Cat lovers--HELP!!

Mizsissy

What do I do?!!

There is a big cat under the tarp that covers our furniture on the back deck.  We should have moved the furniture inside, but we didn't get to it in time.

I know this cat.  He has been lurking around our house for the past two years and I think he thinks he lives here.

 

I have three female cats (all spayed) and this one is not...he's very aggressive.  He's been beating up the neighborhood cats (one had to go to the vet to have his stomach stitched up), and he's been terrorizing my cats.  He weighs at least 15 pounds and he's ferocious.

The animal rescue folks have suggested I trap him, get him neutered, and let him loose again, but I have mixed feelings about this...I like cats, in fact there's hardly a cat I met that I have never liked, but I don't like this cat because he's a bully.  I'm also worried about trapping him in the winter...what if he froze to death?!!

But, I look out there and see those tracks and know that there is a poor animal outside in freezing temperatures who doesn't have anything to eat.  What do I do ???!!!

Mizsissy 

twink

Cat's aren't bullies, they're survivors.  Some of the nicest cats I knew were neighborhood tyrants.  Yet, on my couch, they turned into sweet jellies.  I'd get some help trapping him, have him neutered and find a cat rescue / no kill place to put him.  You're too far away from me otherwise, I'd take him.  Good luck to you...

mittmott

Trap and neuter him.  Give him a dry place to eat and feed him.  He will get less aggressive after a full tummy.  I take care of about 60 feral cats.  Get a big rubbermaid container, and lay it on it's side. My husband screws the lid onto the side making an overhang, and trims the screws , so they don't cut themselves on the screws sticking out in the container.  It's now  a feeding station with a bit of an overhang, so the cat can walk up and eat and even stay dry in a light rain. Keeps the food dry.  I use a styrofoam cooler on it's side as a water holder.  I put the water dish on the bottom, and the styrofoam keeps the water from freezing a little bit longer.  You can also make a shelter for him to sleep in, but he might prefer under your tarp more, by again, taking a rubbermaid container, keeping the lid on tight this time, standing it up, making a small cutout for a door on the skinny side, and lining the container with styrofoam insulation board.  The styrofoam stays  warm to the touch and the cat has a warm , dry , place to sleep.  Weight the container down with a few bricks, or it will tip over in bad weather. Randi

Calico

nice, Randy, well thought through!

Mizsissy,

I would feed him too. It might help his mood. I would think if you could get him to a "no kill" shelter somehow...but that would mean to catch him, too.

We have a beautiful red tabby stray coming to my back door at night, to the dismay of my 'king' of almost 18 years (he runs to his food, eats like a maniac and then throws up to show me what he thinks of my feeding this stray ).

Red was shy first but now lets me cuddle him and would sooo love to come inside. But he still has all his....equipment....and I am afraid he would spray and my cat would somehow mark our house....so ....he will stay outside

Hard to advise.....

snowyday

I believe also that cats are survivors and not tyrants.  If you can't get him fixed then call Animal Love look it up on the net if my small City has one I hope yours does.  They will help with this without killing the cat.  I have fed and taken the time to get to know any stray that comes to my house, they are usually terrified at first but when they realize your just feeding them and giving them a dry warm spot they do start coming around. Once they trust me enough I put the flea drops on from the vet, by then they usually look good enough that if you call Humane Society they don't kill them, they try find them homes. I still don't trust the Humane Society enough though and always try animal love first. I would take in every stray I could but I have two cats and I'm on a limited income right now so I do what I can. I believe that if a cat comes to my door they know I will help them and I always do. Good luck. Pearl  Poor baby, he's probably been through so much and to have to live in the cold and fend for himself, it just breaks my heart.

Anonymous

Well my female cat is spayed but she still gives off a scent and right now every male cat in the neighborhood is hanging around our house.

I know what I would do.  I would feed him.  Looks like its cold and he has found a place to keep warm and dry.  Cant stand the thought of an animal out in this winter without a home.  They are survivors thats for sure.

I have a male cat and male dog who are going crazy at the scent my female cat is giving off.  The same thing happened last winter.  I guess getting ready for a spring litter.

