Cat problems...

Flibble

I met a stray cat last year who moved into my garden.

He was very friendly & vocal & relaxed, obviously only a young fella. I was preparing to try contain him & get him neutered (had to wait until i could take time off work, the vet said recovery would be 3 days & he would need to be housebound. I live alone, wanted to be there to supervise him).

He just disappeared one day before i could organise it, and i haven't seen him since December, until tonight.

He showed up looking a bit rough, obviously engaging in fights, seems to have a small injury on the top of his head & is very stressed out. No friendly meowing any more, just defensive sounding noises when there's another cat around (there's quite a few). I had to stand over him as he ate some tuna, as soon as I went inside another cat would skulk in & chase him off it. He was eating VERY slowly so i suspect a tooth issue.

Now, here's the thing, i got a hamster at the start of the year and i live in a tiny flat which is basically one room, no opportunity to keep them apart, and I've started minding a dog once a week too, so the surgery recovery can't really take place here.

From past experiences, shelters are totally overrun with cats at this time of year, i sincerely doubt any of them will take him in (although i certainly will try ring around next week).

I don't really know what I'm looking for here, I'm sure it's a common enough situation, just some advice or tips maybe- he's a great cat, it's pretty awful to see how stressed he is & how much he relaxed to have me mind him as he ate.

Graces7

Flibble wrote: »

I met a stray cat last year who moved into my garden.

He was very friendly & vocal & relaxed, obviously only a young fella. I was preparing to try contain him & get him neutered (had to wait until i could take time off work, the vet said recovery would be 3 days & he would need to be housebound. I live alone, wanted to be there to supervise him).

He just disappeared one day before i could organise it, and i haven't seen him since December, until tonight.

He showed up looking a bit rough, obviously engaging in fights, seems to have a small injury on the top of his head & is very stressed out. No friendly meowing any more, just defensive sounding noises when there's another cat around (there's quite a few). I had to stand over him as he ate some tuna, as soon as I went inside another cat would skulk in & chase him off it. He was eating VERY slowly so i suspect a tooth issue.

Now, here's the thing, i got a hamster at the start of the year and i live in a tiny flat which is basically one room, no opportunity to keep them apart, and I've started minding a dog once a week too, so the surgery recovery can't really take place here.

From past experiences, shelters are totally overrun with cats at this time of year, i sincerely doubt any of them will take him in (although i certainly will try ring around next week).

I don't really know what I'm looking for here, I'm sure it's a common enough situation, just some advice or tips maybe- he's a great cat, it's pretty awful to see how stressed he is & how much he relaxed to have me mind him as he ate.

You need to find an animal charity that will organise a TNR swoop for you locally.
Too many hungry cats around you it seems.

Also they will lend a humane trap if you choose that way.

I never heard of a three day recovery for males? Females yes. Maybe others have heard this?

mymo

Any males I've had done have been up and back to normal once anaesthetic wears off.
Have you a bathroom with shower? I've shut cats in the shower in emergency.
Or can you borrow a dog crate?
The vet can use dissolving stitches which don't require follow up visit.

Graces7

mymo wrote: »

Any males I've had done have been up and back to normal once anaesthetic wears off.
Have you a bathroom with shower? I've shut cats in the shower in emergency.
Or can you borrow a dog crate?
The vet can use dissolving stitches which don't require follow up visit.

Yes they can and do. When I took my two ferals in I said I was worried I would not be able to catch them again for the female's stitches and she assured me that they use soluble stitches. When they are doing TNR work ?

And never an issue re males recovering either. One of mine when I got him home went straight out, caught a bird and ate it in front of me before I could catch him...

boomerang

Think your vet was referring to a female cat, OP. Male cats have no stitches and are basically good to go once the anaesthetic wears off. You only need to keep in for one night and the bathroom would be perfect for that. Poor little lad, obviously failing to hold his own against more mature toms. You're very kind.