Worried about stray cat

[Hullabaloo9]

There is a stray cat who lives in the car park at some flats that I visit through work. She is definitely a stray as the residents have told me she's been there for ages but has no owner. Apparently its a popular place for stay cats and always has been. The residents all feed her and there is a sort of shed on stilts that she shelters under. Lots of scrub land and railway embankment to explore also.

I'm torn really between feeling concerned for her and thinking that she has a pretty cushy life as a stray. She's friendly enough if you approach slowly.

Should I alert local cat people in the hope she could find a loving home, or leave well alone as she seems cared for enough on a very basic level?. I'd hate to make her life worse if she's caged and spends her life at a rescue being unhappy as she's used to being free, but also I will worry so much in the winter when it's cold.

What is the best thing here?

Stray cat support

It sounds like she isn’t feral. Poor thing was probably an abandoned or lost pet😢.

you are right though that shelter life for her could be grim. I wonder if an insulated car house for the winter would be a better idea!

I say this with my cat curled up beside me in bed and the thought of her outside on a winter night breaks my heart.

This is it! I have 2 incredibly spoilt and loved cats. I hate to think that this lovely girl might have no one to love her. But am i just humanising her and she is actually living a good cat life?.

Contact cats protection, they will advise. If she's friendly then she's probably an abandoned or lost pet. Has anyone got her checked for a microchip?

I found a car like that. He also had people supposed to be caring for him
And a place too sleep. I cat napped him with a rescue as he desperately needed help. He had two months of love and proper care before he died peacefully.

Contact a local rescue rather than one of the big ones. They may be more able to help. CP were useless and couldn't actually speak to a human at the RSPCA.

At least see if you can get her scanned for a chip.

Ok. I messaged a local cat rescue volunteer this morning and she went straight round and collected the cat. She took it to the vets, no chip, and sent it on to a rescue.

I'm torn between feeling happy she will potentially get any treatment she may need and really sad that she's probably caged somewhere instead of quietly enjoying her freedom.

Do you think she will be better off now? Will she adjust ok? I feel bad.

If she was in any pain she will be getting treated. She will be neutered and fed and have a cosy bed to sleep in at night.

I hate to think of any animal suffering - yes she might miss hunting for mice but she is safe.

You did the right thing, they'll find a home for her. Lots of stables wsnt semi feral cats and they live a good life.

If she was feral I'd think it was possibly not the right thing to do, but she clearly (from what you've said) isn't feral. As such you've done the right thing.

Exploring might be fun but she'll be warm and dry, get any vet treatment she might need (fleas are not nice) and she's got a very good chance of finding a forever home where she can have all that AND the freedom to explore.

Was it Len, he was a beautiful cat, has he died, that is sad but thank goodness he found someone to love and care for him, little Sam died too didnt he.

Yes it was the lovely Len. OP, if you want reassurance that you've done the right thing. Read the thread I started about Len. It absolutely snowballed and the rescue has now got loads of extra supporters because of the lovely Len. A sad unloved cat, ended his life surrounded by love and a had a huge fan club!

@BlanketsBanned to be honest I was a bit surprised that Sam wasn't PTS sooner. His skin condition must have been horrendous for him. But like Len, he died loved and cared for.

You've definitely done the right thing. She will be looked after, and even if she spends time in a shelter, hopefully at some point she'll have the best of both worlds. A loving, safe home and the freedom to explore outside. She wouldn't have that without you. You've done a good thing.