Hi all:

I first noticed this adolescent grey cat last night when my motion light
went on in the backyard and I heard rustling in my recycle box of cans.
   I expected to see a raccoon but instead saw the rear end of a cat
sticking out as it was licking the old cat food cans.  Slim pickings
since they'd been cleaned before going out.

I put out a can a food and he was back in a flash and cleaned the plate.
  It hung around the porch for a little bit and curled up on the mat
(warmer than concrete in the cold), while Otis sat on the other side of
the glass door staring at him.  I went out again and it stayed on the
porch for a minute looking at me as I tried to entice it with more food,
then it ran off.

It was on the front step this AM and polished off more food then and
then a little more this afternoon.

It was *freezing* cold today - only listed at -2 C but a savage wind.
Tonight, down to -7 C.  I can't stand the thought of the kitty out there
 24 hours a day in the cold ... and we're having a warm snap too.  It's
only going to get colder.

I am guessing that its stray because it has no collar.  I'd *really*
like to catch it and get it inside but it runs off when it sees me.

I've put a cat carrier outside with a big thick warm blanket inside and
a heavy mat wrapped around it to cut the wind (don't have any boxes).
I've put some crunchy food out near the carrier too.  Can't put wet food
out since it will freeze unless it comes back ASAP.

Fred is also really worried about me leaving cat food out and having the
cat hanging around in case it draws coyotes near the house so I'd like
to catch him right away.

I can phone some rescue groups tomorrow and see if anyone has a spare
trap but, in the meantime, does anyone have any advice?

Thanks,

Susan M
Otis and Chester