I can't kick a stray out in this weather can I?

[HeadFairy]

A little ginger cat turned up on our doorstep this evening, utterly bedraggled and sounding really distressed (loud mewling, sounding quite unhappy). Feeling sorry for it in this horrible weather we gave him some food. He absolutely wolfed it down in seconds and was miaowing for more. He ate three bowls of dried food like he hadn't eaten in days. He looks quite healthy otherwise, and quite young. He's now purring loudly and sitting in front of the fire.

We have another cat (also a ginger youngster) who's oblivious and fast asleep on our bed. I'm not sure how he'd react to another cat in the house. The weather is horrible out, pouring with rain and a howling wind. I can't bear the thought of chucking this poor cat out in it. He hasn't got a collar, but as I said, he looks quite healthy. I haven't seen him before. Not sure what to do.

Is he a full Tom? It's fairly obvious if he isn't. He'll be walking with his tail upright for a reason.

Chippings usually done at neutering.

No little ginger balls visible so I think he's been neutered.

He's making friends with our tom now.... Picture on my profile (ours is the one higher up the stairs, nearer the camera)

Oops, didn't realise it was going to upload the wrong way round.... Sorry about that.

Whether he's a stray or not, he'll be happy with a warm bed for the night. Our little ginger tom sometimes disappears overnight and I imagine he's playing at being a hungry abondoned wee guy to get food at someone else's house! He always comes home eventually. When he's out all night, I like to think someone has taken him in and enjoyed a cuddle and enjoyed spoiling him for a while!

Your wee visitor may well just be locked out for the night. Or he might be homeless and have found a great place to hang out! Time will tell.

Give him a wee run under the chin from me

Just a point about lost cat posters. They are a good idea but don't put a photo and don't give too much detail. You don't want some thugs/general bad sorts claiming he's their's for the hell of it. So you need to get them to tell you what colour/age/sex he is really before you hand him over. If anyone has lost a cat they will reply to a lost cat poster without an exact description.

How's the ginger lodger this morning?

Oh and a 'cute alert' is required for your photos. Beautiful cats and children!
What do they make of the visitor?

Well he's gone this morning. We left him in the kitchen with a bed and a bowl of food. The food has gone and so has the cat. He must have found the cat flap and gone out. No sign of him outside this morning so I'm hoping he's found his way home.

Are you sad or happy?

A bit sad because he was a sweetie, but if there's a family somewhere missing him, then I'm happy he's gone home to them. Let's hope that's where he is.

Yes, if he was neutered there is every chance he has a family.

Yes, let's hope - and if so, you kept him happy and fed on his journey so that was a very good turn. (And if not, you might see a wee face at the door later on.)

Let's hope so, and at least the weather's better this morning!

Such a lovely picture of them both on the stairs, they look almost like twins.

You will have to let us know if he comes back!

Argh, he's back and as hungry as ever. Been to the vet, he's not chipped. He is neutered and under a year old.

Our cat is showing signs of aggression towards him now so what to do? If I leave him at the vets they keep him for 2 weeks and then pass on to the RSPCA or CPL, but apparently our local CPL is chocker so it's more likely to be the RSPCA.

If he was local, surely he would have found his way home today?

Put up signs around the neighbourhood and post photos to your village Facebook site if they have one? Also twitter.

For now he's shut in our kitchen (cat flap's shut) with a bowl of food... Our cat is once again asleep upstairs .

No local FB page as far as I know... Twitter is a good idea.

That's awkward, HeadFairy . Try this site for a list of shelters in your area and also check they are no kill (I gather but am not sure, this may no longer be the case with the RSPCA).

www.catchat.org/adoption/index.html

If the local shelters are full is there any way you could foster him, in a separate room from your cat, until a space comes up?

Also try putting up posters locally but as someone (Catneuterer?) advised keep details private so that no-one with bad intentions can claim him.

What sort of 'signs of aggression' is your cat showing?

Thanks nuns I'll check that site out and see if I can find someone to take him who won't put him down. I imagine because he's young and really affectionate (and neutered) he would have a good chance at rehoming.

I would live to foster him, dh is even more of a cat lover than I am but he's worried about the extra cost (we often have to put our cat in cattery as my elderly mil lives abroad and we try and go and see her twice a year) but we're not planning on going to see her for a while so we could possibly offer him a temporary home.

Our cat has taken a swipe at our visitor a few times and made growling sounds. It's funny because at first he seemed quite unphased by him.

You have a new cat

They may well settle down together your existing just needs to establish that he's the boss

Fluffy!

I'm not sure we can keep him forever but in the meantime how can I introduce him to our cat? What's the best way of doing it? We're going away for a long weekend at the start of half term so we've got 2 weeks to get them on speaking terms or we can't leave them together (our neighbour is feeding Sam, our cat)