What do I do about the cat?!

[NotKeenOnSwede]

A little stray I've become attached to. I thought by now he'd be "mine" but he seems happy to just keep it casual. In other words he comes for his food twice a day, has a fuss for 5 minutes and fucks off! Little cocklodger. He won't come into the house. I'd planned on having him checked over by a vet and buying a collar, basket etc all that jazz. I would have put him in a cattery while away for a couple of weeks later in the year (if I can go). So what do I do if he's still not "mine" by then? I know he'll survive but I know he'll also wonder where his slave has gone 😕 I don't want neighbours to know I'm not there so I'm not asking them to feed him.

Take him to the vet. Do everything you can to find his owner. And if there is no trace of them, then you have a cat and you can take him to the cattery etc and treat him as your own! And cats are the original cock lodgers. But worth it!

I don't think he has an owner...

Well, if he's a stray who's suspicious of houses, you need to either a) get him used to your house or b) give him an outdoor base in your garden and accept that's just how it is. A lot of cats won't like a cattery anyway so you pay someone to visit and feed the cat - which they can do outdoors, same as you.

If you want to work on getting him used to your house, then you need to start moving the feeding that you do closer and closer inside. Very, very gradually.

Has he got testicles?.

I had the same with my recent addition to the house. Took bloody ages to get him inside - a year. Then it took months to get him to stay in overnight. He'd stay in some of the night, but start trying to crash through the cat flap in the wee hours to get outside. He did actually manage to crash through it and still does, when I forget to open it During all this time, I had him castrated, teeth cleaned, and a health check. He came along one day with a very bad leg and I thought he'd broken it. I managed to get him to the vet again and he'd just sprained it. He lives with us full time now, is deflead & workmed regularly and microchipped. Het still has a very independent streak. Lots of patience is the key, I'm afraid. Mind you, I still have to throw a towel over him to get him into the large travel box for bet visits. Good luck.

Why do you not want your neighbours to know you’re away?

I just don't want to advertise an empty house. I don't know them (or anyone in my street) that well.

Hi OP,
Really kind of you to feed him. Is it cold where you are or are you in a warm climate? Can you give him a place to make his own in your garden? A box maybe with cushions? A shed? He will be wary of people if he has been treated cruelly but he clearly relies on you and may come in eventually. How far in the future are you going away? You may have won his trust by then!

Please just work on it for now. No need to get him to the vet yet.
Many vets are seeing emergencies only and are a bit overwhelmed by the routine stuff.

OP,
I agree with the previous poster about the cattery. It would probably be incredibly stressful for him even if you managed to get him there. I have a rescued stray, it took me a year to get him to vet. The vet said a cattery would be very distressing for him and I have had someone come and feed him so he stays in his own territory. Being caged is awful for some ex strays.

Yes I imagine he would hate the cattery as most cats probably do as they don't know we're only trying to look after them 😢 I wouldn't take him to the vet yet as I would lose his only half gained trust and it would probably really stress him out. He's very independent. I think I'll ask my Uncle to drop by every couple of days to fill up the food bowl. He doesn't come every day but he does most days. I think he must get food elsewhere. I don't think he relies on me as such he just uses me! I just don't want him to think I've left him as his previous HIDEOUS owners abandoned him. Holiday isn't until September.

I just don't want him to think I've left him as his previous HIDEOUS owners abandoned him. Holiday isn't until September

That is precisely what happened to mine. They left him behind to starve in the garden. You are clearly a very caring person. Your uncle would be great. I was in a similar situation to yours, really wanted to get him to vet and in a cattery. In retrospect, a cattery would have been so traumatic for him I am glad I didn't manage it. He spends alot of time in garden but he spends nights inside now. Don't stress. It will work out.

Are you 100% sure that a) he’s a stray and B) he was left to starve by his previous owners?

are you 100% sure that a) he’s a stray and B) he was left to starve by his previous owners?

Is this comment addressed to me? Yes. Absolutely sure. They moved out and left him behind. He was starving by the time we moved in. By the way? We have had Lord Fur eight years.

No Bovary, it was to the OP.

(love Lord Fur btw 😂)

Yes the owners admitted to my other neighbour they didn't want him. He is affectionate and beautiful. They are cunts.