Injured stray in our garden, what to do?

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

A large but somewhat skinny unneutered tom has arrived in our garden, limping badly on one leg and has cadged two sachets of Whiskas off us and devoured them. He looks in decent nick and recognises a Whiskas sachet when he sees one, but we can’t find a microchip.

What’s the best course of action?

[Aprilmightbemynewname]

Well keep him of course.
You are his chosen one.

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

Photo just because.

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

We can’t keep him, we have two mature girls who are at loggerheads with each other most of the time without introducing an interloper into the mix, and we’re receiving 5 foster kittens and their mum next week.

Otherwise we’d totally keep him, because he’s rather lovely.

[YetAnotherSpartacus]

He looks so sad :(. Can you at least take him to the vet?

[viccat]

Any vet should take in an injured stray handed in by a member of the public.

[SendYouUpinFlames]

Where are you OP? I will take him if you're close.

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

I think we’ve maybe found his possible owner via pets located. Failing that we’ve got an RSPCA lpg number is we can find an open vet.

[thecatneuterer]

Any vet should take in an injured stray handed in by a member of the public.

Not round my way they won't. Even rescue centres are turning away. Everywhere is full to busting.

OP get him neutered as a starter. Then see how it goes. But I think, one way or another, you've probably got yourself another cat.

[SendYouUpinFlames]

No way would I give him back to his owner. Broken leg. Half his wiskers missing. I wouldn't trust then.

[OliviaStabler]

My local vets would give him the once over but often have too many strays to keep them all.

Be careful of the RSPCA. They happily put cats down.

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

It turned out not to be the owners unfortunately - wrong age. He looks to me like a cat who’s been cared for but then got lost - possibly he’s injured his leg and now can’t climb the walls to get back home. OTOH he’s very old to be unneutered so his owners, if any, are probably a bit flaky.
We’re going to take him into the vets and/or Blue Cross first thing tomorrow. We have christened him Sir Henry.

[VerbenaBoriensis]

He might not be uncared for just lost for a long time. I seem to remember there being a website for lost pets.

[Fluffycloudland77]

He looks sad.

[LizB62A]

You can try reporting him here: www.animalsearchuk.co.uk/report/found

[wormery]

He does look sad, maybe his owners moved or died, dont use the rspca, the blue cross or vets are kinder. Have you taken him in for the time being, it might just be a sore paw, keep us posted. Whereabouts in the country are you just in case we can help.

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

I’m in London. He’s on a warm nest in the garden and we’ll feed him there tonight and take him to the vets tomorrow. He shows no sign of going anywhere - he’s definitely worked out that we are a soft touch and can be guilt-tripped to produce food in return for woebegone looks.

[TheSpottedZebra]

He wants you to call him Bernard, and tell him he's pretty and staying.

[TheSpottedZebra]

I'm no help I know, but it's lovely that you're helping him.

[Emma198]

Oh he's so lovely

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

There’s a cat on animalsearch which looks like a very likely match - went missing a couple of months ago near us. I’ve contacted the owners through the website - hope they’re still checking their email address.

[viccat]

I'm in London too (and a cat charity volunteer) and vet's do usually accept injured strays and then work with charities to find them a more permanent place. Obviously vet's don't have space to take in every single stray but one with serious injuries, yes most will take.

[recklessruby]

Aw what a lovely chap 💜

[wormery]

How is moggs today, any luck tracing the owner.

[OliviaStabler]

When I had a stray that the vet could not take in (they were already full) I found that Celia Hammond Animal Trust took him in. I wish I could have kept him but it wasn't possible.