Stray cat issue, advice?

Pinkzie

Need some advice on a stray cat!

We own several cats who live in our conservatory with access to the garden 24/7. We have three females and one boy - all neutered. Around October time a stray cat started appearing more and more often in the garden, we didn't know whether he was a stray at first but eventually he moved into the conservatory alongside our cats and started eating food and practically lived in our garden. We didn't mind at first but over time he started getting really bossy and dominant and just these past few weeks he had a fight on our male cat and an abysses formed on our cats face. We had to of course take him to the vet which cost a lot of money and he had to have an operation and is recovering at the moment.

Leading up to this our male cat was terrified all the time, one of our female cats won't come into the conservatory at all to have food because she is scared of him. We have posted pictures to online local pet groups to see if he is anyone's cat and have had no legitimate responses. We recently advertised him online, we waited a few months to see if an owner came forward before we did this (explained the situation) - free to a good home but have had no luck there either. He is a friendly cat but not to other cats and is a full adult cat, not sure exactly how old, we don't think he is neutered.

We have never considered him our cat, have tried to keep him out of the conservatory, tried to get him away from our cats but he is very bossy and determined and will keep coming back. A lady sent quite a rude response when we had advertised him, she said even though we don't own the cat it is irresponsible to not get him neutered and a load of other things, we had never considered it because he is not our cat and we had no plan to have him stay.

We are really not sure what to do, we don't particularly want him to be taken somewhere where he won't get a home but our cat being severely injured was the last straw. We would have kept him if it wasn't for our cats being in fear constantly. It is difficult to explain the cats nature but we never made him feel like this was his home, he is extremely bossy.

We have tried asking relatives/friends if they would like to home him but have had no luck there either. Any advice is greatly appreciated, he appears to be in great health.

ljonski

If he gets clipped, then his agression should diminish considerably!

moggymutt

If he was neutered he would become far less aggressive.

Sorry , didn't realise ljonski had said the same.

mumonashoestring

Your local RSPCA should be able to help with the cost of neutering (by providing a voucher) - as others have said that might be good as a first step, see how his behaviour develops and then if you need to rehome him it'll be easier.

dandelionclock30

If your on benefits ask at The RSPCA or PDSA about cheap neutering, they often have schemes running that offer help.
If not but your a bit skint then explain the situation to cats protection for your area and they might be able to help. Otherwize just pay yourself and think that it will stop all the cats being hasselled by this one.

Pinkzie

We are not sure if he has been neutered or not, he never appears to spray or smell but have obviously considered he may not be neutered (We think he would still be bossy when neutered, his character is very very strong). Ideally we would like to rehome him (neutered or not) as we feel we have enough cats already and he just doesn't get on with our cats at all. He is quite bossy toward people too but not aggressive. We do love cats and would pay to get him neutered if it helped rehoming him even though he isn't our cat so it feels like it isn't our responsibility but our cats safety comes first. We just feel like he's a problem more than anything, would love to find the owner but it's been quite a while now.

Thanks for the advice

Pinkzie

We our not on benefits. The operation of our injured cat cost around £350 so won't be able to get him neutered just yet if he needs to be. Will look at the cats protection league and explain the situation. If we do get him neutered would still like to rehome him, he is the type of cat who would like to be a house cat and only cat in my opinion and we can't offer him that.

dandelionclock30

I'm sure someone will have him, ask family, neighbours, work colleagues, friends etc. Dont give him away for free to anyone off gumtree or facebook that you dont know as they might use him for dog baiting.

georgiesmum

Same thing happened to us. We have 3 cats, all neutered and a stray cat kept appearing. I was feedng a feral cat at the time, had been for 9 years. he would not come in and was quite happy with the kennel we had built ffor him and being fed twice a day.
The stray saw him off and left him ijured in a fight.He took over his kennel, the feral never came back. He had my cats terrified and attacked me, left me needing hospital treatment.
The rescue centres wouldn't take him as they couldn't re-home him. RSPCA would just have him PTS. We were told to see if a farm would take him and found one that would. The cats protection paid for him to be neutered.
not an ideal situation but better than beening PTS. you have to consider your own cats health and well being first.
At least you have tried to do your best for him.

Pinkzie

Thanks Dandelion, my sister has had bad experiences with kittens and strangers recently (her cat is due to be neutered soon) so we are very wary of dodgy strangers, sometimes it is hard to tell.

Georgie - It is a shame the feral cat didn't come back, it is things like that that make situations like these even more annoying. Our cats wound caused by the stray was very bad, our male is very calm and friendly towards strays but this one instigates trouble.We definitely wouldn't want him PTS but you are right about putting your own cats first. We live in a city but there are farms not too far away so could try that, not an option I had thought about so thank you

moggymutt

Just a thought- has this cat been checked for a microchip?