There is a tentative cat that keeps appearing at our door. He meows, but when I open the door he runs away. Today I managed to feed him a little and he became quite affectionate. At closer look though, his face was badly scratched and he had dry blood in his nose. He also appeared to have fleas. Am I correct in assuming he's a stray? and if so, is it worth trying to adopt and domesticate him?

I would adopt him. It's seems like he is asking for you to help him otherwise he wouldn't be coming to your house and call for you. Also, if he is flea ridden, it would be kind to help him since untreated a cat can die from anemia because of flea infestation. Once you have caught him, I would just take him to the vet for a micro-chip scan and if that comes back negative, then you should adopt him. I don't think you are obliged to go around the neighbourhood knocking on doors because if he was really someones cat, they should have done the responsible thing by micro-chipping him and/or would themselves be knocking on your door looking for their beloved pet. His owner should also be giving him flea prevention medication. He is also more likely to be a stray if he is not fixed and/or is starving as well.

One can never be sure with cats. If he doesn't have a collar on, you can certainly try to adopt him. Just remember, though, you never adopt a cat. A cat adopts YOU. It would also be worth taking him to the vet and getting him scanned for microchips. However, if you find a chip, you find an owner. It is, however, the honest thing to do. How would you feel if you could see that a little girl was crying her eyes out because her beloved pet had left? That's what we did when we found a cat like you did. Two years on, he's sitting on my knee as I type this!

Maybe. Never just assume though. My cat lost a claw in a fight so I kept him in to make sure it stayed clean. My dopey housemate let him out and as he'd been in, I'd taken his collar off. I didn't see him for 8 months until the family that took him finally took him to the vets (he is long haired and they left him to get matted so took him in to be shaved :-( ) The vets scanned his microchip and called me. I was distraught to lose my baby and he turned out to be two doors away. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

Take the cat to the vet immediately to check if he's chipped, put some flyers up in the area and keep your eye out for missing posters. Look after him in the meantime but always be prepared for a call saying he's someone's beloved pet.

Note: Some vets will give you treatments free of charge if you tell them the situation.

I hope the little guy is okay and am sure he will get all the love he needs from you.

As stated have the cat scanned then if you can take it home (after the vet checks it out for health...usually a 40 buck fee) and then if you can and want to care for it...you got a great pet for life. If it is a stray then it needs a lot of time and patience but it will bond with love. Great that you care enough to feed it but go the next step. I used to be a cat hater until one adopted me and now I have three that cannot entertain me or love me enough. Good luck.

Yes it looks like a stray, but you can never be too sure.

We had a cat coming to our hoise every day last summer, but since then it only comes occasionly.
it had a new tag when it came back on a cold november day so that's when i realized that the must be someone elses. But you can ask around the neighbourhood just to make sure it doesn't have any owners.

Definitely. Try and trap him and take him to the vet to get fixed up. The cat has chosen you:) Leave a cat carrier on your veranda and put the food in it. The cat will get used to it so you will have a better chance of trapping him. That is what I did.

Good luck!

I would.
But maybe you should ask people around your neighborhood if it is their cat before taking it.

When a cat has fleas, most likely it will be a stray.