I think I've adopted a cat? Not sure what to do

I have 16-year-old twins and a free-roaming ferret called Littlefoot. Several weeks ago, a neighbor’s cat started visiting us. The kids fed him some chicken (meant for our ferret), and now the cat acts like he lives here! He sleeps in our garden, runs up to us for pets, and even tries to sit on our laps when we’re outside. He seems healthy overall, with a collar, but he has a sore spot on his side. I’ve tried talking to the neighbors, but no one’s ever home. Not sure what to do because we can’t take him in due to our ferret. Any advice?

You said the cat has a collar, but no tag? Maybe you can take him to a vet to get scanned for a chip. You could borrow a cat carrier from a neighbor or shelter to transport him safely. It might also be worth looking into whether your neighbors moved out and possibly abandoned him. If they’re still around, leave a note or call animal control for advice.

If he has a sore spot, he needs to see a vet. Leave a note for the neighbors, letting them know their cat’s been visiting and about the sore spot. If things don’t improve or the sore gets worse, you might have to call a shelter or rescue.

Aw, this breaks my heart. Poor guy. You’re kind for putting a shelter out for him. I’d try leaving a note, and if nothing changes, maybe call an animal rescue group.

I’d try harder to get in touch with the neighbors first. Maybe they’re just out at odd hours. But if it turns out no one lives there anymore, you might have to take the cat to the vet yourself and leave a note on the door just in case. I hope the cat is okay!