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For the record, I am owned by a cat. A cat or two has lived in my house since I bought it in 1989. My first cat came from a shelter. The rest were strays people left to fend for themselves. My second cat was skin and bones when I found her. I brought her in, fed her, and cared for her till she passed a few years ago. If I hadn't taken her in, she would have starved to death.
This isn't the 1950s when I was growing up and people were responsible for their pets. Today, people don't take care of their children, let alone their pets.
The kindest thing a person can do for a stray is to take it in. If the stray can't be kept, take it to a shelter where someone can adopt it and give it a good home.
Your post is the most sensible one on here. My neighbors had a beautiful, soft, friendly gray kitten and turned it out in all kinds of weather. Recently, we got the after affects of Hurricane Sandy, and it turned rainy and very cold. This poor little kitten came to my door, hungry and shivering. I brought her in and here she’ll stay. They have been looking for her, but she isn’t in any hurry to go back with them. She’s quite happy here and well fed.
These neighbors have heathen kids who seem to love animals, but don’t have a clue how to take care of them. Did I mention that they also left her litter box outside in all kinds of weather and expected her to use it like that?
A-men! People (I use the term loosely...they're from New York) in my neighborhood boot their cats out the door when their novelty as a kitten wears off...they wind up with me because I am the only one who will give them shelter and food. Red Hampshire winters are rough on animals, and I'm not going to let them suffer. Food bill is starting to get rough, though...