I seem to have a cat living in my garden. What do I do?

[ThisIsMummyPig]

I like cats. I had one growing up, but I don't want one now. I have two DDs aged 4 and 2, the oldest doesn't like any animals. The cat doesn't seem to like them. We all go away for long weekends every half term to see family. I'm not on the sort of terms with the neighbours to ask them to look after it while I'm away.

DH doesn't really like cats. In fact I think we had DD1 because he didn't want a cat and I wanted a pet. (we won't tell her that, don't worry). All in all I don't want a cat I'm too lazy to want the extra cleaning anyway

So, we have a cat sleeping under the slide. It is a ginger tom. Next door sometimes feed it, but they already have a tom cat and they fight, so our cat can't go into their house. This situation has been going on for a couple of years, but it's only recently that the cat has taken up residence. It is nearly always either on the shed roof, under the slide or on the bench. None of these give it much shelter, and I don't want to leave the shed open.

I'm not averse to giving it shelter in my garden, but I worry about the winter, and it looks thinner than it did. I have never got close enough to it to touch it.

I'm not sure it's worth trying to get it to a shelter as I can't see anyone wanting this particular specimin of the cat world, when sadly there are so many on offer, and I am prepared to support it, just not take it into the house.

Please tell me what I should be doing

[tabulahrasa]

You need to either become a reliable regular source of food and shelter or get an organisation to take him, cats protection are usually willing to come and take strays in - they're nationwide so if you go on their website you can look up your closest branch.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

If you want to help it, could you maybe get a small kennel or similar for better shelter? And put some sort of bedding in, old blanket or jumpers. Putting food out regularly will keep him around.

Ideally you should catch him, take him to the vet for vaccinations/flea treatment and so on, but I can quite see why you wouldn't want the bother. I inherited a feral cat with one property I bought, she was a good mouser and appreciated the manky fleece that came off the (inherited) sheep!

Wasn't impressed when she shat on the coal, mind.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Well, cpl might trap-neuter-release.

But winter is coming up and he'll need shelter on the cold nights.

I use aldi cat food in pouches, it cant get through a winter without food.

[Nigglenaggle]

Ask CPL for a trap and take him to the vets for a check up/scan for a chip. A sad number of cats are lost (for as much as 3-4years, long enough to make him look 'stray') because no-one ever takes them to be scanned. He may have an owner who misses him terribly but just doesnt know where he is. If not, CPL will pay for him to be neutered if necessary and you can continue supporting him outdoors.

[Nigglenaggle]

P.S. Our house came with a cat flap in the shed - just a thought