fed him, never given him water, and I don't even pet him (even though I REALLY want to) in case he has fleas or mites. The most I do is say, "Hi, Thomas," every time I see him, but he's never really acknowledged my hellos with more than a slow blink or a meow. I've never done anything to entice him to get into my house.
I would let him in, but the issue is that I have an older cat of my own (a tortie named Bella), and she does not tolerate other cats well (plus I don't want her to get sick).
Another issue is that my local Humane Society is kind of cruddy (as in, very rude and non-helpful in a number of ways), and the local cat rescue has never answered any email or phone message I've sent them before.
So I'm not really sure what to do about Thomas. I've already asked around my apartments, nobody will accept responsibility for him. I don't want to tell my landlord, because he's the kind of guy who will just kill the cat if it's "an issue."
I'm at a loss! Any advice?
A little bit of background: I live in an apartment block that consists of five small buildings all encircling a parking lot. These apartments are up against densely forested (but small) butte, which a lot of feral cats live (and actually thrive) on. Occasionally, some of these ferals will migrate down off the hill and into our apartment area. Our apartment management tolerates them because they kill and keep the mice away. And in case anyone is wondering, all of these ferals are adults. A TNR group comes through every year, and I've never seen any kittens or very young cats in the two years I've lived here.
What I HAVE seen are some recurring, familiar cat-faces. One particular, extra-friendly familiar face is a male, orange, tailless tabby named Thomas who has lived around the apartments longer than I have. He's turned into the apartment "community cat." He doesn't have a specific owner, and he isn't fed or watered by any one tenant regularly (because then our landlord would force that person to pay the pet fee), but everyone kind of looks out for him, checks on him, makes sure he's alright. And he's stayed totally healthy and content for the past two years, and still seems to be.
But for the past few days I have found him hanging around in the open-air hallway outside my apartment door. There's nothing wrong with him. I figured he was trying to get out of the rain. But he's been trying to work his way into my apartment, attempting to dart in when I open the door, pawing at the door when I try to close it, etc. and I have no idea why. When he sees me pull up in my car, it's like he darts to my door to wait for me.
I don't really understand it, because I've never fed him, never given him water, and I don't even pet him (even though I REALLY want to) in case he has fleas or mites. The most I do is say, "Hi, Thomas," every time I see him, but he's never really acknowledged my hellos with more than a slow blink or a meow. I've never done anything to entice him to get into my house.
I would let him in, but the issue is that I have an older cat of my own (a tortie named Bella), and she does not tolerate other cats well (plus I don't want her to get sick).
Another issue is that my local Humane Society is kind of cruddy (as in, very rude and non-helpful in a number of ways), and the local cat rescue has never answered any email or phone message I've sent them before.
So I'm not really sure what to do about Thomas. I've already asked around my apartments, nobody will accept responsibility for him. I don't want to tell my landlord, because he's the kind of guy who will just kill the cat if it's "an issue."
I'm at a loss! Any advice?
