What's a girl to do?

I don't know where else to post this, but I just want to know what a concerned mommy should/can do. Today, out of the blue, I was approached on my back patio (I live in a condo development) by two strange cats. There are some babies I see all the time, and they steer clear of me, and they follow a schedule and are healthy, so I don't worry. These two on the other hand...

One I don't think I've ever seen, the other I saw months ago. The first was friendly, but walking a little funny, and seemed very hot (it was 95 today). He looked generally well, was clearly fixed, and the stiffness could be age, so I put out some water, which he happily accepted when I went away, and showed up intermittently throughout the afternoon to converse with my kitties through the glass.

The second cat was only moments ago, I was sitting out back and this friendly white cat came up and started rubbing. It was so sad!!! This poor creature is covered in sores and bald on the belly and at the base of the tail. It's not too thin, but it kept scratching. Such a sugar, and in such poor condition. It (unsure of gender, forgot to check) also enjoyed some water, which I think I'll leave out and change daily in this heat, if the neighborhood babies need a drink!

The point of this ramble is, I have no idea how to tell if these poor creatures are strays or not. I'm pretty sure the first one looked well kept enough to be someone's old, arthritic house cat. But the second! I wish there was something I could do. Maybe the poor baby has a skin condition the owner is trying to fix. Or not trying, what then! Or maybe it's a stray and needs someone to bring it to the HS and show that they care!

I'm just sad and worried. Sorry for the ramble, but I needed to get it off my chest. If anyone has anything they can suggest, I'm happy to hear it. I hate to see babies suffer! And for the love of God, why don't these people collar their animals! Grrrrr.

You know what? If they are in that condition whether strays or not, obviously no one is taking care of them. Can you at least get them inside to a spare bedroom or laundry room or something? Rehome them, anything? Assuming they are not spayed or neutered, it is no help if you just feed and water them and let them continue to breed.

when I find a cat like this, I take it in, post up fliers and if I don't hear anything try to rehome it or at least take it to a low cost clinic to TNR or take to a no kill clinic. It is great that you care but you really need to do a little more if possible. If not then just put up a flier or soemthing about cats who need homes and say there are a lot of strays adn you need help rehoming them.

I second Jens advices.

As you H&C writes, I take it you not only are a pleasant nice caring human and catowner, but you also CAN and WANT do something - but are unsure what is proper??

The fliers will take care of if these are owned. If not owned - strays or semiferals, the white one is friendly so it will be very easy to socialize him - ie get him a home, him probably a stray not semiferal.
The other is shy, but apparently likes company of other cats as he is making some interplay with your kitties through the windows, right?

Shy semiferals are usually quite easy to get socialized with help of own friendly cats. Ie if the new owner do have such friendly cat he dont need to be a fostering expert to dare to accept this new houshold member. Besides, he may be stray, not semiferal he too.

Btw, I take your own kitties are fullvaccined?


Good luck and thanks for your good heart and caring!

Thank you, this was the first day we've seen them, so I'm going to see if they even come back! Then try and get them to the HS or my own vet to get treated. As for vaccines, mine get everything but lukemia because they're indoor only, and that vaccine is dangerous, it's only worth it if they go out or have contact with outside animals (which in 5 years they never have, I've always know the owners of the cats that came around my porch). So believe me, after touching other cats, I washed all the skin rubbed twice and lysoled my clothes and put them in the hamper. Paranoid...yes! But I also don't want to not touch the white cat if he wants love, he seems to need it.

I feel goofy because it was the middle of the night when I saw this cat (the white one) and I was not thinking clearly. If I see the baby again, I'll crate it and take it somewhere for treatment and put up posters like you all said.

As far as my house babies are concerned, what should I do to prevent transferance of diseases. I figured washing and lysol (it was on hand) were probably just fine, but if there is something else I should do, please let me know. I'm not used to worrying about it since my cats are indoor only.

A good way is to change clothes and shoes. Perhaps in the cellar. Do you have VirKon in US? ie The fluid desinfecting thing they use at cat exhibitions?
Probably you dont need to overdo it as your cats ARE vaccinated for the most contagious diseases - distemper and cat flu.

Btw. The same advice appropriate also for people who wants to volunteer at shelters or such, but are afraid for own homecats.

PS The white cat is friendly, perhaps he is dumped because his owner didnt cared to cost on him veterinary help...

I spoke to a gal at the HS and she put my mind at ease about the disease issue, she thinks my main worry would be mites and fleas, and I've had to deal with that a surprising number of times for strictly indoor cats! If I see that baby again, I'll grab it. Even if there are owners, they're doing a bad job! Of course, I haven't seen the cat, so only time will tell!

As for the dumped cat scenario...it's a dispicable thing to do with so many options out there. But then again, I wouldn't have my cats without irresponsible people in the world! I guess there's always a silver lining somewhere.

I tried to look up feline leukemia FeLv.

The virus isnt not at all as good at surviving as feks distemper virus. So a good wash with soap should suffice, VirKon not necessary.

In practice the contagion is directly from cat to cat, by washing each other or biting,
not by fetching it home on your shoes or even hands like distemper may be brough home.