Cat question ... calling all cat experts, please

[Flaxbee]

OK. There is a youngish, beautiful solid-gray male cat (full grown, not a kitten) who has been around for a while (at least 18 months) and I feed him whenever he shows up. For a long, long time he was really skittish, but he seems to have mellowed, and even now lets me pet him and pick him up a bit. He disappeared for a few weeks and then showed up again about a week ago; he seems to be much mellower now (but he's also much skinnier).

Anyway, I can't take in another cat (we have 7), this isn't my home (we rent) or else I would. But if we have to move anytime soon, it's going to be hard enough to find someplace to take us and the cats; I just can't add to the number.

I am wondering if I should just get this gray boy (I call him Leonid) neutered, with shots (of course making sure he's healthy) and let him continue to live in this neighborhood that he seems to know, or if, because he now seems much mellower and receptive to people, I should continue to try to tame him, and then take him to our good no-kill shelter to be adopted?

What is better for him? Keep in mind I live in a rural area; there's another boycat I care for but he's much more feral. There is a cattle ranch about a mile away, the neighbor has goats, the weather is pretty mild year round (maybe 2 inches of snow, max, each winter). He survived before I showed up with canned kitty food, he can probably continue to do so after I leave. I just want to make sure he's neutered and healthy.

Should I try to place him via the shelter? Does anyone here want or need a barn cat? (He talks when you approach him - little yippy meows to say "hello"). He's absolutely beautiful - solid gray, with gold eyes.

I just want to do the best thing for him. I'd love some input. Thank you. :)

[mike_c]

1. making sure he's healthy and neutered is first and foremost...

...whether you keep him or not, so if you can do that, you'll be doing him a potentially lifesaving favor. He sounds more like an abandoned pet than a true feral cat-- that makes me REALLY angry. It's incomprehensible to me how anyone can abandon a pet.

I'd talk to the shelter folks about whether to place him there. Is it a no-kill shelter? What's their success rate for placing adult male cats. Would documentation about his health and vaccination status improve his chances? Living rough will not lead to a long life. It just won't.

[hedgehog]

4. According to our vet, sometimes young cats go out wandering and get lost.

We took a cat off a friend's hands after she rescued him during a blizzard and this guy lives to sit on someone's lap. We thought some jerk had abandoned him, but now we suspect he got lost.

[Flaxbee]

6. I don't think he was someone's pet -- or if he was, it was at

least a year ago. There are just a lot of cats in this area (and stupid people).

It is a no-kill shelter; I wouldn't consider taking him anywhere else. I'll ask about placing adult males... good question. I'd rather he be free than cooped up in a cage the rest of his life, to be perfectly honest.

[TrogL]

2. I've got an outdoor kitty and it gets to minus 40 here

Get him fixed and his shots and he'll be fine outside.

Mine's a champion mouser. I'm one of the few houses in the neighbourhood without a mouse problem.

[Flaxbee]

7. I've already done that for another fella -

he was REALLY wild, ain't no way he'd ever be anyone's pet. This guy Leonid is just mellowing out a lot, might have a good shot at being someone's friend.

[begin_within]

3. If you have to move, maybe you could build him a little kitty shelter before you leave

[Flaxbee]

8. this area really is mild, weather-wise, and

the neighbors all around have mobile homes with areas to nest underneath, take shelter from storms, etc. I'm not worried about shelter, just the fact that he's gotten used to regular food from me. We're near a lake, and it's very wooded... I just have cared for him for a while, and feel responsible.

[begin_within]

9. It will be hard to say goodbye to him.

[Flaxbee]

11. oh, tell me about it.

We had a girl kitty we'd been caring for when we lived in Virginia; luckily the couple who bought our house 'adopted' her as well, fed her, etc. She was really wild and while I was able to catch her to get her spayed, she'd never let me get near her again...

Broke my heart when we moved. I just sat in the driveway and cried.

We're just not in good shape ourselves, or else I'd do everything I could to bring him along. If we were moving into our own home, I'd bring him, and the other wild guy, too. I just don't know what my next options are; he's got food as long as we're here, though. I just need to find the $$ to get him fixed and the feline leukemia test and get him his shots.

[applegrove]

5. You could neutre him. Then photograph him and put ads up at all the

vetrenarians offices and kennels. Also put him in with the Humane Society (or whatever you call it in the USA). Get them to call you before they put him to sleep if he doesn't get adopted. Then you can take him back to the country and set him free. That is what I would do.

[Flaxbee]

10. I'd never take him to anyplace that would put him down.

Never.

I've talked to the woman who runs the no-kill shelter, as well as a guy known locally as "Cat Man"; they've both said he'd be better neutered, with shots, and on his own than living the next 4,5,6 or who knows how long in a cage.

I just become attached to these cats, and want the best for them.

[applegrove]

12. That sounds best. Good luck finding him a home.

[Flaxbee]

13. kicking for daytime input....

thanks! :hi:

[alstephenson]

14. You should cross-post this in the DU Pets Forum.

Lots of great advice from animal lovers there.

[Flaxbee]

15. true, that. Thanks

will do :hi:

I'm a bit scatterbrained lately --- thanks for the reminder.