WWYD - neuter a probable stray?

[WildCherryBlossom]

For the best part of the last year there has been a pretty b&w young cat male passing through our garden. When I first saw him he was very scrawny and anxious. Eventually I started offering him food and over the last six months I've gained his trust. He now enjoys being stroked and appears most mornings for a bite to eat. My cats are quite content with him around. They often sit on the wall with him, looking out at the world or just dozing.

I realise he could be a six dinner Sid but when I was first able to stroke him he was skin and bone with a concave tummy and his head looked too big for his body so I don't think he's getting much food elsewhere.

I have described him to our local vet (on the next street so they are very familiar with local cats) but they just said I should take him in to see if he's microchipped. I haven't done this yet as I was wary of bundling him into a cat-carrier and scaring the bejeezus out of him. But now he seems to feel safer around me I think I could.

The question is - what do I do if he isn't microchipped? He's clearly un-neutered so I guess for his own health I would need to consider having him neutered? Inoculations? He doesn't want to come indoors so would I endeavour to "keep" him as an outdoor pet?

I need to think these things through before taking him to check if he's microchipped as the vet is bound to ask me.

Here he is

I'd put a paper collar on him with your number on it. If he's owned the owner can ring you.

I'd ring if my cat came in with one.

He's probably not though and you have a new pet.

Lovely looking cat . Although he may object I would definitely see if you can catch him and vet him. If unchipped then get the vet to give him the OP. My first cat moved in with me under very similar circumstances - he then appeared injured one day so we took him to the vet who told us to keep him in for a week, when I pointed out that he wasn't our cat the vet responded 'he is now, you have my bill'.

As an aside undoctored males do develop larger heads than cats castrated as kittens.

Aww. He reminds me of my wee cat that had to be put sleep, recently. 😢

I would suggest that you leave a carrier outside and put his food in it. When you see him automatically going into the carrier to get his food, it means he’s more relaxed being in it. It might take a while, but he will eventually start going into it, as he won’t want to starve. In the meantime, you can do the usual checks. It frustrates me to see un-neutered animals, as not only does it contribute to the unwanted animals, but it makes smaller, un-neutered cats/dogs vulnerable to attack.

Honestly, I’d think “stuff it” and get it done. If he’s not neutered, I doubt if he’s had any vaccinations, worm treatment or flea treatment.

I'd get him done. No responsible cat owner has unneutered males

I'd get him neutered and vaccinated. And then probably keep him. Anyone who let's their cat roam around unneutered doesn't deserve to have them.

Ok, thank you everyone. I'll try a collar for a week with my number and after that I'll aim to get him into the vet. He is lovely, increasingly affectionate and as you can see doesn't look emancipated any more after 6 months of popping by here for breakfast. It's very sweet that my cats seem so at ease with around too.

I absolutely agree that if he isn't neutered he is highly unlikely to be flead, wormed, innoculated etc, let alone microchipped.

Do you have a trap, neuter, release scheme near you? It would save you paying for the neutering but yes if he's not microchipped I'd definitely get him done.

I'll look into trap neuter release. Good idea.

He may be someone's much loved pet who has strayed from home, unneutered boys often travel for calling girls. I wouldn't be jumping to any conclusions as he may be a house cat that has got out, it's probably unlikely but I wouldn't like to just assume that his real owners don't deserve him. Definitely take and have checked to see if there is a microchip, some of the cat charities offer free neutering so it might be worth looking at that if they can't find a microchip. I would have thought any cat owner who cares for their cat would have had it microchipped at the same time as vaccinations so if he isn't then I shouldn't see why you couldn't keep him if you are happy to look after his needs.

"Emaciated". Not "emancipated" in my earlier post. Silly autocorrect.

Awww he looks lovely OP. Contact your local Cats Protection, they would more than likely help you towards the costs of having him neutered. I think you would end up only paying about £20 towards neutering and microchipping is easy enough at £10 these days.

I have a stray well a few now, but my main one he was scrawny and dirty looking but is fat little chubster now and looking well. I had him trapped as he was not the friendliest and neutered which probably helped with him gaining weight. I also had hm microchipped as my local CP have a campaign on at the minute where they neuter and chip your cat for £10. He even comes running when I call him in the evenings, I have named him Howard.

Howard! Fabulous name.

Gina, you are right. I don't want to assume he is unwanted or unloved (although I think he is) so a collar with a message attached will be my first action. Followed by Cats Protection or similar.

I wouldn't bother with the collar personally. I would just get it done. For his good he needs to be done. The chances of an unneutered male having owners are extremely remote and, if they do in fact exist, they are terrible owners. Personally I believe the needs of the cat come before the rights/wishes of irresponsible owners.

The only thing is he will need to be kept inside for around 5 days afterwards. Do you have a spare room you could put him in for that time? A metal dog crate would also work to keep him in post op (although you have to find a way to block any big gaps), but they cost around £65.