I now have an "outside cat." Is that as bad a thing as I've always been led to believe?
For context, I live in an apartment block and there are quite a few stray cats around here. Recently, I noticed one was hanging around my back porch and the steps near my apartment. I live on the bottom floor, so I've been leaving some water and food out as it's been pretty hot out lately. 311
Since I've been doing so this cat has gotten familiar with me and my GF and has been exclusively hanging out on my back porch or near it. She can't be more than 8 or 9 months old and is sweet as pie. She lets us hold her, loves belly rubs, and is surprisingly healthy, but still obviously feral.
I've tried to reach out about rehoming her, but there are more people trying to re-home stray cats than there are people adopting them in my area, unsurprisingly. I reached out to humane societies and they're full, and a normal shelter told me she'd likely be put to sleep after a month because they're also full to the brim.
I'd love to bring her inside, but I already have 2 elderly animals that barely tolerate each other and I know it just wouldn't work.
As long as I'm giving her food and water, and if it comes to it, vet care, is keeping her outside so terrible? I plan on getting her shots and maybe fixed if I can find someone to watch her while she recovers.
I know keeping a cat outside is generally considered not cool, but when circumstances don't work out am I doing such a terrible thing? 664