Seeking advice regarding a kitty

You could put a note on the collar asking the "owner" to please keep their cat at home because if they don't, you are going to call the local feral spay/neuter people and ask them to neuter this boy at the very least. This idea comes from I saw a story on DU a little while ago about someone who had a dog visit every afternoon, come in, take a nap, then go home. The note that came back said he's dealing with six children, three under the age of two, and can I come with him next time.

that's funny about the dog. I thought of putting his picture up around the neighborhood.

I've never had much luck with cats and collars, myself.

Do people still keep cats as pets but not have them de-balled?

The idea about the pictures in the neighborhood first, then find someplace that will neuter him.

I have no patience at all with anyone who doesn't neuter his pets. (Serious breeders, of course, who monitor their critters, escape my wrath.)

who hasn't given permission? I don't know enough yet.

It gives you deniability, especially if you put a date on the posters and talk to the local retailers and so on and so forth. You can cover your butt in so many ways here when you're doing the right thing. And you are doing the right thing because you care for this obnoxious little boy who keeps pestering you and you don't know what to do about him. Cats know and sense and gravitate to those humans who will be their slaves. Get over it.

have to get my camera and get to kinko's.
I think you are spot on about the posters.

Now it's a very cold and windy night and he is nowhere to be heard..
maybe he does have a warm home.
A song started running through my head:

I'm just a lonely boy, lonely & blue
I'm all alone, with nothing to do
I've got everything you could think of
but all I want is someone to love

So his nickname is now Lonelyboy (till I find out his real name).

From what you've said, sounds like you're his.

Love the pic you posted on what he could look like. I just spent the last few minutes putting plastic claws on my enormous boy, then acceding to his demand that he be put outside right this instant so that they be unceremoniously removed. I can't wait to find out my ultimate punishment for this impingement on his kittyness. I'm sure it will be creative.

http://cats.about.com/cs/declawing/fr/softclaws.htm

I'm a bit fanatical about it ever since a handsome grey feral tom cat set up his harem under our front porch.
I captured, spayed and released all the breeding females, found homes for all the kittens ( roughly twenty in all) except the five who are still, years later, in my house. They're all utterly tame, neutered and are never allowed out of the house anyway. And I love them all.
I have no idea what happened to their feral parents. I could never even trap the tom, so he wandered off when the action stopped to make trouble elsewhere.
There are so many feral cats struggling to stay alive around here....the thought of anyone allowing a tame UN-neutered "pet" to wander loose makes me very upset. Yeah, I probably would neuter him...it would be better for him than being hit by a car.
I'm sorry...I don't mean to harangue you.
Of course you should do what you can to find the owner.

especially with emphasis on keeping the population down. I worry he would be traumatized, if he's homeless, by loss of his balls & think I really need to be prepared to take him in long-term... so I want to do a poster first to try and find an owner.

I spoke with someone at a shelter/clinic today, and she also strongly advised the neutering, among other stuff. He does look well-fed, and doesn't hang out here all the time, so I hope I can find an owner and encourage them to do the dirty deed. Otherwise, I'll take it on.

Thank you for all your good input, it is much appreciated.

My area is full of them. I even know people who don't get rabies shots for their pets, even though it is state law that all dogs and cats get vaccinated.

Putting up signs with this poor bugger's picture is a good idea.

Often enough due to financial concerns. It costs cash to end the family line. And currency deficient people still want companionship, especially when it can be so often initially acquired for the cost of a belly rub.

Ive seen this happen with family. They take in an animal, intending to get it neutered when they can afford to do so. But months later, nothing has been done about it because paying the minimum to keep the electricity on was more important than the $25 to deball an otherwise healthy kitty.

Others I am sure want to breed for some reason. Still others may not know, and finally there are those who just don't care.

But yeah. People keep pets without spaying or neutering.

I noticed looking on Craigslist one day that there were tons of kitties in this area to be given away, more or less no-questions-asked, no fees or signed agreements.

I don't know if that's common elsewhere where but back east I had to sign in blood that I'd do right by the kitties.

Explain to them what's going on. They will probably have some good advice for you on how to proceed. I doubt he's chipped. If he has owners, they couldn't be bothered to neuter him, so they very likely also couldn't be bothered to have him microchipped. But, you won't know for sure without a scan. If you decide to make him your cat, your shelter may have a low-cost neuter program. They might even cut you a break on shots.

Others have advised me not to be 'taken in' by such critters.

I'm easily manipulated by plaintive cries outside my window on
cold nights.

An intact cat and running the neighborhood at all time means that even if this cat has a "home", the people who he "belongs to" are not being responsible. If you give him a home, that would not be the wrong thing to do. I would at least get him fixed if he is going to be free to roam.

But it sounds to me like he may be homeless. You would not believe the number of cats who are without a home, and survive because of people like you making sure they have food. People move and just leave the cat. Some get tired of the responsibility.

But if you worry about the owners missing him, try putting some posters up around the neighborhood or an ad in the local newspaper. Personally, I wouldn't worry about them, I would worry about the cat....but that is just me.

