UP0DATE 7/28  Lauren wrote to provide additional information about the fate of the cat.  Some of the people who commented on the story misunderstood what she was trying to do so here is the clarification.

Just to clarify, the cat had passed away within seconds of finding it. I am sorry people thought the cat was alive.  I took the cat (that had passed away) to animal control in the morning and they found a microchip and called the owners within a half hour.  Thank you for posting and I am so sorry people actually thought I would let a cat die on a balcony-that is incredible. Animal control suggested that I put the cat back on the sidewalk and they would pick it up during the day. The officer at Animal Control was working alone and did not have staff to send out to pick up the cat.  I insisted that I bring the dead cat in for identification.  Animal control said a car had hit the cat.   Lauren

A reader asked us to help find the owner of a sick cat that she found today.  I was walking up to the building and right outside my unit, a nice big furry cat was lying down. So I said hello kitty. But sadly it was not doing well.  I noticed pee and vomit and it was not moving. With the help of some neighbors that happened to be coming home after me the kitty is now in a box on my balcony and I hope to take it to animal control tomorrow so they can see if it has a chip-to at least identify it. Animal control was closed when I called. 911 said toss it in the trash. But our little group of neighbors decided that was not right.  We couldn’t leave it on the walkway and it is just soooo sad.  Can you post a message about this poor situation. The cat was on 2404 Thorndyke Place and it is gray/white striped large cat. Thanks, Lauren