I would feed it until you can catch it again and call the closest cat rescue/ animal shelter and take it there. I'd let the dogs out one at a time (cats can usually stay safe from one dog but not a pack of them) until you can get the cat to someone who can care for it safely.

Are they inside outside dogs? If so, bring the kitty inside and close her off in a room. Clean her and get a little litter box for her, shoebox works well and some regular dirt.

Then wait and see if you can find an owner.

Trust me, dogs get used to cats real fast. We had a dog who hated our new cat and once the cat got older and the dog was giving her a hard time outside, the cat jumped on the dogs back, the dog took off, the cat rode him all across the yard. We were just cracking up! The dog always respected the cat after that. :)

I've brought so many animals into our home. There's no way the dogs are going to put out the welcome mat and host a party. They need to be introduced slowly and the cat needs a "safe" room to escape to where the dogs can't get to it. A decent baby gate makes life so much easier. I own 3 and have had them all going at different times.

Are you keeping the cat if you don't find an owner? Can't tell you how many times that particular scenario has played itself here at our house.

The last addition started his first day in the house by charging at the dogs. Yep, the dogs were freaked. Thought it would never work out. We slept with the lights on for many nights so we could see who was where when a tussle ensued. Its been over a year and everyone now gets along, but my older lab still won't walk down the hallway if Miles is standing anywhere within his sight. If you would have asked me the first week, I would have told you that the new addition "Miles", would be going to someone else's home. Go figure.

Work_in_progress: Love that visual! Dogs putting out the welcome mat and hosting a party! Let's do hats and tooting horns, too.

When we adopted a dog a year ago, I had to write a list of concerns before taking him to the trainer. I found the list on the computer the other day. One item was "afraid can't be trusted around the cats." I didn't even remember that being a problem, the turnaround happened so fast. Now he pays no attention to the cats, even though my other herding dog always tries to herd them. (But she also cleans their ears and their fur, and they let her!) One of the things I did was to have the cat on the counter and use treats, first wiping my hand and the treat on the cat, then giving the treat to the dogs. My reasoning was that Cody and Bella (the dogs) would associate the cats with something pleasant. I did the same with the cats. It seems to have worked. Everyone gets along great and I usually awake to find all 4 (2 cats and 2 dogs) sitting outside the bedroom door. Good luck. What a compassionate person you are to take in that small scared animal.
Dee

I phoned the number on the collar again this AM and a man answered. He explained the cat used to live there. He has been contacted about this cat before and he had 3 phone numbers. Two were from other callers and one was the number of the owner. He didn't know what phone numbers belonged to who.

Of course I began to call. The first two numbers belong to people who live in my area, not the owner. The first call generated a distant neighbor who has been feeding it and communicating with the owner. The cat isn't fixed and he sprays everywhere. The owners don't take care of it, aren't feeding it and my neighbors are worried about it too. She said she already has 4 cats and can't take in another one.

The next phone call generated another concerned and distant neighbor, who backed up the other person's experience and expressed concern over the cat's well being.

We decided the next time he shows up to our house, we're going to take him to the no-kill shelter. Any life is better than the one he is living. He needs to be fixed, STAT! We all agreed he is a nice cat but he is severely neglected. We all exchanged phone numbers.

Should I phone the owner of the cat or trust the other two neighbors and help them catch him?

I'd catch the kitty and get him to a no-kill shelter if I couldn't keep him.

"The cat isn't fixed and he sprays everywhere." Is this what you saw (the spraying) or what you were told. I have four male cats (3 outdoor) all of whom spray whilst outside, but do NOT spray indoors. If they go in the house, they use the box like gentlemen.

Sadly, IMHO, if the owner were looking for him, you would see some activity on his/her part. All of the people know of the cat, etc., but the correct number isn't on the collar? Something is rotten in Denmark. Poor cat. The distant neighbor is feeding him and in touch with the owner, yet the owner hasn't come to get his/her pet? WTH? People who own an animal then let them loose (for whatever reason) in the hopes someone else will take them in should be strung up.

I would call the no-kill shelter if you're not planning to take him in. Is there really such a thing as a no-kill shelter anymore, and are there even any open spots left?

We always end up taking in the ones when they show up. Pretty much how we've gotten all but 1 of our fleet over the years. This last one, "Miles" was a big project. Besides the behavioral issue toward the dogs, which we were able to overcome, he was a mess. We had to invest some $$$ to get him "house ready", neutered, shots, shaved (matted beyond belief), but he has turned into the most loyal well loved member of our gang. It has now been over a year and we are so happy we took him in. Funny thing, he is such a people cat (or I should say DH cat) as he follows DH everywhere. Shower, out to the pool, back and forth from his office to other rooms of our home. He sleeps between us on the bed every night. Love him to pieces.

I hope someone with a heart takes this poor cat home and gives him the proper care. Too bad you live so far, or I'd come and get him from you.

Sad that none of these people you've talked to has bothered to give this guy half a chance of a proper life.

I know. I can't keep him. DH is severely allergic to cats. He has polyps that is going to require surgery in the near future as it his. While I sit back away from the road, I live on a busy highway. An outside cat would become road kill here.

Good idea about calling the no- kill shelter for advice before I make a decision to help catch him. I'll make the call. We have several rescue organizations as well. Great advice!

The first person I called told me that her DD recently moved back in with her and together they have 7 cats they are dealing with. The other person didn't state more than the outcomes of her "numerous" conversations with the owner. She suggested the cat would be better off dead than living the life he is.

I didn't see the cat spray but I only had it in my house for about 5 stressful minutes, pulling stick-tights out of his ears and off his coat while he was eating on the counter. I'm nursing some good claw marks today because my dog broke through a swinging door that was blocked with a chair.

I grew up with cats and have always had one until DH. I kept the cat I had when I met him until it passed but knew I couldn't replace it. Now, DH is sooo much worse than he was way back then.

Our county has a feral cat problem as it is. He needs to get fixed.

I hear ya about the allergies. We have friends that have serious cat allergies and they can't even hang out inside our house for more than an hour. They really suffer.

I hope you can find someone to take him and neuter him. We have a once feral and they are a problem if you don't have the time to dedicate to changing their lives. Even if you do, it isn't a guarantee that they will ever change completely. Our Louie has now been with us for about 4 yrs and he can still be "spooked" now and then by something minor. He comes around right away (especially when DD is home), but the ferals are a challenge. Overall, the remainder of his feral tendencies are all but gone.

Good luck golddust.