I also worry about him missing his balls.. kind of traumatic for a big boy

But, if you're that worried, get him a pair of Neuticles. http://www.neuticles.com/

(Yes, I am joking.)

But as you said, he can't come into the house because he sprays, and this gives him a better quality of life. Along with not wanting to get into fights over ladies anymore, the de-balling has advantages. I just hope that they really do not have as much attachment to their balls as a human seems to.

As aloof as many cats are, I have never met one
who down deep wasn't longing for snuggly contact
of one sort or another.

My cousin found him crying at her door.

I can't fathom anybody abandoning him. He's one of the sweetest cats I've ever known.

I could never abandon an animal. He is lucky to have found you. Life on the streets is a hard way to go, and there is way too much of this happening. I cannot understand it.

not necessarily that they've been intentionally left behind.

25 years ago. They got a beagle puppy, and after six weeks, I didn't see him anymore. I asked what had happened, and they said, "Aeh, we got tired of him and sent him to the pound."

Neighbors down the street moved and abandoned two cats. One of them adopted us. What a sweetheart.

he won't miss them, and the unknown of number of kittens that won't be born b/c of no balls is a good thing. i think taking him to the shelter, checking for a chip, neutering him then bringing him to a local cat welfare is something you might do. i cannot stand the wails of a cat and the barking of a dog not in the house in a cold night

it's possible they're just driving him crazy anyway, maybe it would be a relief.

But if I do all that I would just care for him here, I think. He knows the neighborhood and could gradually start feeling at home here.

so if there is an owner they can call you. I got handed a non fixed male cat by some university student. I had him fixed and put a photo up at the vets offering him to a good home. I got a phone call from a nice family right away.

I've always had the 'breakaway" collars because I worry about strangulation or getting caught somewhere outside.

Every breakaway collar I've ever put on a cat has broken away.

I would be careful about letting him near your other cats unless they are fully protected against feline HIV and other illnesses.

From what you say, he's either homeless or owned by thoughtless people.

I hope you can help this boy get some TLC and good living conditions. If you have to spend a couple of bucks on a breakaway collar a couple of times, it will be money well spent if you can get an answer back. If the cat comes back with the collar and no answer, well you will know he has no home.

Thank you for caring. That means a lot.

(if I can grab him and put it on...)

Probably ear mites. Easily cured using a solution/eardrops. See the vet.

same thing happened to me a while back when some local cats hung around looking for some winter goodies, but one ended up living in the garage, apparently otherwise homeless. Then she started coming up to the window making friends with my other cat.

Yeah, you gotta neuter him and have him checked out by a vet (some shelters have deals with vets to save a few bucks-- at least on the neutering) but you have been chosen and have no choice in the matter.

"no choice" "chosen you" --- hahaha many say this.
What can you do? Cat looks at you and it goes straight to the heart.
"helpless, helpless, helpless to resist"

Most likely he is a homeless/abandoned boy. The vet can get you some meds for the ears and a quote for a neuter (that might help with the spraying). They may also be able to help you find him a home.

I spoke to shelter/clinic today about him. They said he's probably not chipped since he's not neutered, but they do advise bringing him in and getting all things taken care of.

All of our cats have come to us as strays, and all of them chose us - two of them literally showed up on our doorstep as if to announce "I understand this is that cat Shangri-La place we've heard about."

Crosby:
Showed up last winter, demanded to be part of the brood


Charlie and Weird Harold:
Charlie was rescued from the middle of a bridge during rush hour, Weird Harold ran right up to us and said "Take me home!"


Hannah:
Curled up on my chest one day as I was working under my car


Charlie, Little Man Tate and Hannah:
Tate was a feral from a horse farm - ran right to us


mikey_the_rat

Thanks for helping these adorable guys!

hhahaa I am a little afraid the word will get around the neighborhood: "hey they have sardines over there, anybody can just walk right in..."

You have such a beautiful family of felines. They are the best. Thanks for your message "resistance is futile" -- isn't it true. Cats.

The classic old-school hobo sign for "Kindhearted Lady" is a picture of a smiling cat. Coincidence?

http://www.worldpath.net/~minstrel/hobosign.htm

aww I bet he's a cutey.

and actually kind of goofy looking, in a cute way
but.. I would adopt every cat and dog and baby in the
world if I could, save 'em all.

I strongly second what others have said. In the past, I've adopted 5 rescues from my neighborhood back in MD. I always wondered why no one came looking for them - but it's a sad reality - some cats just don't have servants who care. One was living in a sewer after her "owner" moved away. Two I just had to take in because they were toms and having fights with other cats and raccoons. Another I trapped using resources from Alley Cat Allies (check to see if they're in your area; they are a wonderful source of info). Took 3 days to trap him, I had him neutered (at a discount price) and then released him but he just hung around till I eventually took him in. He's the biggest and funniest reformed tomcat you could meet. Brought all of em to Iowa with me.

All that said (I tend to go on about my babies LOL) - neutering is a good idea - and if there is an owner I doubt that they care so much that THEY would miss HIS balls. Meanwhile you're doing something good for your community. Kudos! - and let us know what happens. I personally love cat stories!

