Chat What to do about stray cat

[Saylavi]

This probably seems like a pretty silly question, but I live in an apartment complex which has a pretty strict and will policy. Hamsters, guinea pigs, bunnies, snakes, lizards, and fish are OK. Rats, cats, dogs, ferrets, and pretty much anything else that I didn't list are off-limits.
Well The apartment complex did unit inspections two weeks ago, and you had to have whatever problems they found remedied by his previous Monday. That was about the time this little orange kitty started showing up, perching on my windowsill, and meowing like his heart was broken.
I'm assuming that the apartment figured out they had a cat during the initial inspections, and these people must've just let him loose so that they didn't get in trouble during the secondary inspections. I remember seeing this kitty at the Petsmart adopt a box thingy about a half hour drive from here in October, which I only bring up because that is the closest place to adopt a pet. Our nearest rescues about an hour away, and the next closest pet store and after that is also about an hour away, so I'm pretty sure it's the same kitty.
Anyways I don't know if I should leave him be in the wild and hope that whoever originally adopted him finds him and takes him back or if I should attempt to catch him and drive him to the shelter. It's going to be above 60 for the next week, so I'm not worried about him freezing or anything. I really do hope that whoever originally adopted him text him back, since he's hanging around the apartment complex so much I would assume this is where he came from. Plus I don't really want to bring him into my apartment since (a) that could get me evicted, (b) the guinea pig cage is open on top, and (c) even if he seems friendly...
But then I feel really bad that the poor guy is literally going from windowsill to windowsill crying his heart out. Morally I know that taking him to the shelter is the right thing to do, but for the reasons above I really don't want to do it. There's also a part of me that wants to leave food out for him, but I don't want to attract any other critters....

 

[lunarminx]

I would look up the closet no kill shelter and take him in. to it.

 

[Omgitspink]

I agree with Lunarminx. It's cruel to just leave him, poor guy must be starving. Plus he could get hurt from wild animals. Take him to a no kill shelter or contact a rescue.

 

[pigmommy89]

If he came from a rescue, he's probably microchipped. I would take him to a shelter or to a vet to be scanned. He could possibly have escaped by accident, and the rescue should have contact information for the owners. Even if he doesn't have a microchip, if you know where he was adopted from there's a good chance someone with the rescue will recognize him too and maybe be able to track down his people.

 

[Saylavi]

I know he was adopted from the petco.  As I was typing out my response I realized that my campus does veterinary, I could have him checked for a micro chip by them, and they might know of a no-kill.  The only rescue I know of near me is the Humane Society, but I don't know if theyre a no-kill or not. 

 

[pigmommy89]

Most humane societies are not no-kill. But, most rescues will take back a pet that was adopted from them.