Neighborhood Cat wanst to move in

by savanna
(pittsburgh)

What does it mean when a neighborhood cat shows up at my back door and doesn't leave. I open the door and he tried to come in. I quickly shut the door. It has been three days and the cat is still there. I don't feed stray animals. The cat doesn't want to leave. I finally gave in a gave the cat some shrimp. I don't even know if that was good for him. When i look out the window the cat is sitting on my back steps like he is watching for something. When i open my back door he always starts purring. Did i make the situation worst . What should I do?

Reply
Hi
Oh dear, you may have a problem here.

During my life i have been adopted by several cats who simply just turned up and stayed. I have even had a cat who left me to live down the road with a neighbor after i adopted a new kitten.

Cats are very good at choosing a new home, they seem to have a sense as to who will look after them. Perhaps they sense you will look after him, even if you don't know it :)

Do you know who's cat this is? Is it a stray?

You have only 1 decision to make. Continue feeding it and become it's owner and carer. or don't let him in or feed him ever and hope that he will find somewhere else.

If he belongs to a neighbor then perhaps speak to them to see if there have been any changes in his home life which may make him want to find a new home.

Never feed a neighbors cat without speaking to them first.

There is one other possibility of course. Are you sure you don't have mice or some other creature living under your front step which the cat may be stalking? i ask this because my own cats do this with my step as i know small critters can crawl under my step.

best wishes kate

---