Our family has been feeding a semi-homeless cat---she lives in about 8
adjacent backyards. Recently several developments, not aimed against
her but just impersonal, have hindered her access to our building and
thus food. She needs a little help from someone  with wood/metal
working skills or tools. As I will explain at the end, this will also
help the safety of 4-5 other cats. My contact information is at the
end. Here is the story:

(1) Initially this property, a small apartment building, was connected
to the next house by a wooden door with large enough gaps cats could
walk through.

One day we found it replaced by a solid wood door and the building up
for sale. We responded by leaving the door open, nobody minded.

After sale, the new owners' bank/insurance required them to keep the
perimeter secure. They trust the neighbors but face higher premiums and
also greater liability if something happened. The door must be closed.

We adapeted by digging a hole under the door! However, this time our
neighbors cannot stand the look of this hole on their side and have
insisted on patching it up. None of the actors in this saga have
anything against the cat, that's why I said it is a conspiracy of
impersonal developments.

The new owners have nothing for or against the cat. They find our
concern amusing, but say it is ok by them if a skilled person cuts a
hole in the door, if it looks presentable and is small enough so a cat
could pass but people can't. (What would be the right size?) They just
don't want to bother with doing it, we have to do it ourselves and we
have no skill or tools.

So, is there a cat-loving person with basic wood skills and tools who
can help us?

(2) Another, but less desirable, access point would be a metal gate
whose bars are presently too close to each other. If a small section of
one or two bars was cut, it would create an opening large enough for a
cat but too small for a human intruder. For this we need help from
someone with tools to cut metal.

(3) Although my first concern was with the cat we feed, there are 4-5
other cats who use the passage to go back and forth between the yards.
As their direct lawn-to-lawn path got blocked, I have watched them try
to connect via the front side-walk or back alley, exposing them to
strangers and car traffic. They would all be safer if I can do this.

(4) If you have general information or advice, please post here. If you
can offer specific help (in Chicago), please email contact info to
nushar@operamail.com , with "Cat" in subject line. It would help if you
could post a note here saying an email was sent.

Thanks to everyone for all any information or help.