just need a ball park idea about a stray

Question
I know you are not a veterinarian. My question is a health question, but I don't need specifics just a suggestion.
Obviously not letting this cat in the house would make the most sense, and my gut tells me I need to. It's my neighbor's cat but they have a zillion cats and they don't like this one and give him a hard time. When I first saw this cat it was a normal looking cat. A few weeks later I saw him and he was skin and bones. I assumed it was leukemia and even call him Luke short for the disease. (I'm bad)
It has been many months since I noticed his condition and am not so sure about my non educated diagnosis any more. He seems healthy and does not really itch that I can see. My neighbors told me it was thiers and that they feed it. After my German Shepard died a couple of months ago, I've been feeding him. I think he actually looks like he has a little meat on him now. His tail has most of the fur thinned except for one bushy area. His skin seems as though some one vacuum packed his skin on him. He really just wants a warm place to sleep for awhile. I've let him in twice and changed my mind. I do plan on a cat soon, (this is the first time in my life in cat less and animal less. but if he has a horrible disease I don't want to taint my house with some dormant disease just to kill a cat I bring in later. But.......if it is something that maybe could help him, I'd do what I could to advocate some help. I don't really know what other things would make a cat loose so much so fast? I thought maybe worms? Maybe he is just plain hungry? I'm gonna keep feeding him and see if my neighbors just thought they were feeding him. Some on said maybe it is because he eats lizzards? So I just want to say again. I know you are not a vet, and will not take and answer to the bank and get mad because you are wrong. I just have nothing to go on right now, and my home pet vet guide for cats has not been returned. Any suggestions besides the obvious? Thank you

Answer
Kirsten,

Cat diseases do not last long off of the cat (in the house), and most are inherited or transfered by bodily contact with fluids from an infected cat.

My personal opinion is to take the cat to the vet. That way you will know for sure if something is wrong with him or if he is just hungry and/or has worms. When it starts getting cold cats need to eat more.

A thyroid problem is common in cats and if he has that then he is cold intolerant and should be where it is warm.

He may not have anything seriously wrong and you may end up with a nice wonderful, loving cat when he fills out.

If he is not neutered then I would do it soon if you are thinking about giving him a home. "Tomcatting" could also cause weight loss.

Tabbi