Neighborhood cats

When we moved into our house nearly two years ago, we were aware of the cats that lived in our woods.  Apparently when the house on the corner next to us had gone into foreclosure 18 mos prior to our move, the resident had nearly 20 cats that were left behind.  They were rounded up by neighborhood residents and taken to a vet who helped to spay/neuter them.  Homes were found for as many as possible and the rest remained living in the woods.  At the time we moved in, I believe there were six or seven.  A resident of our neighborhood would traipse through our back yard everyday without fail, regardless of weather conditions to feed the cats, and she even had cat carriers in the woods so that the cats had shelter.  Our family loved when the cats came out of the woods to sun themselves on our woodpile or just hang out for a bit.

Unfortunately, the lady feeding the cats sent us a copy of the letter she received from our homeowner's association stating that she was no longer allowed to provide shelter or have feeding stations for the cats.  She let us know that she would no longer be in our yard, and from the tone, I suspect that she thought we were the ones that had complained since we were the newest residents.  The woods are common property owned by the association, and they were within their legal rights to do what they did.  I was absolutely heartbroken.  I could not bear the thought that the four (those are the only ones left) could be going without food.  When we saw them appear at the edge of the woods on Sunday evening, I took a big container of food out to them.  All four spent a good deal of time chowing down.  Andrew and I talked, and agreed that we would do that each day.  The container remains on our property and I bring it in each evening so that critters, etc. are not drawn to it (one of the complaints mentioned by the association).  We aren't sure what we will do about putting the food out on rainy days, and we aren't sure how we'll feel about the shelter situation as fall and winter come, but for right now we have a routine going.  The kids and I are really enjoying seeing the cats coming into our yard more frequently!