a cat has camped out on our doorstep; what next?

[Gatekeeper]

we already feed a stray cat- she lives in our shed and has done for the last three years. (trapped and neutered). Another stray was very kindly adopted by a MNetter's (fenneltea) mam

However a week ago a ginger and white tom sat on our doormat at the back and hasn't shifted since. He is very clean and friendly but won't go away, clawing and meowing at the back door and desperately tries to push his way in when we go out. We put a bowl of food out and he hoovered it up licking the plate around on the patio. He pats on the glass door with his paw

He's been done and doesn't spray and has a nick taken out of one of his ears

Most importantly he appears to be the first cat that dh doesn't come out with hives with or itchy, sneezing , watery eyes etc

he is currently asleep on my chair

what can we do next?

Be wary of people who claim him through Facebook. Make sure they have photos and it's definitely him.

The paper collar idea is a good one. He is lovely by the way. Looks really young.

I bet he's lost and is looking for help. I wouldnt let him go to anyone without photos of him.

I have dozens of photos of ours, they're saved in files named "baby asbo" "asbo first time snow".

dh is currently showing him how the dishwasher works

Yeah, agree with PPs that looks like a nick from a fight.

He's gorgeous, I'm very

Oh gatekeeper, it looks like his boy has landed on his feet! I'm so pleased that your husbands allergy hasnt flared up and I'm pretty sure that when feral cats are tipped they cut across the top of the ear.
Animal search UK is a good website for checking for lost cats if he isn't chipped, sadly in my experience every cat I've taken in has been abandoned, I think it is far more common than people realise. I live in a tiny village a few miles from town and we all know the resident cats, there is a black cat that has just turned up in a neighbours garden, so I expect it is another lost or dumped stray sadly.
I hope you manage to keep him, a cat to cuddle is so soothing!

I hope you manage to keep him too. He's very lucky to have found you if he is homeless.

I would love a cat but OH is a twat about them so it looks like I'll have to wait many, many years to get a cat cuddle

Keep posting photos, I love seeing everyone's cats!

Pyjamacat has a fight injury to his ear just like that. He also won't wear a collar and does a really good "I'm starving" face. I'd be devastated if he was adopted by someone else.
Please do everything you can to find this gorgeous boy's owner before you continue to feed him and let him in your house. Someone else may be really missing him. Paper collar, photo on local Facebook page, contacting lost pets services are all good ideas.

morning all

We have appointment for next week so will scan him and do health check as well. We keep putting him out of the house but he doesn't budge from the back door- even overnight. I've also put a note up in our local shop (small village and everyone uses it ) but haven't put a photo up- just a general description so I can be sure that if anyone comes forward they are his owners- haven't mention that he is a 'He' , white bits or ear nick. Ditto on facebook page etc

It's absolutely bucketing down here (thick fog for last week) so paper collar wouldn't last five minutes

bagel dh didn't like cats one bit- they make him itchy, wheezy and come out in lumps. (oddly enough not this one) . Didn't like them as animals though 'waste of space' blah blah

however to see him now, putting a blanket over the cat and tip toeing around so he doesn't wake him up is a right laugh!

Has he used the words 'My Boy' or 'The Boy' yet? Always a dead giveaway.

Oh - and has he officially been named ?

Dh got bollocked most severely yesterday for playing his guitar in the bedroom when it was snooze time.

He packed everything away and then went back in to cover the cat over.

He looks too healthy to be a stray though, I'm still going for lost pet.

Bollocked by you or by ASBO?

I had a cat who decided to move in with someone else. They were very apologetic but she had them under siege, every time they opened a door or window she was in. They adored her, even when she tipped a pot of paint up all over the classic car they were restoring in their garage, they came racing over to check she was OK. In the end we shared her, but really she was their cat. We also had someone else's cat living in our garden, his owners kept coming to take him home (they had moved about half a mile and he didn't like it there) but he'd be back in the garden within an hour of being let out. In these cases I think the cat's will is stronger than any humans, they know what they want. You must try and find out if he has an owner though so you can discuss what to do with them. He does look too healthy for a stray.

I had a cat who was definitely mine, but when I was working she happily went into all the neighbour's houses and made herself at home.

I have also been on the receiving end as one of our neighbour's cats pretty much moved in with us (he was a pain though and we ended up getting a chip only catdoor to keep him out)

If he looks like a pet, he probably is a pet and someone is missing him. They may have moved and he has run back. Please find his owners, we would be very distressed to loose our cat. If he doesn't want to come home, I would at least want to know he is safe and loved.

btw, dh is allergic to dogs and cats, but not to longer haired cats funnily enough.

Mine is ear tipped you can clearly see where it has been done.

I have registered on animalsearch uk. PetsLocated and three facebook pages and posted details up and am getting him scanned next week at the vet so am doing what i can to see if he has owners out there looking for him I hope not though

It asbo cozie. Dh wouldn't care what I thought. The cat gets away with murder though.

. And ASBO is still a Mummy's Boy even so?

Your boy looks as if he's planning world domination, Enlightened. Wonderful picture.

Congratulations you have been selected as Sherlock's new slaves. Hope the check up goes wel

Fluffy. Who doesn't have millions of cat photos?
We have old cat and new baby
Cat vs scratching post
Cats cuddling
Cat wanting vodka cocktail!
Etc
Etc
Etc!

Now I've marked my place. Hoping he stays. He certainly looks settled!

still here and I've had a few responses to the ads I put on Pets Located and Animal Search UK- sadly for them, it hasn't been 'Sherlock'

Vet Wednesday so will see if he is chipped; currently snoring on my best jumper

He's chosen his home.