There’s a cat that has been loose on my street since May apparently, but only came into my yard Thursday night. I tried to catch it, but it bit me and ran away. Someone has also shaved it for some reason, and I want to catch since it’s getting colder in the evenings. I saw the cat last night too was and was friendly to me, but it had a bit of a cough, so I’m worried. Didn’t see it tonight, and it’s really cold and windy.
A couple of my neighbours have been feeding it, but no real effort in trying to trap it or check to see if it’s microchipped. I want to take it to the vet and see if it has an owner/check for diseases. Apparently the cat likes dry food over wet, so I don’t think leaving cans of wet food will work.
Any advice given from experienced pet owners/ trappers would be helpful.
A cat that goes outside more than 0.0% has a drastically-reduced lifespan. Feeding it encourages bad habits that may get it killed.
Ultimately it’s not yours and you have no idea its status, needs, allergies or history. There’s a risk to you (rabies, roundworms, heartstrings) but the risk to the cat is way more severe.
If it has a shaved patch then it’s seen a vet recently.
Leave it alone.
I don’t think you’ve read my entire post. My neighbour’s have already been feeding it, and not taking it to a vet/giving it a safe place to stay. Only feeding. I’m trying to catch it to take it to the vet see if it has an owner/microchip. Also animal control in my city won’t get a stray cat until it has been trapped.
And it doesn’t have a “shaved patch”, it’s entire body is shaved, something that our TNR teams wouldn’t do because it cold here. I think it is suffering from abuse and that’s why I want to trap it.
I’m sure you mean well, and thank you for the advice, but ultimately I’m asking because of the things you stated in your post (shorter life, disease, etc). Because it bit me, my doctor and the local CDC said it’s better to have it under observation, and to try to get it into a controlled area. I would also like that for my peace of mind, if I can get it in my closed yard then Animal Control can come pick it up.