Stray Cat Dilemma

I have a moral question for you guys; my partner and I mostly agree but different views on how we deal with our local stray (assumed at least)

  • Adult male cat.
  • Confirmed no microchip, not desexed.
  • Very friendly and sweet boy, appears healthy.
  • Wanders our yard and street regularly.
  • Knows how to use cat flaps (broke into our catio/house).
  • Put a collar on him with note for the owner.
  • See him 3 days later with no collar, haven't received contact.
  • Friend interested in adopting him.

Partner says we should catch him, get him desexed, microchipped and adopted as if he does have an owner, they likely don't care, or he's been abandoned.

I suggested to do a letter box drop around the neighbourhood to see if we can find the owner and offer help before we catch, desex and have him adopted.

We both agree that if he is a pet, the owner is irresponsible, but I would feel worse knowing I've taken someone's pet without trying to help them first if they've struggled trying to pay for microchipping and desexxing.

We want to do the right thing, but I want to give any potential owner the opportunity to ask for help.

What would you do? How would you approach this situation?

NOTE: I fully expect there to be dickheads on here who are going to say shit like "use it for dog bait", "good, it should end up as roadkill" and other unhelpful things - just don't. If you wouldn't say it about someone's dog, don't say it about a cat.

I have a moral question for you guys; my partner and I mostly agree but different views on how we deal with our local stray (assumed at least)

  • Adult male cat.
  • Confirmed no microchip, not desexed.
  • Very friendly and sweet boy, appears healthy.
  • Wanders our yard and street regularly.
  • Knows how to use cat flaps (broke into our catio/house).
  • Put a collar on him with note for the owner.
  • See him 3 days later with no collar, haven't received contact.
  • Friend interested in adopting him.

Partner says we should catch him, get him desexed, microchipped and adopted as if he does have an owner, they likely don't care, or he's been abandoned.

I suggested to do a letter box drop around the neighbourhood to see if we can find the owner and offer help before we catch, desex and have him adopted.

We both agree that if he is a pet, the owner is irresponsible, but I would feel worse knowing I've taken someone's pet without trying to help them first if they've struggled trying to pay for microchipping and desexxing.

We want to do the right thing, but I want to give any potential owner the opportunity to ask for help.

What would you do? How would you approach this situation?

NOTE: I fully expect there to be dickheads on here who are going to say shit like "use it for dog bait", "good, it should end up as roadkill" and other unhelpful things - just don't. If you wouldn't say it about someone's dog, don't say it about a cat.