Is there anything you can do about an unneutered Tom (that's owned by someone)?

[Moln]

Other than ask the unreasonable owner; who quite evidently isn't going to.

He's terrorising all the other cats in the area. I've just had to chase him off mine, and get him in. MolnKitty is now lying low growling at the cat flap in between patrolling all windows.

[thecatneuterer]

Yes. Get him neutered yourself. They will probably never notice. If they do, then deny all knowledge. Problem sorted. The problem is though that he would need to be kept in for a minimum of four days afterwards. Do you have a spare room?

[Moln]

No I don't. Unfortunately.

I'll have to speak to my vets, I'm down there soon to get worming tablets anyway. I've finally managed to get close to my cat as he's relaxed a bit and there's a cut on his paw

[thecatneuterer]

He could also be kept for a few days in your kitchen/bathroom/living room/ anywhere in a dog crate or hospital basket that you might be able to borrow from the vet.

[cozietoesie]

This is one where I fear I disagree with TCN. People have a right to have unneutered cats - daft though it may be - and that's leaving aside the issue of whether the vet would actually carry out the procedure and/or any possible consequences for them or you.

I would approach the neighbour first off and explain the situation.

[thecatneuterer]

I think that's like saying that people have the right to abuse their children. I think the animals' right to treatment for the good of their health, which neutering is, trumps the owners' rights to be dickheads.

As for the vet. You obviously don't say he has owners. You say he is a stray that you are prepared to take care of once neutered. And it is always a reasonable assumption that any unneutered male is in fact a stray. So no one could argue with that assumption.

[thecatneuterer]

I don't suppose you're in London?

[Moln]

He's very healthy looking; they'd need to overlook that in the vets if they want to believe his a stray Tom!!

I'll try speak the owner, I've only spoken to him once in 14 years though (in fact I've only actually seen him twice) he was not exactly Mr Approachable then.

[cozietoesie]

That's just my view. I don't like the notion of carrying out some sort of pre-emptive strike on another person's animal. I appreciate, TCN, that you see daily the tragic consequences of not neutering but that approach has always made me uneasy.

[PhilPhilConnors]

If he's not approachable I wouldn't bother, I would just neuter the cat. (Obviously not myself, I would take it to a vet or speak to a cat rescue)

[thecatneuterer]

You're not in London?

[Moln]

No. I'm in Dublin; so not even in the UK!!

Will speak to my vet.

[Moln]

Thanks Maryz. Hadn't heard of this crowd.

[Moln]

I'll get in contact with them and see what can be done.

I got help from Cats Aid a few years ago because there was a stray (that I fed) who was limping. Got a trap off them and took him to the vets. Turns out it was a tumour and he had no teeth so he got put down.

Funnily enough my next door neighbour thought at the time that that cat belonged to this man. I didn't think so at the time (this Tom was about at the same time and they looked similar except ones black and white, and the other was grey and white).

Though the stray was neutered, and I wasn't aware the Tom wasn't, I'd never seen him spray and i hadn't a cat for him to attack