Help- Possible Stray, what to do?

[Notacatowner]

Hi, DS has asked my advice as we had a cat when I was younger so therefore I am an expert (not)!!
He lives in terrace house with a long garden and there seem to be a few cats and foxes around. On Monday he saw a stand off between a small skinny cat and a mangy looking fox which had been sunbathing on his desking. Fox slunk off.
Cat was hanging about in a sheltered area at the bottom of the garden where previous owner had a garden seat. Next morning he saw a heap in the area and investigated as he thought the fox might have died. It was the cat who was asleep. It startled as he approached it, and disappeared into another garden presumably. It came back when he went inside. He has put some water out for it.
He isn't sure what to do next- it runs away when he approaches it, he can't get a photo but seems to have adopted the end of his garden. Has checked the missing cat websites and area FB pages- well some- there are loads. There doesn't seem to be a post about it.
Should he feed it? If so what? Any recommendations? There is a Lidl nearby and a Sainsurys and Tesco a bit further away. (I am a bit reluctant- our 12 year old cat died when hit by a car on his way back from visiting someone who said she didn't feed him....but he said it is very small and skinny)

If it’s looking thin/unkempt ask of Facebook spotted if it’s owned but you can feed a wet cereal free food like butchers reasonably safely. If he can gain trust you can put a paper collar on it.

It’s very important never to rehome it yourself, that’s one way dog fighting rings get live cats for bait. You can also ask a local rescue for advice.

As above. He needs to be certain its a stray first, some well loved cats can look very thin unloved and unkempt when they're old or ill, it doesn't mean they're not well-cared for.

If he cannot trace its owners and is sure its a stray, a local vets will check it for a microchip and give it the once over.

No cat is going to turn down free food either so just because it eats doesn't mean its starving.

My cat used to wheedle food out of half the neighbourhood!

If the cat appears to have fleas or worms, that's a good sign its not being cared for properly

When my dd had such a visitor she managed to get a photo and put it on local fb page. A lady messaged and sent privately pics and videos of the dcat. He was a house dcat her dm had lost week earlier.. They were so pleased. He was only a street away from home the whole time!

If you can get photos your local cat rescues will advertise him on their pages as potentially lost. Local rescues/scan angels will also come out to check for a microchip, which he will usually have if he is old and ill and receiving vet treatment

If he is un-neutered hungry and dirty there is a high chance he's long term lost and not owned and local.

Advertising him on local Facebook pages is a good idea too but please don't just give him to anybody.

Lidl do a pate type wet food in trays which is easy to eat if you mash it up a bit.

Thank you for helping the cat.

If in doubt.always help the cat.

Put out food and water for the cat, and contact a local cat rescue for help and advice. They can check for a microchip and for any injuries or health conditions.

Many thanks for your messages and advice. Being contrary,like all felines, the cat has disappeared, after hanging around for 3 or 4 days. He will hang on to the food, in case it comes back. We were uncertain about feeding as "don't feed a cat you don't know, it might have a health condition" often appears on threads on here.

It's certainly something to be wary off especially it the cat looks in poor health. If it loved but old and ill then it may well be on a prescribed diet. Try and find out about its circumstances first.

I’d feed, cats starve in plain sight because of this whole it might be on a prescribed diet rhetoric.

Occam's razor.

I agree.