Quote:
Originally Posted by
j 
I have a sometimes-cat that comes around - I thought he was a stray, and fed him for a while. I posted a thread about whether to take him in. It turns out he is someone's cat (pretty sure the people upstairs though I haven't asked yet) - they took off the collar I put on him and put another one on with a tag. Still comes around to hang out though.
My rule is that I don't feed him anymore, but I let him in when he comes and scratches on the sliding door to the deck. He comes in and hangs out, lies around on the chairs for a couple hours maybe, and either leaves, or I kick him out when I am leaving or going to bed. If someone were out calling for him (I'd hear it) I'd kick him out then too. I don't want him to get used to relying on me for food or spoil his diet, but especially when it's cold out like tonight (I think he may be scratching right now actually) I feel like I can't just let him sit out there all night, in case he got locked out.
Probably the best/most correct thing to do would be to go talk to the neighbors and ask if it's okay if cat hangs out for a while, and see if they have a schedule for her etc. and want her in at a certain time.
I used to have the same situation in my old house, untill I moved this summer. It was very affectionate and I've started to come around to cats.