Lost/Stray cat ... when/how can I make it mine?

I'm in a bit of a pickle here. Last night, a cat was mewing at my 4th-floor appartment fire escape window. It wouldn't come when I put some cereal and water out, so I went back to sleep. It was still there this morning and my girlfriend was able to coax it inside. No collar or tags. I posted a note downstairs by the elevator, and my girl is currently knocking on doors of all the appartments that have window access to that fire escape.

The problem is: We're going out of town tomorrow for a week. We'd love to claim the cat, but we'd have to put it in and pay for a vet's boarding care today (and a rabies shot).

If we can't find the owner within the next 5 hours (before the vet closes), what should we do?

If we board it for a week, and go on our vacation (Caribbean cruise), what's going to happen when we get back. Is it ours? What's going to happen while we're gone .... if it was an accident that it was outside, it's owners are going to be heartbroken !

I'm thinking of boarding it, leaving a note downstairs where everyone can see letting them know where it currently is (will be at the vets).

Any other options?

This sounds like your best bet. If it's a stray and you leave it outside, who knows what'll happen to it. Leave a note with the vets info and let the vet know in case someone calls to claim it.

So Board it. If you're going on a cruise, you can probably spend the $6/day that it should cost to board it. The shots should only be like $10 for the rabies. When you get back, get it tested for FIV and Fel. Leukemia. Then find it a home, or keep it. It is kitten season, so it might be more difficult to get it adopted. Someone should write-up a good website on how to adopt out cats. Has anyone seen such a web-page or document? It would be nice to have something to refer people like this to.

Good luck

At the last minute (an hour before the vet closed) we finally got in touch with a friend that was willing to take it in for a week. As much as we're looking forward to our vacation, we're really excited to come back and move in our 'new' feline.