Stray cats are the best pets. You do not have the responsibility of caring for them, their health, or cleaning litter boxes.

But, in the long run, you may be doing more harm than good by feeding stray (outdoor) cats.

You may feel good about giving a cat some food and having it visit you every day, but what could be the consequences of this?

What if you moved from your current residence to another one? All of a sudden, your stray cat is no longer being fed.

If these strays stopped looking for food elsewhere because you were feeding them, then they would be without food until they could find a new food source.

So if you are considering feeding a stray cat, consider the long-term effects if you suddenly stopped feeding it.

Find more on this subject at the site of Chico Creek Animal Hospital.