Friendly stray abroad

[NeedingAdvicePlease]

Sorry it is quite long but I really need some advice on a stray cat that I found on holiday. I am currently in Madeira, Portugal and there are a lot of stray cats all over the place. The stray ones we have seen so far, are well cared for by the locals and tourists, lots of food being given to them. It is hard to see but I have been reassured that they are being looked after and this does seem to be the case. The cats are not too thin, have nice coats and no visible health issues.

However tonight when I out I found a cat that I am really concerned about, I am not sure if it was a boy or a girl cat but I think it was a boy. He was very friendly but I am not sure if I could lift him. He came up to me crying and I gave him a few pouches of cat food that I was carrying around with me. The poor thing was missing a foot on his back leg, it may be a birth defect or amputation, I am not sure but he was very thin and ate 2 pouches of food instantly.

I was very upset to see this and have been close to tears all evening. I feel like the cat needs help so I started to call round local shelters but they are either full or closed for the evening. By the time I got back, the cat was away.

He was close to the tourist area but still a good distance away for a cat and I am very worried about him. There are a few other cats in the same area but I am planning on going down there tomorrow to look for him again.

However I am just wondering what is the best thing to do? I am afraid that it might be a mummy cat and I do not want to separate her from her kittens, at the same time it might be someone's cat.

I am wondering what is the best course of action here? Do I call all the shelters tomorrow and try to catch him? I have spoken to a few locals who are animal lovers and I might be able to give him to someone and send over some money for food etc.

I would also be happy to take him back with me to the UK but I have no experience with this at all. I don't even know what is the best option for the cat. If anybody has any advice or knows how much this would cost please let me know. I do not earn a lot of money but I should hopefully have enough savings set aside to help him.

Also I forgot to add that I am only here until Thursday but I might be able to stay longer if needed but it will be very difficult.

As a long term lucker I should have remembered photos.

Thanks for the advice. He is a wee cutie, I will do that tomorrow and show people the pictures of him to see if anyone recognises him.

It is going to be a minimum of three weeks ( rabies jab timings etc)to arrange to bring him home and cost you a sizeable chunk of money.
I always feel that donating that chunk of money to a charity in the country you are in to get him to a shelter will benefit so many more cats.

I would be happy to donate to a shelter here, fingers crossed that they have room for him. I will be calling them all in an hour or so when they are open, so should hopefully know more then.

To further complicate the issue, he has a friend living with him and they seem very strongly bonded. I am able to lift him and he seemed quite happy to come into the car with me but his friend was crying for him.

He is definitely a boy and his friend is a girl. There is no way I could take both home with me.

This is his back leg. If any vets are out there could offer some advice about it. I worry that he won't be able to care properly for himself in the wild.