Been stressing myself out pretty bad over the impending confrontation with the landlord next door, the one who owns the building Artie likes to sneak up into.

But I did some refresher research and confirmed: yes, our buddies have some legal rights. Louisiana and Orleans Parish law both draw a clear distinction between unsocialized "feral" cats and socialized "community" cats -- and we are EXPLICITLY allowed to feed and care for the latter!

And if he calls animal control, they will shrug and say they can't do a thing except neuter and release them.

The one potential hitch, and I'm almost happy about it -- as their caretakers, we are legally liable for any damage the cats do. But you know, I'm kinda fine with this. They've never caused the faintest harm to our place. The worst I suspect they've done over there is poop. :P

Still worried on general principles of having to talk to a disapproving adult who thinks having property makes him an authority figure, even if he's COMPLETELY IGNORANT of the actual laws. >_< But this is a much better position to fight from, especially if I can get their original caretaker to vouch that, yes, these are Someone's Beloved Kitties.