How can I help stray cat?

[Motherofacat]

I've been leaving my back door open for the cat to come and go for years without any unwanted visitors but the past two days a large, disheveled tom cat has been coming in and eating his food. My cat has been chasing him off very quickly but its obvious the cat is a stray. I spoke to my neighbours next door who have been leaving food out for him occasionally which he apparently wolfs down.
It's been raining quite heavily so I made a little shelter for him and put it in the bushes between our houses with some food and an old towel for some warmth but feel awful. How can I help him?

Is he neutered?

Make sure the shelter you made has two sheltered exits so he can get out if yours or another cat tries to fight with him while he's in there

My cat is but I dont know if the stray is. Yes the shelter is just made of three pieces of wood (two sides and a sloping top) with an old towel on the ground. I've jammed it in place but the back and front is open

Poor thing, establish a feeding regime and try and get him picked up by a rescue.

Poor cat thank you for helping him.

A rescue might be able to help get him scanned for a chip.

If he's friendly and catchable, the best thing you can do for him is getting him neutered. Whereabouts in the country are you? There are many free neutering schemes for strays but they are area specific (such as the C4 around London). Neutering is really the best thing you can do for a stray to improve their life.

Beyond that, you'll have to decide if you're willing to take responsibility for him full time. If not, approach local cat rescues and add him to their waiting lists. This is a busy time of year but eventually a space will become available somewhere especially if he's quite good with humans.

Thanks for the tips so far. He has ran away both times I've seem him so I think he is top nervous to be caught. My cat wouldn't tolerate another cat in the house but it looks like he ate the food I left so I'll leave more again tonight and contact the cats protection to see if they would be able to help him.