I was mad, now I'm not

My upstairs neighbour found a very pretty little calico kitten, wandering in our parking area. We live on a very busy city street, and there are some feral cats in the area, but this one had a collar and tag, so he chased her, caught her and brought her inside. We left her in our little foyer area, with some food and water and then called the number on the tag.

Eventually I got the guy on the phone, and he seemed very casual about it. I said, we found your cat, he said, is she ok? And when I said yes, he didn't seem to care. He said, she'll show up at home eventually.... I still talked to him, and said, well, I don't let my cats out alone, it's a very busy street, they could get hurt. He said, that's what we have the tag for.

I was pretty mad. You have a tag so if your cat is hit by a car, someone will know who to call? Made me mad, but I did just put the kitty outside. He told me where they live (which street) which is not far from me, so I figured she would go home, and watched as she started back towards their building.

Well, his wife just phoned to thank me. This is not exactly a pet, it was a feral kitten that they have started feeding, and socializing. She's pretty young, still only about 6 months old. She doesn't live indoors, but she does go to their house for food, they are in a ground floor apartment, and it is not across any busy streets. And the thing is, they just got that tag for her last weekend. The woman was so thankful that I cared about the kitty enough to phone her, and said to please call again if I see anything wrong.

She also said that they haven't taken the cat to a vet, because they don't have a car. So I told them about a Cat Clinic that is only about 10 minutes from here on the bus route. I think she will take the kitten in to be looked after.

So, I am sad that there are so many ferals in the area, but happy now to know that someone is looking out for this one.

That is good to hear that they have been feeding the poor little thing.

Oh that is good that turned out to be a happy story

The fellow just phoned to tell me that the kitten had made it home, and was sitting on his lap, purring. And he said, "I can't thank you enough for caring about her."

Still, makes me sad that cats wander the neighbourhood, but at least this one is getting fed regularly, and some love.

Follow up - I need a little advice.

The stray kitten was back at our front door today, obviously remembered me, because she ran up to me when I went out the door. And she came right to the door, and meowed very loudly to be let in. So I know she was looking for food.

I know if I feed her, she's going to keep coming back. But if her people are at work all day, and leave her out to wander, I don't know what she is doing for food. If I give her some, will that keep her from wandering even further and be in more danger of getting hurt? (we live in a very busy traffic area, but to get to my place she only has to cross one fairly quiet street)

Originally Posted by Sammie5

Follow up - I need a little advice.

The stray kitten was back at our front door today, obviously remembered me, because she ran up to me when I went out the door. And she came right to the door, and meowed very loudly to be let in. So I know she was looking for food.

I know if I feed her, she's going to keep coming back. But if her people are at work all day, and leave her out to wander, I don't know what she is doing for food. If I give her some, will that keep her from wandering even further and be in more danger of getting hurt? (we live in a very busy traffic area, but to get to my place she only has to cross one fairly quiet street)

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Any chance you want to keep her? Maybe you can call her people and ask if they would mind.

I really can't. I have 2 cats, the upstairs neighbours have one. And Bailey doesn't do well with a third cat in our home. She gets very stressed, and has been sick a couple of times when we were cat sitting. Otherwise, that would be an obvious solution, wouldn't it?

I would fed her! Why don't people keep their cats inside?

I talked to the upstairs neighbours, and apparently the kitty has been at our house all day. I put a container of dry food in my purse, and when I got home from shopping, there she was. So I put out some food, and she gobbled it up. I think she may be making a home in the garden. So I took a container of water out to leave in the garden where I saw her sitting. I'm not leaving food out, because I don't need to encourage the squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and assorted other neighbourhood wildilfe. But she is very tame, and will come right up to me, so I can feed her when I see her. If she's going to come here for food, I don't want her wandering further. I hope she still goes back home, but it sure looks like she had adopted our house as well. I mean, she was obviously hungry, she came right up to the front door and meowed to be let in, and that's where I fed her that one time.

One of my neighbours already wants to "steal" her. I didn't discourage her.

Originally Posted by Sammie5

One of my neighbours already wants to "steal" her. I didn't discourage her.

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I wouldnt either. I am glad the people you phoned were taking care of her, but I still think she shouldnt be outside in a heavy traffic area.
If the neighbor wants to take her in, I would encourage it. It may save a life!