Stray cat advice

[irishcelticwitch]

Over the last week a new cat has appeared in our garden, it keeps disappearing under our decking. It is big, scruffy a bit dirty but not skinny. We left a bit of food out so we could get a better look at it and it wolfed it down. It is very spooked by us, we can’t get anywhere near it so we are wondering if it’s feral, we do live rurally.
Posted on local fb group but no one recognises it.
Wondering what the best thing is to do. We do have a local rescue who will trap and scan for a chip but not sure what they then do? If it has no chip I guess they will try to rehome but that would be hard as it’s not a cute kitten. Is it more cruel to cage it or to leave it feral? We already have pets who are already spooked by it so we can’t bring it inside.

Some rescues will trap, chip check, neuter (if required) and release if it’s safe to do so.

Is it more cruel to cage it or to leave it feral?
Depends on whether it really is feral or just a very scared and hungry abandoned/escaped cat. It usually takes us 5 months before a starving stray will accept us enough to cage it just because it's so scared. We've managed to rehome 4 strays so far (that with time became lovebugs), and got another one accustomed to humans (someone else rehomed that one), non have been truly feral. If you know of someone who can trap and scan then do so.

Reach out to a rescue to trap, and neuter and then they will assess if it has any medical needs and if they respond well they will look to rehome and if not they will release back