What to do with poor battered stray cat friend

[LoungeLizardLhama]

We have had a lovely stray cat visiting us for most of this year who started off starving and desperate and is now fat and purry. He’s had a few batterings off our pet cat but they mostly tolerate each other now so stray cat is welcome to spend most evenings with us and he has his own bed and food. He goes outside when we go to bed as he’s an intact Tom and we don’t want to risk him spraying or fighting with our cat but I will try and arrange to have him neutered in the new year.
Tonight he’s come in all battered and bloody with deep scratches on his face and ears and a swollen lump above his eye. Is it worth me trying to bathe him with salt water or some decontaminant wash that dad has for his operation wound or shall I leave the poor cat in peace? Long term we’d like to have him move in with us properly as our pet, especially as he’s an ugly bugger and probably wouldn’t get a look in at the rescue centre

My scruffy looking ex-Tom came to us in similar circumstances. He stank to high heaven of cat wee and had a few war wounds. Once he'd been neutered he turned into a real pipe-and-slippers old fella who wants nothing more than excellent catering and a selection of comfy sleeping spots. I'm sure he tells war stories to the younger cats.

Mine didn't object to being kept in for a couple of days until he went to the vet. He used a litter tray with no issues. Our old lady cat at the time kinda fancied him and they always got on.

Keep him in overnight in a room and take him to the vet tomorrow. They'll castrate him and take care of his wounds whilst he's sedated. Ask them to check his teeth as well. I had a rather stinky stray Tom cat to deal with a couple of years ago. It took me ages to catch him and take him to the vet. He was a dedicated street fighter. This is him now. Good luck.

@LoungeLizardLhama
How is he getting on today?

Has he used your litter tray yet? He is gorgeous.

@TheLongRider I love the thought of a pipe and slippers cat, I think that would really suit our stray. We call him Walter Buttons and I think that fits.
Want2beme He’s a beauty too. Walter Buttons didn’t stay last night, I think the indignity of being wrapped in a towel and having his face washed was a bit much but he’s back tonight and looking much better, and making himself right at home while Haroldypuss is out!

My Walter approves!

Once the poms poms have gone I'm sure he'll happily settle into the pipe and slippers cat. I've met quite a few ex stray tom cats and a lot of them are the biggest softies. They don't look it with their huge heads and battle scars but it's almost as if they're grateful that life is suddenly easier.

The Cats Protection League will give you a voucher to get him neutered if you tell them he's a stray that you're taking in - you just pay a token amount, I think £10.

I'd contact cats protection. I rescued an intact stray female and they checked her over and neutered her for me on the proviso I would keep her. I had her for 10 years.

@Vinorosso74

Once the poms poms have gone I'm sure he'll happily settle into the pipe and slippers cat. I've met quite a few ex stray tom cats and a lot of them are the biggest softies. They don't look it with their huge heads and battle scars but it's almost as if they're grateful that life is suddenly easier.

I concur

if he won't stay inside overnight, is there a shed he could use or somewhere that offers protection while he's recuperating?

Life can be pretty rough for an entire Tom. Get the rugged fellow snipped and domesticated.