Aprilshowers
MyPTSD Pro
@Tinyflame We live in an area where people dump their pet cats they don't want anymore. It's a cruel act, but very common. The animal shelter/ humane society charges a fee to take an animal, which people don't want to pay. Since the cats you found seemed tame, they may have been abandoned pets. Feral cats who have grown up in the wild are afraid of people and usually run when they see one. Abandoned pet cats know that a human means food, shelter, and comfort.
When my children were young we took in countless strays over the years. We fed and sheltered them in our barn. Many became house cats. Sadly, many of these abandoned cats aren't neutered which causes the feral cat population to grow. Mommas have given birth on my patio, in our barn, in our foyer, in our utility room, and among my rose bushes. We have found good homes for their kittens and distributed them among family members. It wasn't always convenient running a a home for wayward felines, but it taught my growing children many lessons about human nature, compassion, God's creatures, birth and death, and how simple acts of kindness matter. The lovely cat sleeping on the back of my chair was abandoned as a kitten in the middle of the road as a tiny kitten with her litter mates on a cold, rainy October evening. She is a bit quirky, a real diva, but my dearest companion.
When my children were young we took in countless strays over the years. We fed and sheltered them in our barn. Many became house cats. Sadly, many of these abandoned cats aren't neutered which causes the feral cat population to grow. Mommas have given birth on my patio, in our barn, in our foyer, in our utility room, and among my rose bushes. We have found good homes for their kittens and distributed them among family members. It wasn't always convenient running a a home for wayward felines, but it taught my growing children many lessons about human nature, compassion, God's creatures, birth and death, and how simple acts of kindness matter. The lovely cat sleeping on the back of my chair was abandoned as a kitten in the middle of the road as a tiny kitten with her litter mates on a cold, rainy October evening. She is a bit quirky, a real diva, but my dearest companion.
She did say it seemed very odd however there were (at least) 3, like a pack. But not if they were dumped/ a family, maybe didn't get out but were 'put out'.
) but a cat, no, and never in the back yard (I've always thought because of a dog). With dogs if they are lost or run away you are frantic; I didn't know if you could let out the whole family (of cats) and they would all come home again? I can only say even my cat friend who is hugely experienced said she's never had it happen either, and thought maybe they all got out? I don't know any neighbours who have any, and granted not much for markings but same behaviour as the one my sister encountered a few blocks a way about 2 weeks ago. Usually if a dog barks +/or the hump goes up I would expect another animal to stop or engage defensively. But Idk lol. I think they looked well fed enough to say they either have a home, or someone's feeding them, or there's lots of mice (my neighbour across the street has them under his deck, the family beside him has them in their shed. I said You need a cat! 
)
