In the past four nights, we have been visited three times by a cat that I have started calling Loudmouth.

Thursday night, I was up late working, and I had the back door open so that the cool night air could come through the screen. I heard scratching on the screen and came out of my office to yell at Nox or Mim, who I presumed were getting very excited about seeing a bird or a deer.

But it was a black tuxedo cat, who to me looks male, but I have no way of knowing. I'd seen a black tux cat around for the last few months, though only ever while driving away-- I presumed, by the area I saw him, that he was an indoor/outdoor cat of someone in the residential complex one over from us.

My apartment complex used to have two outdoor cats attached to it (Jadie & Apollo), and one very dedicated cat lady who took care of them. But Apollo got hurt somehow, or so I heard, so the lady trapped them and whisked them off. I'd seen her with them before, and they'd come right up, nuzzle, allow her to hold and hug them. So I am hoping they are now in a good home, though I have no contact info to make sure.

So I guess this leaves Loudmouth, who I'd never seen show up for the cat lady's feedings, anyway.

Loudmouth has decided it is my job to feed him. He found the house with the sucker light. I thought we'd uninstalled it, but alas. He's been showing up between nine and ten, signalling his arrival with a persistent wail. He will eat the food I set out for him with me sitting quietly by, no more than a foot or two away, and sniffed my hand gingerly on the first night we met. No pettings, though, and after he eats, he'll sit near me for about five minutes and wail at me like he's having a conversation. I'm not sure how old he is, but he looks young-ish, though not a kitten. His coat looks decent, and he's thin but not skinny. Clearly he's had some good relations with people, but he's primarily interested in food for the moment.

I'm not really sure what to do about Loudmouth. I set up a crate with blankets in case he wants a safe enclosed place to sleep, and though he's investigated it, he has not used it. Given that he seems very food-motivated, it should be easy enough to trap him.

The problem is-- what happens when he's trapped? The trip to the vet aside, he seems like he might be able to be socialized if someone had the patience for his exceptional talkativeness. I worry about my area because cars aside, we have foxes.

He absolutely cannot come in the apartment. I have no place to put him, even temporarily, and three cats for this space is absolute max. Not to mention, when we took in Mim, she gave everybody fleas and lots of secondary problems that result from fleas. To say Jason was displeased about this would be a massive, massive understatement. So if I couldn't find a foster for him, he'd be a TNR case, and I'd be the one feeding him until we find a new place-- and we will probably start searching soon, since we're beginning to outgrow this one.

Also, Olive was NOT HAVING IT when he was trying to talk to her through the screen. Mim was chattering excitedly at him like he was her new best friend (Mim loves EVERYONE), and Nox was coolly observing from afar. No hissing, nothing. But Bean was so pissed that another cat was near her turf that she was pacing crankily, hissing at Nox and Mim, since they were close. Even if we did have a bigger space, fostering is not likely in the cards as long as we have Olive. She was pissed. She has shown, from previous additions to the household, that she will stay pissed for weeks to months, no matter how gently she is introduced to another cat. Hell, she still has her spats with Nox. She is very territorial and set in her ways. Jason and I have often joked that having a human baby in the house might be an issue for her.

Local shelters are full to the seams-- I know that BARCS is well over-populated, and he'd likely be happier as a TNR if a shelter is the only other option.

 

Cat-rescuing friends-- ideas?