Feral cat or someone's pet??? How do I know.
There is a male shorthair tiger striped brown cat hanging around my place. I first saw him back in about June, he was obviously very young, I would say 5 months maybe. He is around all of the time, hunting in my garden and flower beds. Fine with me, he seems to hunt voles mostly, not birds. I hate voles.
He has always ran at the approach of anyone. Until a couple of nights ago. I came out the front door, he was on the porch, and only ran and hid under my car in the driveway. So, I knelt down and put out my hand and said "kitty, kitty" and he slowly approached, smelled my hand, and let me pet him behind the ear. Well, after 10 minutes, we were buddies. He seemed thin but not starved -- that could just be age, I assume cats are like puppies or humans, in the teen years they are scrawny and thin for the most part.
So, I fed him .. tuna. He ate, then sat on my lap and purred for 20 minutes. Then, a test of how tame, I picked him up, because I noticed before feral cats tend to disallow that and bit or scratch. Well, that was fine, he nestled in my arms and purred.
Then he spent the next 3 hours pacing out front, howling, and wanting in. I gave him some more food, which he ate -- probably just made it worse. He was gone this morning, but since I see him every day, I'm sure he'll be back this evening.
So, is it someone's pet, that is let out to fend for itself, or even has a cat door and comes and goes and just likes it outdoors? Or, dumped, or feral? How to ever know, except taking it to a vet or shelter and see if he has a microchip, because there is no collar or signs there ever was a collar.
I don't want to see him go through a cold winter if he is a stray, he's a very well behaved little cat, seems sweet and tame. I would love to find him a good home if he's a stray -- alas, no way can I keep him, my dog views him as something to be hunted and captured, a chew toy, although I'm sure my dog would be in for a big surprise if he cornered a cat, any cat.
What to do???? I have time to think about it, I'd like input. TIA
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poor kitty makes me want to take him in. Thanks for looking out for him tough.
If he lets you pet him he is not feral. I don't think there is any way to know if he is someones pet or not without asking around the neighborhood or checking for a chip.
There was a female cat in our neighborhood and she started having kittens under our stairwell. We were able to trap her kittens (most of them) but she wasn't going to be trapped.
I would put food out for her and lay down at the top of the stairs and just talk to her. She eventually got closer and closer until I was able to lightly pet her head. This went on for months in the wintertime.
One day I opened the door and put some food down inside and laid on the floor and got her to come inside, I then closed the door and she has been our kitty ever since. I think someone in the neighborhood moved and left her to fend for herself.
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I was watching a BBC show about them putting GPS collars on a neighborhoods cat population and they discovered that the cats generally stayed in certain areas.
glad another kitteh is safe 
just elderly, and only across the yard from his own house. Needless to say, this was a heartbreaking experience for her.
My wild kitties also used to bum snacks from kindly neighbors.
Please be sure you know kitty's story before you do anything. 
Maybe try the old flyer on a telephone pole trick?
I'd say he'd been dumped and needs a home..try and find him one..most rescue groups are full, but see if someone you know can foster him until he gets a good home...the sooner he comes inside the better so he adjusts to that...good luck and thanks!
