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Original poster

Animal advice needed

38 replies

Redtartanshoes · 23/08/2018 19:07

So. Bit of a long one.

About 4 months ago an un neutered tomcat started coming into our garden. Really timid, wouldn’t come anywhere near us, but seemed quite happy with our boy cat.

We put some food out for it (I know), he would eat and disappear. Started coming back more often, fed, played with our boy then disappeared.. more and more friendly though, to a point where we can stroke him, although you can tell he’s not really used to it IYKWIM.

I have no idea where he lives, or if he is a stray.

Anyhow he case over this morning and had an abscess on his ear. It’s not pretty but not horrific if you know what I mean. Pic attached.

My mum reckons I should capture him and take to vets, I’m not convinced that he is a stray, other than he’s in neutered, and comes for a feed 4/5 times a week. Catching him and taking to vets would in doubtedlybcause distress, but on the other hand if he is stray he needs his ear seen to. But he might not be, and he might have actually had it seen to

WWYD?

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Nesssie · 23/08/2018 19:11

You can get paper collars online that you write your number on and ask if he has an owner?

Vinorosso74 · 23/08/2018 19:12

If he's not neutered he's highly likely to be a stray. You could take him to a vets. Also contact your local Cats Protection or local charity and they may be able to help.
If you're in London area there's a wonderful poster thecatneuterer who works for Celia Hammond and is a Litter Tray regular.
He definitely needs ear seeing to and could also benefit from losing his pompous!

Vinorosso74 · 23/08/2018 19:12

*pompoms

Interested in this thread?

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Cats
BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 23/08/2018 19:19

I have to say even if there was the possibility that he has an owner I would capture him and take him to the vets, firstly they can scan him to see if he is chipped and then tell the vet the situation to see what they advise re the abscess, the fact that he is timid and not neutered makes me think he is a stray. I would also ask neighbors, post his picture on Facebook to see if anyone recognises the cat.

Original poster
Redtartanshoes · 23/08/2018 19:26

Ok so I’m in Scotland so couldn’t be further away from London. 😂

Problem is sometimes he’s here twice a day, then disappears for 3 or 4 days.

I don’t want to capture over weekend or when vet is closed as he pisses everywhere if he comes in.

There’s an SPCA near us, I’ll ring them and see if they would take a look if I get him over weekend, if it’s office hours will take to normal vet.

He’s a lovely wee thing, when he’s not pudding on my tables mind!

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Lynne1Cat · 23/08/2018 19:29

It depends - if he IS a stray, will you give him a home?

If so, entice him into a cat carrier (put some tuna in the back of it), get him to the vet, see if he's chipped, get his ear seen to, have him neutered - and keep him. If he IS chipped, let the vet make contact with the owner.

My own Mr Cooper was like this...very scared, used to come into my garden, eat what I'd left out and quickly run away (I had 2 cats of my own then). He'd got a terrible abscess on his leg. I caught him, as described. He wasn't chipped, so I had him neutered, treated, all that, and kept him. Had him 7 years now, and he's the loveliest cat I've ever known.

Animal advice needed
BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 23/08/2018 19:30

Good call OP.

BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 23/08/2018 19:31

When I read threads like this it restores my faith in human nature which is seriously lacking at the moment.

Original poster
Redtartanshoes · 23/08/2018 19:32

Would def keep him, like I said he’s very friendly with our currently boy, I’m just not sure whether he would want to be kept.

We have a play shed outside that our cat sleeps in during the day if I’m out... stray not stray sleeps in there sometimes with him. It’s very cute.

Def get him neutured though as he stinks

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Original poster
Redtartanshoes · 23/08/2018 19:33

Awh thanks Betty. I’m a softy for animals.

He’s probably not stray you know... it’s just I put out tuna and chicken and such like! Whatever we don’t eat. Infact there’s mackerel on the bench waiting for when he makes an appearance/

He’s not fussy either, eats all the food and biscuits our cat won’t

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Original poster
Redtartanshoes · 23/08/2018 19:35

This was last week... massive chance from him bolting when we even opened the door

Animal advice needed
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Slartybartfast · 23/08/2018 19:40

are you in your local facebook group? can you ask for the owner there?
take him to vets to try the microchip?

Original poster
Redtartanshoes · 23/08/2018 19:45

Oh meant to say I’m not on Facebook

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AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 23/08/2018 19:45

Could try asking on Next Door to see if anyone knows if he has an owner?

Tbh if a note on the collar doesn't produce results I'd catch him and take him to the vet - he should be microchipped and if he's not the owners can't really complain

Original poster
Redtartanshoes · 23/08/2018 19:47

I know everyone (ish) in the immediate area... not theirs

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Slartybartfast · 23/08/2018 20:05

Can you put a picture in the newsagents window?

Slartybartfast · 23/08/2018 20:05

perhaps you should stop feeding him?

Original poster
Redtartanshoes · 23/08/2018 20:22

Yeah.... so he can starve to death? Good idea Hmm

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ratspeaker · 23/08/2018 20:28

Could someone you know who has facebook post on the missing cats in scotland page for you?

Sspca might come if he's injured.
You could ask local vet if they've had any reports of missing cats, also advice on treatment and what they may charge if you were to take him in

Slartybartfast · 23/08/2018 20:30

but op doesnt someone else feed him when he doesnt visit?

you either accept him or you dont, warts and all

Pebblespony · 23/08/2018 20:39

Regarding the assess, it may resolve on its own. Our cat just had one and we adopted a wait and see attitude and it just went. Keep an eye on it though. The reason we didn't treat our cat is that it's the third or fourth he's had this year and all others required being knocked out and cleaning. This one looked less serious and the vet said to wait and it just went.

Original poster
Redtartanshoes · 23/08/2018 20:41

Feeding him isn’t the problem.

I’m concerned re his abscess. It could be being treated by his owner or he could be stray ... I don’t know which.

That’s the issue. Not the food. Or looking after him. I just don’t want to capture him and take him to the vets and distress him if he belongs to someone, or leave him be and it become infected if he doesn’t have an owner

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Original poster
Redtartanshoes · 23/08/2018 20:42

Someone else could well be feeding him. Or not he could be catching birds and mice and stuff.

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pinkmagic1 · 23/08/2018 20:48

The note on a disposable collar that a pp suggested sounds like the best idea.
Looks like the abbcess has burst. Can you rub some savlon or similar on if it looks infected in the meantime.

Vinorosso74 · 23/08/2018 21:10

Our lad got in a nasty fight a few weeks back and had an infected ear wound. Vet cleaned it up very thoroughly (leaving what looked like a crater) and a couple of days after antibiotic jab it looked way better so if it had been treated would soon start to improve.