Rosie the Stray

I'm currently feeding a stray cat who I've named Rosie. She was already here when I moved to my new apartment in September of this year but did not allow me to be close to her until mid-October. Based on the way she carries herself, I can only assume she's been abused and abandoned - she doesn't run away like a feral cat would however she walks with her tail between her legs and will hide when an unfamiliar human comes nearby. She's a tiny brown tabby with only two teeth - the vet estimates she's around 10 years old. Yes, I managed to put this poor girl into a cat carrier and ship her to the vet! I have been able to de-worm her and give her all her shots but she still won’t stay inside my house without crying and becoming anxious. She has become so used to the freedom of outside and until I can convince her to stay in, I will feed her daily and keep tabs on her health. Some of the ways you can help strays in your neighborhood include:

Feeding them appropriate food – Rosie gets wet food in chunks that she can eat without her teeth

Providing shelter for them from the elements – there are inexpensive shelters that can be built using plastic totes. Rubbermaid has a great program and instructional on this http://www.erubbermaid.com/roughneck-homes - TIP: I had to put catnip in the shelter to entice Rosie.

Taking it into your own hands to spay or neuter your strays. Remember, one female cat can produce hundreds of cats in their lifetime.

Partner with a local Cat Rescue organization in your community. They can have a wealth of knowledge to assist you.