Stray cat?

[CupcakeBabaPoo]

I have had regular visits from a Tom cat now for nearly 2 years. I have two spayed girls and they have a cat flap so I think he has been coming and going for some time.

Anyway, recently he seems to have been coming almost every night. He isn't neutered and has been spraying in the conservatory. My two seem to know him and it doesn't bother them when he was yowling at the back door this afternoon. He strolled into my house and he seems very at home. So I rang the vets and took him to see if he was chipped - he isn't and none of my neighbours know him. We are quite isolated in a rural area so plenty of food for him.

Question is, what do I do with him? He's beautiful and very friendly.

[SoupDragon]

Can you put a collar and note on him asking for the owner to contact you?

[CupcakeBabaPoo]

I'm not sure a collar would last with him. He's gorgeous and so friendly. He seems very much at home here.

[CatchingBabies]

Could you contact cat's protection to enquire about neutering him? Is someone feeding him? Does he seem to be cared for?

[childmindingmumof3]

He looks pretty healthy for a stray. Do you have a local Facebook page you could post his photo on? Or a lost/found pets group?

[Moominfan]

Looks to me like you've been chosen. I'd just get him neutered to stop the spaying

[CupcakeBabaPoo]

He's been eating all the remains my two leave for a while now and we live very rural so plenty of wildlife for him. I've sent a message to local Facebook group but I have thought about keeping him if he isn't owned. He's lovely and has really taken a shine to my two. Not sure it's returned...

He's currently rolling around in the garden like he owns the place

[Fluffycloudland77]

You could put a paper collar on him with your details. I’d ring if my cat came home with a paper collar.

Probably a stray though if he’s still got equipment.

[PanPanPanPing]

Vets will neuter for free if you bring in a stray (well, they do round our way - you have to sign a form, can't remember what now, but the neutering is paid for by a charity IIRC).

Also, as he's not chipped, you might as well pay for him to be chipped at the same time. And take him home. Once he's neutered, your girls will probably be even better with him.

And then you'll have three happy cats!

BTW, I'm not in any way suggesting you nick someone else's cat - but from what you say, he seems to be homeless and helping himself where he can, especially as you live rather rurally.

[CupcakeBabaPoo]

Well no one round here knows him, neither does anyone in the local area.

He's very friendly but he keeps yowling! He just seems so big but we do live in an area with lots of fields.

[thecatneuterer]

He hasn't got an owner. Unneutered, unchipped males never have owners. Get him neutered and keep him.

[CupcakeBabaPoo]

I think I might have to. Will my girls get used to him?

[Rudgie47]

If you cant afford to get him neutered then round here the Cats Protection will pay for it and you dont even have to be on benefits.
Might be worth giving them a call where you are and asking if they do it as well.
Just keep him, hes so lovely.

[TheLongRider]

If your girls already know and tolerate him he'll probably settle in quite well. Get him snipped and he'll probably quieten down.

I'd say you've just acquired cat no. 3!

[Ollivander84]

You have a new cat

[CupcakeBabaPoo]

Luckily I can afford to get him sorted so guess he's getting snipped next week then! He is beautiful and so affectionate.

Is it a big step going from 2 to 3 cats? He has a name - Socks (white feet).

[thecatneuterer]

I'm sure they'll get used to him. If there has been no major fur flying so far that's a good sign.

[LanguidLobster]

I love cat smiles, he looks like a happy little soul.

Hope you can keep him.

[Want2beme]

He looks very content in the box. I'd say he's chosen you and you, therefore, must comply . 3 cats are very manageable. The more the merrier.

[thecatneuterer]

No it's not a big step going from 2 to 3 cats, but it is a bit of a slippery slope. You realise it wasn't a big step at all, and three is nothing, so when the next one turns up you think 'well, it wasn't a big deal last time - it will be fine' and so it goes on. Until you get to about 12, by which time the thinking changes slightly. Then it's 'well I have so many anyway I won't notice one more ....' and then one day you realise you have 27 .....

[Fluffycloudland77]

You name it, you own it. Thems the rules.

My cat would have beaten the stuffing out of him for being in the garden, I think yours have accepted him if their not fighting him.

[CupcakeBabaPoo]

He is very smiley and I really hope he comes back then. He is just so affectionate and it would be rude not to keep him. DS is keen to keep him as well. Well he was howling at the window earlier and DCat1 just sat there staring at him...

Roll on the 27 cat farm he might not be so happy when he's getting snipped though. Luckily I can segregate them for the time being.

[Fluffycloudland77]

He’ll be fine, I slept on the sofa to make sure mine was ok and he bit my toes at 7am. I chucked him in the kitchen and went up to bed.

They get bigger and cobbier if they aren’t neutered. It calms them right down though, I have often pondered what would happen if you could get your Dh done.

[Buckingfrolicks]

Lucky you!!!

[CatchingBabies]

Congratulations on your new cat :)

[CupcakeBabaPoo]

Thank you all, I feel like even more of a mad cat lazy

Still no one recognises him, poor boy. I am just amazed he's in such good condition. No sign of flea dirt and he's such a beast!