Help! Feeding a local 'stray' but not sure if he already belongs to someone?

[wanderingclanger]

This cat has been around for at least the last year, coming in and devouring our own 2 cats' food given half a chance. He can't get in if we keep the utility door shut (microchip controlled catflap) but I feel so sorry for him as winter approaches. There is evidence that he has been sleeping on piles of washing in said utility room! My instinct is to try to help him, but how can I check whether he already has a home before getting the local rescue centre involved? I'm guessing that he was once a family cat but has for some reason been abandoned...he is permanently starving but responds to some attention / stroking if it's offered. All advice welcome!

Well a well looked after cat wouldn't be starving, greedy yes but not desperate for food.

You can get the vet to scan him for a chip, if he's neutered he might be chipped.

Do the other cats mind him?.

Get him to any local vet or rescue centre, they'll scan him and check for a microchip free of charge.

Next step would be a paper collar as PP suggested.

He may not have been abandoned. He could have wandered too far from home and got lost.

it's better to be safe than sorry. My parent's cat was permanently starving until the vet diagnosed over active thyroid and treated. So, even in the very unlikely event there is some other reason for this little cat's hunger, it's better everyone found out.

It would be lovely to know he had got a home of his own soon and before the weather gets worse x

Thanks everyone - I'm going to try asking around a bit more thoroughly down our road and surrounding area and see whether anyone can shed any light...will keep you posted!

My boycat disappeared for 8 months wandering. When I finally got him back, he'd been fed by some kind people a few streets away for several months. I was so grateful to them for feeding my boy, although they had no pets of their own especially as it was over the winter period (August to April). If your stray does have owners, I'd hope they'd be grateful too