feral cat !!

billy_1

Hi just wondering what your thoughts are on my dilema please ?? My oh is a massive animal lover, we feed the birds took in stray cats in the past, and feed a few other stray cats, but a new cat has arrived and fights with the other strays . Oh wants me to catch this wild cat and take it to the RSPCA. Where i am sure they will just put it to sleep!! I dont know what to do any advice please .:money::cool:

Fridaycat

billy_1 wrote: »

Hi just wondering what your thoughts are on my dilema please ?? My oh is a massive animal lover, we feed the birds took in stray cats in the past, and feed a few other stray cats, but a new cat has arrived and fights with the other strays . Oh wants me to catch this wild cat and take it to the RSPCA. Where i am sure they will just put it to sleep!! I dont know what to do any advice please .:money::cool:

Have you been able to get close enough to see if this cat is male or female?

I am guessing it is an entire tom cat, so prone to pick fights. If you can afford it, my advice would be to trap the cat and get it neutered. That way, it reduces the amount of feral cats on the streets and also reduces the likelihood of it fighting with the other strays that you feed.

tanith

Don't feed it and it will move on.. I wouldn't want to catch a wild cat unless it was visibly ill or a danger to my own animals.. live and let live I say..

billy_1

Yes its a tom cat, good idea with the neutering i will ask our vets advice if he fancies his chances with this tasmanian devil ?? As far as not feeding goes, we put down food for hedgehogs so i know we have made a rod for our own backs but everyone has got by up untill now .

Froglet

Well done for feeding the hogs.You are saving little lives there,especailly this time of year when they are about to hibernate.Just make sure it is the hogs getting the food and not your cats.!!

Good luck with catching the tom cat,and well done for caring.Cat's protection will loan you a cat trap but wehther you catch the right one is another matter!!

Myrtle77

It's likely that the RSPCA wouldn't take it unless it was injured or unwell. They just haven't the space to take in healthy cats - although some of the local branches of the RSPCA do have a different policy, and if they have space they may take it in, neuter and rehome it.

In either case (whether it's a large animal home, or a smaller branch) the RSPCA definitely won't put it to sleep, unless the condition of the cat warrants it.

billy_1

I think a feral cat is very unlikely to be rehomed, we have been feeding him for several months now and he still hisses and spits at the hands that feed him, hence my do i or dont i capture him ?????

Gingham_R

I had a feral cat. She had been saved when the rest of her litter, and her mother, had been put down because they 'couldn't' be rehomed. She was just as scared but fortunately for her didn't scratch and bite when she was really terrified. (Scratched me a fair few times though - damn those worming pills!)

I would contact other cat rescue centres in the area and take their advice. The RSPCA are unlikely to want to bother with him unfortunately.

lister

Myrtle77 wrote: »

It's likely that the RSPCA wouldn't take it unless it was injured or unwell. They just haven't the space to take in healthy cats - although some of the local branches of the RSPCA do have a different policy, and if they have space they may take it in, neuter and rehome it.

In either case (whether it's a large animal home, or a smaller branch) the RSPCA definitely won't put it to sleep, unless the condition of the cat warrants it.

Feel free to tell yourself they definitely won't put it to sleep except on the basis of medical condition if it makes you feel better.

The reality is that the RSPCA destroys thousands of healthy cats every year. I understand why they do it, as they are often the last port of call - although I disagree with the policy - but they certainly do not operate a euthanase only on medical grounds approach.

lister

billy_1 wrote: »

I think a feral cat is very unlikely to be rehomed, we have been feeding him for several months now and he still hisses and spits at the hands that feed him, hence my do i or dont i capture him ?????

It isn't a feral cat.

A feral cat is one which has never known socialisation with humans and as such is a competely wild animal. It would never come near you for food if it was feral.

It may be what would often be called a semi-feral. This is a cat that has known a degree of limited socialisation as a kitten, but which will never properly tame into something we would recognise as a house cat.

Most likely, it is simply an unneutered male that has been away from human contact a while and has learned to live on its wits - and has often been chased away by humans and has learned to be wary.

My experience of this kind of cat is that the vast, vast majority (95%+) will calm down and learn to trust again once neutered and with love and attention shown. Many turn out to be the biggest, softest cuddle lovers in the feline world - perhaps making up for lost time.

Ask your local branch of Cats Protection for the loan of a trap if you need it. They may also be able to help with the cost of neutering (in our branch we would usually pay in full in this kind of situation), and also may be able to take the cat in for rehomimg.

lister

lister wrote: »

It isn't a feral cat.

A feral cat is one which has never known socialisation with humans and as such is a competely wild animal. It would never come near you for food if it was feral.

It may be what would often be called a semi-feral. This is a cat that has known a degree of limited socialisation as a kitten, but which will never properly tame into something we would recognise as a house cat.

Most likely, it is simply an unneutered male that has been away from human contact a while and has learned to live on its wits - and has often been chased away by humans and has learned to be wary.

My experience of this kind of cat is that the vast, vast majority (95%+) will calm down and learn to trust again once neutered and with love and attention shown. Many turn out to be the biggest, softest cuddle lovers in the feline world - perhaps making up for lost time.

Ask your local branch of Cats Protection for the loan of a trap if you need it. They may also be able to help with the cost of neutering (in our branch we would usually pay in full in this kind of situation), and also may be able to take the cat in for rehomimg.

Forgot also to mention that you may need to find the right vet for neutering. Not all like to deal with potentially aggresive cats who may be semi-feral. Check they have a crush cage or trap transfer basket to help restrain the cat for sedation. Rural vet practices are often bette equipped for this kind of work.