I would start by checking with the niegbhor then possibly putting an
ad in you local paper if you are really interested in finding if it
has an owner.  Maybe you could put a break-away collar on it with your
phone number on it?

Does it have a collar on?  Is it a decent weight?  Does it looks
shraggly?

My furbabies

http://members.aol.com/larrystark/

1)  Look up the phone number of your local SPCA animal shelter and give
them a call.  Ask them if there has been anyone calling about a lost
cat that looks like yours.

2)  Look up a few phone numbers of local vets and give them a call too,
ask them the same thing.

3)  If this cat really looks healthy, and not scrawny, or looks like he
has worn a collar (sometimes you can tell if you look at the fur on his
neck), or if he lets you hold him and look at his paws you can check
his claws and see if they are long and sharp, or look like someone has
clipped them short (it's pretty easy to tell the difference) or if his
fur is nice and clean or if he smells nice....if he really looks like
someone else's cat.....take pictures of him and go to Kinko's and make
lots of photocopies on a paper with your phone number and put them
around your neighbourhood.  If he lives somewhere around you, chances
are the owner or a friend of the owner will see those posters and phone
you up right away.  If you get no answer within two weeks or so, it is
probably safe to assume that he is stray or lost.

4)  If he really looks starving, scrawny, messed-up fur, sick, or is
very afraid to let you come near him, then that is a sign that he
hasn't been around people, or at least not people that have been taking
good care of him.  If none of the above suggestions find any owner,
take him to a vet as soon as you can get him into a little pet carrier
(local pet store) so that he can be checked out as healthy and given
vaccinations so he doesn't get any diseases and make sure you tell the
vet you have never had a cat before so that they can give you lots of
information about how to look after a cat.  And don't forget to ask the
vet to tell you if it is a he or a she.

---tension