Toby didn't eat anything this AM

Toby came running to my door as usual this AM, but though he sniffed at the canned food, he didn't eat. I put out three plates of food and 2+ hours later, as I was leaving for work, they were all untouched and he still was on my step.

That's not like Toby.

He wasn't coughing, didn't have an nasal discharge, was all squirmy for his pats and cuddles...He just wasn't eating.

There've been times he hasn't shown up, but there's never been a time he's come to my step and not eaten.

Abscessed tooth? Other illness?

Of course I'm all worried about him now.

Or maybe someone else in the neighbourhood is putting food out and he ate breakfast there. I have no idea.

Pic from July and previously posted.

He really wants in to my house (of course, so does Niko, the neighbour's cat), but I have no way to let him in and keep him separate from the boys, no entry way, nothing. It's all open concept. And I'm not going to do that to Mr. Alpha-I'll--Fight-You-Nicki. Plus I've seen how vicious Toby is when fighting other cats.

I'd love to have a set up in a heated garage like Jacqueline does for her Mommy and Daddy Cat, but that's not available to me, either. I do have a garage filled with crap I have no where else to store, but if I left the door open, my tools, etc. would be stolen.

I bought a large storage tote (bigger than the large Rubbermaid ones I have at home) the other weekend and am going to make another shelter, but am not sure he'd use it. He didn't want the one I had out on my step last winter, but likely because Niko was using it before his human finally took him in for the winter (in December). So if I put out a shelter before Niko goes in for the winter--if he goes in--he'll likely take it over and that will leave Toby with nothing. (It's a small front step and there's not room for more than one tote. I also can't put another tote elsewhere--it's condominium townhouse complex and you can bet folks would complain.)

Poor Toby. I know he finds shelter somewhere, because (knock on wood) he's not had any frost bite.

This morning I had a terrible "vision" of him being ill, taking him to the vet clinic that neutered him, them telling me he's terminal and me having to authorize that he be pts. Ugh.

You know, life would be a heck of a lot easier if I didn't give a sh*t about anything. Really. I wouldn't want to be that kind of "human," but it sure would be easier.