Within minutes, though, the cat was back, and I took pity – offering him some water and dog food. As he gobbled it up, I noticed a ragged towel on an old wooden shelf on the porch that was covered in hair. Sure enough, the next morning, that’s where we found him curled up fast asleep.

Over the next week, we fell into a routine. In the morning, we’d find the cat on the porch, then he would disappear during the day, and re-emerge at 6pm, in time for dinner.

Despite his seemingly homeless status, he looked healthy and had a tattoo in his ear (a sign he had been desexed). His fur was healthy, and he was far from being skin and bones.

According to Dr Sarah Zito, a senior scientific officer at the RSPCA, there are ethics around caring for animals that show up and declare your home theirs. “It’s a good idea to check with any neighbours to see if they are missing the cat or know who the cat may belong to,” Zito says. You should also check with the local shelter and vet, she says, to see if animals are microchipped or have been reported missing.

After we asked around town (a great way to meet the locals while still settling in), no one claimed the cat. It seemed everyone knew of him more as a town cat, but not as someone’s pet.

Loading

Unsurprisingly, I quickly became attached. We drove the six hours to Katherine to buy him a cat bed and some toys, and I asked my friend’s three-year-old what we should name him. She chose “Jorny” (her version of “Johnny”). I began spending my mornings on the porch, giving Jorny head scratches as I drank my coffee, trying to ignore Ted inside, peering out at me with a look of betrayal.

Quickly, we became Jorny’s family. He isn’t “our” pet exactly, but he is certainly part of our house. It was clear that he lived here before our arrival, and I get the impression that when we leave, he will stay on and await the next tenants.

For now, giving him some creature comforts and extra care feels like it’s part of being good additions to the town.

Melissa Mason is a freelance writer and contributor to The Age.

Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.