Advice Please, to re home or not

[Worried74]

Hello all, I hoped I could get some unbiased opinions on our dilemma if possible?
We are a multi cat household, have had cats for over 19 years. 3 years ago we adopted via a charity a very handsome black and white boy (he is my favourite). I have posted previously about how many scrapes he gets into unlike the others who are girls.
However over the last 6 months something has changed in the local set up (could be a new cat, some suggested rats as we back onto an allotment) and he is at the vet every other week with quite horrible injuries. He has had major bites, an eye injury and this week a mangled ear that resulted in surgery. We see the same vet and she has suggested he be rehomed in a safer setting.
We had started to wonder if he would be better off somewhere else, I cannot bear to see him constantly injured and in pain, he seems depressed but we cannot keep him in full time as that also depresses him.
I know that if this is the answer he will be returned to the charity he came from so I know he will be cared for.
I just don't know what the right thing to do is? What is best for him? If he goes to a new home will he get a prelunch snack, will they understand him, love him like we do or is that outweighed by being able to wander outside without being hospitalised?
He is my boy, 6kg of pure muscle, he only needs me to open the pouches and for mouse disposal purposes.
I would be grateful to hear other people's thoughts on the situation.

Are the injuries only happening at night? If so let him out during the day but keep him in at night.

Poor you and your poor cat! Is there any chance he could become an indoor cat now so you can keep him? Otherwise it might be in his interests to be rehomed

You love him so no, being away from you is awful

He's being hurt by another cat definitely outside your household?

Can you not let him out til you can follow him at the weekend and soak the other cat with a water pistol? Your goal is just to get the other cat to associate your cat with not nice water

I would keep him in/secure the garden with netting like a tennis court or move before getting him rehomed - he is gorgeous

Yes, when are the injuries happening? Keeping in at night would be the first thing to try.

Thank you all, injuries happen during the day as they are locked in at night. We have tried following him but over on the allotments with dense foliage etc it's hard to follow or see. Any cat we do see is thoroughly soaked. This is not happening in the garden.
The injuries are definitely from outside the home, at home although we get the odd skirmish they are an affectionate bunch.
We have talked about cat proofing the garden but it is a long garden and out of budget, the vet did say he's daft enough to get stuck in it too.

Thank you @LaurieFairyCake, he is beautiful but I am a little biased. He's certainly not the brightest though

Oh he is beautiful. Look at his little pink nose!
That is such a sad situation. Is there no way to discover what it is that’s hurting him with a Cat collar camera/GoPro or something so you may be able to resolve the problem?
If not then rehoming may be the only option.
To reassure you about him being re homed, our cat is from someone who wanted her rehomed. I adore her, she sleeps on me at night, gets treats everyday for being a good girl coming in at night, has radiator beds in half the rooms in the house and has lots of toys. I’m sure your boy would be equally well looked after.
Such a hard decision for you though

Oh how difficult for you. I assume he is neutered already?

(((HUG)))

How about instead of securing the entire garden you make a cat run? There are some fab ones online.

IF I had a safe garden I'd happily rehome him for you & promise you he'll be lived & have a mid morning snack and keep in touch with you. But sadly the reason I don't have a cat here is the road I live on seems laced with catnip & the number of cats killed in it is awful (it's not even that busy & only a 30).

If you can fix the problem I'm sure the charity will find a home where he's doted on, they'll have plenty of applicants fit such a beautiful boy xx

Hope you can fix it instead though.

You must love him very much to be willing to give him up in the circumstances.
Do you have any friends or family who might be able to take him?
With him being used to going out and having other cats, I can see keeping him in isn't really an option.

We went through a stage where all our cats were coming home with injuries and often seemed depressed - very expensive couple of months - we also keep ours in at night so thought they had disturbed some very aggressive rats or a fox den. Have to say after a couple of months it settled down and No more injuries as they must have sorted out the new hierarchy/pecking order with the new cat in the area. I'd try and keep him in a bit more and give it another month to see if they resolve it themselves? Cats rarely get very physical with each other even when they fight so it could be he's come across another animal

Oh, he is beautiful.
Have you asked at the allotment if anyone knows what could be hurting him?

You can’t rehome him!!! Look at that little face - he would be so lost and no one to know his routines.
A pp has suggested a cat run, brilliant idea or perhaps a smaller catio - a neighbour has built one over her kitchen window and it’s about the same size as a medium sized sun house/shed. The frame is covered in very secure chicken wire. Cats happy and she’s happy.
I do wonder if, no it’s colder and days are shorter, if this may just fizzle out - either he will learn to stay away from whatever is the problem or the problem will stay away.

That's a strange one. You would think if it was another cat you would see or hear it.
If it was rats or a fox then surely it would be a one off rather than happening every night.
My guess is that it's another cat and they are fighting over territory.
It's maybe too early to rehome him but if it continues then I don't see you have any other option.
I would try and find the culprit but monitor the situation for another few weeks to see if it stops.

He is gorgeous btw, I don't think I could part with him so hopefully the situation resolves itself.

if he's a good hunter I would suggest it might be squirrels.

One of mine used to get into fights with them, sometimes he won (headless squirrel corpse on the landing) sometimes the squirrels won (vet bills!)

If that's the case then rehoming won't help - the buggers are everywhere!

If you did choose to rehome him, is there a possibility that he would not go into the rescue centre, but rather stay with you until he found his new home? That way you could tell them all about him.

Thank you everyone for your help. Last night for the first time in 3 years he lay on my chest and put his head under my chin and went to sleep. Never so much as sat on my lap before, so I can only assume he has learnt to read .
We are going to try everything we can to keep him and use the advice given.

He’s beautiful ❤️ I like the GoPro idea

@Worried74

Thank you everyone for your help. Last night for the first time in 3 years he lay on my chest and put his head under my chin and went to sleep. Never so much as sat on my lap before, so I can only assume he has learnt to read . We are going to try everything we can to keep him and use the advice given.

Plucking at the heart strings! Don't rehome me Mummy