had a cat roaming round and sleeping in back garden for past week wheneva we go near it runs off, anyway this mornin opened the door and it was there meowing so thought must be hungry, and fed it, and came home from dinner break was there again, came home after work and was still there meowing so i felt sorry for the little cat carnt be much bigger than a kitten, anyway stayed in are house from 5 -9 i let my other cat in and she kicked off royal, dont want to stress my cat out, cos we only recently lost out other cat 3 weeks ago, anyway finally got the stray out but its been at back door meowing now for 30mins non stop, and i feel real bad for it, but it has got a collar on, but everytime i left the room today it would follow me or meow until i came back in the room, what should i do, dont wana keep the cat in the cold but dont want to stress my cat out, shes hittin 13 now

Would it be possible to put a notice on its collar to tell the owners of the cat that it keeps coming to you. I would ask around the neighbours tomorrow if they have seen this cat or is it theres. It might just be lost and seems to trust you as well. I can understand what a predicament your in with your own cat. You have got too think of your cat first before the other one. For now could you put a carboard box outside with a old blanket for it too sleep on. Possibly some food as well. The trouble is if you feed it you will never get it too go. Even though i have 15 cats i would still feed any stray that comes around my house but my cats are very tolerant to other cats if they come into the house.

Have you got a shed you can leave open? Put some old towels down and food/water. Or an old box you can put out again with old towels in for a bed? Just something temporary, and then ask around in your neighbourhood about it to find out who owns it.

A year or so ago we had a cat visiting. It too had a collar, but she would just meow and meow, try and get in the house etc which stressed my old male cat out too. The stray would wolf food down so I wondered if she was being fed. I asked about and put a note thru local doors but no-one claimed her. She also smelt really bad and when I managed to get hold of her to check her out I saw her collar was stuck round one of her legs at the top; it was cutting into her and rotting her leg. Took her to the vet andshe had been chipped so they traced her owner and she had been missing many months. Owners were delighted to get her back - she had somehow made her way across town and got lost and ended up in my garden!

So, if you think the cat is genuinely stray pls consider taking it to your vet to see if it is chipped. The vet won't charge for this.

its been hour now and shes still meowing at door i just want to bring her in but i no i carnt, no we dont have no shed in the back, i have a old duvet which i put out other night, but thats all wet thru now. i am goin to put a notice up in local shop 2moro i think, feel sorry for the little moggy, she was so lovin tonight sat on my knee purring for 4 hours aww

Do you have a photo of the stray as i will put it up on my cat forum i go on. You could also check the national missing pet register as well. Just do your best for tonight thats all anyone can do.

Poor little thing I feel for you though. I wouldn't want to stress my old cat either.

As Maisey Moo said, it's a good idea to put him up on the Found pages of missing cat forums such as hers or the NMPR. There is also another popular one called lostmycat.org . It's better if you can manage to take a picture to upload.

Also, put up a few posters locally where you can. Someone is probably missing it. You say it looks like a young cat, in which case it probably hasn't come from far unless it has got itself into the back of a van or something.

If the cat has a distinstive marking or anything distinctive about it, don't mention it in the ad or poster so that you can ask anyone who enquires to be sure that they are the owner.

There is also one called My.moggy.com

I brought it in and put her in my room, and ill sort something 2moro couldn't listen to the poor thing cry anymore, its purring away on my bed now bless her

I thought you might i would be the same. Could you take a photo of her do you think its a girl.

Have you rung round all the vets and animal rescue centres in your area? Most people who lose cats ring the local centres to see if it has been found. Even though it has a collar, it may be chipped as well. If you can get it to a vet, they will be able to get an address in seconds if there is a chip.

If it is outside, have you got any of those big plastic storage boxes? It is possible to fashion a cat kennel and put in some old towels for warmth. It is very very cold at the moment, so it may just be a kindness to take it to a rescue centre, although they are very full at the moment.

Well I never ......mind you it was a cold night last night, so fully understand it!!

Any more news yet of the stray

didnt have chance to ring rspca yesterday, so going to ring up today, little thing is still meowing and wont leave the back garden. hopefully they will take it and ill put some flyers up in local shop

Have you got a picture of it. Somebody might reconise it.

i have got a picture but dont no how to put it on here

Well done for looking out for this little one.

Have you had the cat checked for a chip yet? Have you reported it to vets and rescues and put it on the missing pet registers?

2 very good sites are Purrs in our Hearts and Cat Chat (just google, you'll find them) both of which have a Lost and Found section and you'll get a lot of advice on what to do.

Good luck!

Yes i am a member of both of them there brilliant. If you want to put a photo up you have to put it on something like photobucket. Just google it. It will tell you how too post the photos if you get stuck come back and one of us will help