Alright...if you've been following my thread about Francis at all, you will know a bit of the background.
So, I was taking Francis back home whenever I came around. I would give him a bit of love (which he desperately wants) and then walk him back home. The first couple times no one was there. The first time, there was food in his dish (which I asked the owner to put out). The second time, there was no food, so I put some in. I didn't knock on the door or anything. The third time, there was a boy out front and Francis ended up inside with his food dish. Well, since then, no food dish has made it back outside. The next time I brought him back, the boys were out front again. This time, they were more cooperative and let me take Francis inside. He obviously didn't want to be inside...and I told the boys to make sure they gave him some food. Not even an hour later, Francis was back at our place. They are obviously not trying very hard to keep him in.
Today, the boy showed up on my house looking for their other cat. He thought he escaped, but I have a feeling the cat was just hiding somewhere in the house. The fact is, he was out looking for him. He doesn't look for Francis.
Tonight, I took Francis back to his house and just put food on their porch, since there was no dish.
My problem is not that they let him outside. In their eyes, he wants to be an outdoor cat. Fine, but make sure he is cared for. Put a collar on him (he has one on now, but it's the one I put on him and has no ID). Set food and water out for him. Get a cat door so that he can get in when he does come home. Basically, they seem to have decided that if he wants to be an outdoor cat, he can fend for himself. Here we are discussing buying a $140 magnetic cat door so that he can get into our basement when it's cold, as well as however much more money to make a warm shelter for him. The money's not the issue - so much as that this really is not our responsibility! It's to the point where I avoid going outside because I dread seeing this poor, sweet cat who no one seems to care about.
Even if we buy a cat door, etc...the problem is that handling him requires me to "suit up" in a coat and pants that I take off before coming back into the apartment. Otherwise, I would have to take my regular clothes off immediately and change into clean clothes everytime. Delilah has become very sensitive to his smell and turns into a hissing/growling Mr. Hyde cat. Even with changing and washing my hands (twice, actually) this evening, Delilah still smelled something she didn't like and started hissing. This cat wants attention, and I give him the little bit that I can, but it isn't ideal by any means.
I so want to find this guy a new home. I just don't know if it's within my rights to do so. I suggested it in my email originally, but the owner never really addressed it (other than saying "I've tried to get my mom to take him"). The last email was me asking her to let me know whether he's come home to eat out of the dish they left on the porch (the day I stopped feeding him here and he stopped hanging around AS much). She never responsed, and I haven't spoken to her since.
Any suggestions on how I should approach this? I know a new home would be the best option for everyone, but can I really give away someone's cat?
So, I was taking Francis back home whenever I came around. I would give him a bit of love (which he desperately wants) and then walk him back home. The first couple times no one was there. The first time, there was food in his dish (which I asked the owner to put out). The second time, there was no food, so I put some in. I didn't knock on the door or anything. The third time, there was a boy out front and Francis ended up inside with his food dish. Well, since then, no food dish has made it back outside. The next time I brought him back, the boys were out front again. This time, they were more cooperative and let me take Francis inside. He obviously didn't want to be inside...and I told the boys to make sure they gave him some food. Not even an hour later, Francis was back at our place. They are obviously not trying very hard to keep him in.
Today, the boy showed up on my house looking for their other cat. He thought he escaped, but I have a feeling the cat was just hiding somewhere in the house. The fact is, he was out looking for him. He doesn't look for Francis.
Tonight, I took Francis back to his house and just put food on their porch, since there was no dish.
My problem is not that they let him outside. In their eyes, he wants to be an outdoor cat. Fine, but make sure he is cared for. Put a collar on him (he has one on now, but it's the one I put on him and has no ID). Set food and water out for him. Get a cat door so that he can get in when he does come home. Basically, they seem to have decided that if he wants to be an outdoor cat, he can fend for himself. Here we are discussing buying a $140 magnetic cat door so that he can get into our basement when it's cold, as well as however much more money to make a warm shelter for him. The money's not the issue - so much as that this really is not our responsibility! It's to the point where I avoid going outside because I dread seeing this poor, sweet cat who no one seems to care about.
Even if we buy a cat door, etc...the problem is that handling him requires me to "suit up" in a coat and pants that I take off before coming back into the apartment. Otherwise, I would have to take my regular clothes off immediately and change into clean clothes everytime. Delilah has become very sensitive to his smell and turns into a hissing/growling Mr. Hyde cat. Even with changing and washing my hands (twice, actually) this evening, Delilah still smelled something she didn't like and started hissing. This cat wants attention, and I give him the little bit that I can, but it isn't ideal by any means.
I so want to find this guy a new home. I just don't know if it's within my rights to do so. I suggested it in my email originally, but the owner never really addressed it (other than saying "I've tried to get my mom to take him"). The last email was me asking her to let me know whether he's come home to eat out of the dish they left on the porch (the day I stopped feeding him here and he stopped hanging around AS much). She never responsed, and I haven't spoken to her since.
Any suggestions on how I should approach this? I know a new home would be the best option for everyone, but can I really give away someone's cat?