DEAR ABBY: My question concerns two stray cats, one male, one female, who appeared at my back door within the last year or so. Both are somewhat timid, but look as though they are in good health, aside from being very hungry. They don't bother my other cats, and it's no problem for me to feed and shelter them.
Here's the problem: Neither of these animals has been "fixed." I have made numerous attempts to find the owners, with newspaper ads and walking the neighborhood, but no one has come forward. I would like to take them both to the vet, but since I'm not sure there is an owner, I don't know if this is the "proper" thing to do.
I hate to think of the number of unwanted kittens that could be created because of this type of neglect, but do I have the right to do this to an animal that isn't really mine? -- KITTY LOVER
DEAR KITTY LOVER: If you are feeding and sheltering the cats, and no one in the neighborhood knows to whom they belong and no one has answered your newspaper ads -- then the cats were probably dumped or left behind by their owners. By all means have them neutered. You'll be doing your little furry friends an enormous favor -- not to mention acting like a responsible and generous adoptive parent. Bless you!