well its easier that you're in an apartment, b/c at least the cat was indoors already. I wouldn't have that option so I'm not sure what I'd do.

I'd bring it in but I'm a sucker

that cat is cute BTW

That's a toughie! I think you did the right thing. There is no sense in traumatizing North and Kitty until you know if Kitty has a home. I'd say if you still see Kitty in a few days, take her in. Just remember acclimating a dog and cat can be an adventurous ride!

And yes, that cat is adorable. Looks like my Nox, which makes me want to take it in.

You did the right thing. If you didn't have any pets of course you would bring the kitty in. But you have to think about North first as he is your pet, not the cat.

im with law!

That cat is so cute! I almost thought it had blue eyes before I realized it was the camera flash.

i don't know what i would've done! i'm sadly allergic so i guess my choice would've been made for me. i hope lil' kitty found his way home safely!

I'm a total sucker. My husband constantly makes fun of me for wanted to adopt "strays" that turn out to be our neighbors cats. Its happened twice.

I would have brought the cat in if it and North could get along (or ignore each other) in the hallway. Maybe give them both treats until they were calm. Then I would still try to contact owners and post flyers in the building, and probably call the local animal shelter to report it, in case someone was looking there. Then I would check back for a couple weeks while happily taking care of my new kitty friend.

But I have 3 cats... all were strays.

I've been in this exact situation before. Had Guest Kitty hung around for another day, I would have taken her in permanently. My apartment building is open to the outside (temperate climate) and I was worried about her getting caught in traffic.

At least kitty was indoors already. If you didn't have an area to to keep kitty separate, you did the right thing. Personally, if I had an area that I could completely close off and keep my two kitties away from, I would have taken in Guest kitty. Otherwise it's not worth traumatizing North.

If he's still there in a few days, maybe the local Humane Society?

I could NEVER bring a cat into my house. My dog Maisy goes CRAZY when she see's cats!! She acts like it is her job to chase them whenever she see's one. I would be really sad and worried for the cat but I agree...at least it was inside. It could be worse. Maybe put a picture at the entrance of your apartment that he's wandering the halls...

I'd post a note in a common area and one outside the building in case s/he is from next door and if no one responded within a day or two I'd take the cat to Pets Unlimited on Fillmore Street. They're open 24 hours and the owner can call them to find their baby well taken care of and happily in its own new habitat.

Oh I would have been right there with you! I would have brought him in instantly! I have such a soft spot for animals (especially black cats like my kitty, Elvis!). Not sure how my menagerie (two Karelian Bear dogs and two kitties) would have handled it, but we all would have managed!
I think you did the right thing and I hope this kitty either finds his home or makes a new one with you!!

I would definitely not have let the cat in. In my experience if you give a cat any attention, it tends to stick around and claim you and your dwelling as its property. Since the cat most likely lives in your building, you wouldn't want it to try another escape attempt to your front door and demand to be let in again.

I'd bring the cat in the house but I would keep it in a room away from my pets b/c who knows what that cat is like or what it has going on medically. And the next morning after I searched to see if it belonged to my neighbors I'd take it to the vet if it had been unclaimed. Then I'd keep it if it got along with my pets.. what's one more critter.

I think you did the right thing. If that cute kitty was safe & warm in the common area, I would leave the darling out there until morning. If she was still there I would give her some food & water and try to find her owner again. If I couldn't find a neighbor she belonged to, I'd post flyers in the building and the neighborhood with a photo of her with my phone# and then take her to a local shelter to have her checked out. You never know if she has fleas or other nasties that she could give to North! If no one claimed to be her owner within the timeframe I'd return to take her in as my very own!

I couldn't have resisted bringing her in!

I'm a sucker for animals. I would totally have taken the baby in the house. I actually found one of my cats in a similar fashion. It was September and I had the windows open. I heard a tiny meow coming from outside. I live in a 3 story townhouse. I looked outside and saw who is now my Azrael. He was so skinny and meowing. My neighbor happened to be outside and saw what happened. A a guy tossed (not threw because he was not hurt)him out of a truck and when my neighbor yelled at him the guy said the cat belonged to his cousin and she always lets him stay outside. When I got outside I had food for him. He followed me into my house and ate. He had fleas so I ended up bombing the house. I had two other female cats who trust me totally told him who was boss. The little boy was so skinny because obviously no one was taking care of him. It broke my heart and I really couldn't let him be abused like that. He is a very sweet cat and I'm happy to have him as a pet. You know what- I bet the owners came and got your cat. They probably got your note and saw that he snuck into the hallway.

So is kitty still there?

Yeah we need an update!

Where is your coffeeshop starangel?? I'm coming!

Hi everyone, thanks for all your feedback. The kitty is not there anymore and, when I tried to knock on apt. 3 after work yesterday, there was no answer so I'm hoping for the best. Sadly, I don't know how North would handle a cat roomie – he's a little spirited to say the least and even tries to catch shadows that the sun leaves on the floor! I was worried he would try to be too playful, and get scratched in his huge, buggy eyes.

Yeah, that's a big concern Pet. I'm glad you thought of North first instead of giving into impulse. Your a good pet mommy.

I hate that you don't know what happened to the cat though. I'm just hoping that it found its way home.

I would have done what you did or bring the cutie to a shelter asap.

I probably would have left the cat in the hall. I am a TOTAL pushover when it comes to cats, but like others have said, you let a cat in or feed it just once and it will never disappear (for good or bad). Leaving a note was a good idea, let's just hope it hasn't abandoned. I think the fact that kitty wasn't there the next day is a good sign. Hopefully, its rightful owners let it come back inside.

*been abandoned.

I can't resist a stray cat,dog,etc.

THis happens to me all the time, living in a college town and in apartments. I NEVER bring the cat inside, because it could be infected with Feline leukemia or AIDS or parasites or whatever and its my responsibility as a cat mommy to protect the pets I have now. I usually wait, and watch and if it looks and acts like a feral cat, not owned, not being fed, I will call the humane society. If its friendly and sweet and wants human contact than its probably been abandoned and i call my local no kill shelters. No matter what you dont want to leave it out there on its own #1 it will breed if it hasnt been fixed and thats a no no and #2 its just not right to turn a blind eye.

I would have brought her in and kept her in like the bathroom or something if the kitties didnt get along just so I at least knew she had access to some food and water.

This happened to a friend of mine. He didn't have a cat at the time but thought about getting one. Someone in his apartment building abondoned a cat. So he left his apartment door opened to see if the cat would come in. If she did, he'd keep her. He now has a cat.