Hi,

Bit of a long story, I seem to have become the place for other peoples cats to hang out, partly my fault because I put food out, as some feral cats have also started to turn up.

Anyhoo, one male cat has taken up permanent residence in one of my outdoor shelters for my cats, he's been there a few weeks off and on, and all the time the last few days.

We've had alot of snow here and he must have been freezing cold and starving, so I made him some hot roast chicken last night, and I was amazed when he ran straight up to me and ate it out of my hand, then dashed back, sounding like a rattlesnake all the time.

I've never been able to get near him before, he's always dashed off.

I've spent today coaxing him out, he was even colder and very stiff, slow, scrambled egg and biscuits lured him out eventually, he let me stroke him and I eventually managed to scoop him up and put him in a cat carrier very quickly!

He's now in a dark room in my house, spare toilet to be exact but it's dry, warm, quiet and carpeted, he's got food and drink and a litter tray (optimistic?) he's not happy but I think i've done the right thing.

right?

I'm not sure what my next step should be after the weather gets better, do I release him back to where he's obviously been ok for years on end, or do I get in touch with a rescue?

Contact your local Cats protection or rescue centre (ppl have issues with RSPCA).

Say that you have him - story etc and whether there is any chance of help with neutering.

Neutering is good even for a feral.

It might be worth joining this forum

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php

because it is rescue dedicated - also I think it will give you local cat rescue if you are in UK

Thanks, I think i'll give them a ring tomorrow, we're snowed in right now so I can't get anywhere, but it should be better soon.

I think you need to wait a week or so before you make the decision. If he settles down indoors then maybe he could adjust to being rehomed but if he's making it obvious that he wants to go back outside, then I'd let him go. If he's been OK outdoors all these years, he's a tough cat and will probably continue to live outside for several more years.

He scarpered early yesterday when I was cleaning out the room, the door is bang next to the front door and he was off, but he came back and hung around last night, just running off a bit when I went out.

There are a couple of hideaways I put out for my cats incase they are outside when I go out, and i've put clean blankets in them for this horrid weather, and food out last night which someones eaten.

I think i'm turning into ' the nutty cat lady' without actually intending to, but what else can you do?

lol! not nutty cat lady! I'd say they are very lucky to have somebody who cares and looks out for them, especially this weather, good on you hun! xx