DU is such a wonderful resource for cat lovers.

First thing I want to do is make a poster and put it up, try to find out if there's an owner. If no response, I'll most likely take him into the animal clinic for care.

I'd say give him a nice warm soft shelter/bed on your porch. If he stops spraying after being neutered, you can let him inside.

I have a feeling he has a 'home' or at least other places he's getting food & shelter. He's definitely not starving. Has such a sweet humble face. AAAAAAGH I love cats so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In fact he looks just like my Abbott.





I found Abbott about 10 years ago in November of 2002. It was a cold and rainy night and this poor cat was stuck out in the cold. Now mind you, there are feral cats in the area but they usually run when they see humans. This guy clearly once was indoors because he came right up to me. Feeling bad for him I ran in and grabbed a can of tuna for him to eat (I didn't have any cats at the time). After he ate the tuna he followed me into my house and well he didn't leave after that.

Like your cat he was unneutered and oh, he was horny as hell too. He could smell all that 'pussy' out there with the number of ferals in the area. I tried to clean him up and like your cat - his ears were dirty inside too. I put him in the bathroom and shut the door then ran over to the local Walgreens and got some cat supplies that I hope would tide him over while I found his owner (litter, litter box, food and flea spray since my assumption was that he had fleas.)

I did put signs out for him looking for owners but no one claimed him. So a week later he went to the vet where he was left for neutering. I had to clean up the flea mess - that dirt in the ears was because he had mites too. Luckily none of those pests took hold in my home!

Ten years later Abbott is just a big furball of live and he was joined by Evita - pure evil in a fluffly grey cat. Can't imagine my life without either of those cats.

Having 3 cats is tough but if you can bring in a 4th do it. If your cat gives you even half the love that Abbott has given me, you'll have the absolutely best pet ever!

I'm going to make a poster today with his picture, see what I can find out. Spoke to a shelter yesterday about what to do.

I have two cats of my own.
Then there's a cat who belongs to my landlady next door, but basically lives here, eats and sleeps here, most of the time.

So this new guy does make #4, more or less. I want one of those farms that have cat houses for all the stray cats who want to live there.

Make sure you check for that

he probably doesn't have a chip since he's not neutered.

She said they don't chip the strays, but they do a cut in one ear,
I think to show the cat has been seen by a vet and maybe had shots?
Or to indicate he's a homeless cat? Not sure...

that way if the cat is captured again they know the cat has been neutered along with shots. With a female cat you have no way of knowing until you open the cat up again.

Mister Lonelyboy just came by and he looked quite awful.

He seemed scrawner than the other day, but more than that
half his face/neck is all swollen up. No sign of outside injury
but maybe an inside growth or infection. No obvious sign of
being in pain. He came and I gave him some delicious wet
food so he'd stay still a little while I looked at him.

Well, he looked awful to me. And I decided forget the owner
I'm taking this boy to the vet. So I readied my cat carrier
and met up with him out in the yard.

OOPSY

I was able to pick him up and grab the scruff, but I was
worried about the swelling in his neck and I lost my grip,
at which point things started getting kind of nuts.

Long story short, I may not see him around for a few days.
I'm scrubbing my scratches and regrouping. Going to
call someone shortly, see about getting help for him.

Thanks everyone for advice, encouragement, interest.

Hopefully you will be surprised and he will come back soon. I guess next time, if you get a chance, don't worry about the swelling, just get him.

but he showed up at dinner time, meowing and acting very humble and gentle towards me, even let me pet his head a little. He doesn't seem at all sick, or in pain -- so now I'm second guessing myself about the swelling, wondering if it's something I just didn't notice before. Hard to get a good steady look at him, or feel what's there. He doesn't act like a sick cat. And that's a big relief to me, I was so worried all afternoon today after our scrabble.

My instinct for the moment is to keep giving him really delicious wet food so he keeps coming and trusting me, till I can assess things better or get him into a carrier for the vet.

I am sure that you will be able to get him to trust you. It is obvious since you can get close and touch him that he is not far gone to the wild. I hope you can do something for him, even if it is just to have a vet look at it....you do realize that cats will not show weakness, even if they are in pain, until it is very bad. Please watch over him.

Try putting that yummy food inside the pet taxi and see if you can catch him that way. I'd be worried about that swelling, and I'd suggest s trip to a vet as soon as you can manage it. He may be a sick kitty and not show signs of it because that is cat nature--weakness is something they hide as a form of self defense.

Good luck to you and to that kitty!



Laura

there's an update here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/101870159

somebody got him to a vet, apparently.

First, thank you very much for trying to help this guy. With the swelling, etc., he obviously DOES need your help.

You may want to ask the group you've contacted if they have a humane trap that you can borrow, and then put some enticing, smelly food in it. If he'll go in the trap, you'll have the confinement issue handled, AND you won't be risking any injury to yourself should he become frightened and scratch, etc.

Also...you may very well find that once neutered, this guy won't continue to spray. Just a tidbit in the hopes that he might fit into your household at some point.

Again - my thanks for your interest in him. Too many humans just look the other way!

there've been some new developments, I posted update here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/101870159