Nicki

mittmott

Calico, you can get your stray guy neutered, so he doesn't have to stay outside.  And if he comes in, expect some nasty snarling when they are introduced, it's normal.  Mizsissay, if your guy has shelter that seems adequate, that's fine, but try making a nice dry feeding station for him anyway, where he can feel safe to eat, after you put the food down.  Just make sure his food is not frozen if canned, and that he gets clean water.  it will need to be changed a lot in the winter.  The most important thing is that he gets nutrition, and if he's a big tom, i would imagine one can of cat food, and some dry will do him.  He might just want 2 cans  a day. might prefer it.  I'm very fortunate, I work with a an animal shelter, so the food is provided for me for my ferals, but as I said, I feed probably over 60 every day, and I'm out an hour every day, 365 days a year doing this.  I force my grown sons to do it for me when I go away, and they hate it, consider it embarrassing.  Once, someone called the police on my son, didn't recognize his car, and he knows all the officers in the area (he's  a cop also), he was so embarrassed explaining he was feeding stray cats, so my friend had a shirt made that said "I love feeding stray cats while my parents vacation". We enjoyed that... also,I know it's easy for me to say, as I get the food for free, but try to do a quality dry if you give dry food (like science diet).  Neutered males (I know he's not neutered yet) are known to have urinary problems from the stuff they use in the food, and if they can't urinate, and be brought to a vet within 36 hours of onset, will die a painful death.  Sorry about this long post, but this has been the hardest for me, not being able to take care of my guys the right way, and having to make other people do it for me, not everyone is as fond of cats (especially strays) as I am.  Randi

Mizsissy

Hello Gals...

Thanx so much for all your kind posts...you are feeling more kindly toward this guy than I am and I always thought I was the world's most fanatical cat person. Madalyn & Mittmott...I am impressed with your kindness towards animals.  I once adopted a stray cat that the whole family grew to love, a gray male we called "Bear" because that's what he looked like.  He grew to love us, but was too wild to handle (I was the only one allowed to pet or hold him.)  The vet was going to come to my house and castrate him on the kitchen table, but unfortunately, he disappeared just about the time we made this decision!!! 

I have three females, and it took about 8 months to get the two female kittens introduced to Miranda (my barn cat), and we now have a very happy family.  But it was lots & lots of work.  This tomcat would rule the household and everybody already hates him.  I'd don't think my kitties would ever forgive me.  He has also taken it upon himself to beat up our eldest female Miranda; since she was spayed she developed some jowls and looks male..

Every other night we awake to earsplitting screams and pandemonium when my cats just get a glimpse of this guy out the window.  I felt terrible when our neighbor's cat, Festus, got his stomach torn open.  Festus is a very friendly guy who loves everybody.  I don't want to own the neighborhood terrorist.

As far as handling him, he's like a wild animal.  I don't think we could get close.  We have a Havaheart trap, and we haven't tried this yet.  

He is awfully big & fat, so I am wondering if he's really feral, or just getting fat off the land.  

I am thinking of putting a trap under the canvas, and then taking him in for castration.  There is a branch of the TLC society around here that I can apply to for reimbursement.  Still not sure what to do with him after he's been fixed up...

Thanx for all the suggestions...wished one of you lived nearby!!!  Mizsissy 

mittmott

Hi Mizsissy, I was thinking that you probably didn't want to take him in, but the fact is, he's not going to leave anyway.  I was figuring you should trap him in the humane trap, just to at least be neutered, and if he was going to be living there, on your deck, (which he obviously is (lol)  ), he really truly needs to be fed. Any living creature in my books has to be at least fed.  The poor guy, and it's so cold out.  I just recently had the same experience with an outdoor bully tom.  Lived on my porch for the last 4 years.  Wouldn't go in the trap. Got sick, mouth hurt, and stopped eating. still couldn't trap him.  I gave him baby food mixed with half and half, he liked that.  I would mix in chicken fat, and something else to make up for the nutrients he had to have to survive, and this went on for the last 3 years.  I thought we would find him dead and frozen every winter.  I would cry at night.  I once left a space heater on the porch with him through a snowstorm, and of course it caught fire.  I was up all night worried anyway and caught it. Three months ago, he walked into my open garage, my son slammed the door shut.  he hid in a corner under a workbench.  We jammed the corner up, put the trap against the open edge, and prodded from above.  He had nowhere to go but in the trap.  We couldn't believe we got him.  Had him fixed up, had all his teeth pulled, spent a fortune on him, and brought him in. Put him in the basement, in a cage with a litter box.  Used it after a day and a half, we let him out. He hung out down there, used the  litter tray, and about a month later, decided, what's upstairs.  Well he always beat up all the other cats outside, and now hits my cats who try to eat, he wants it all, sleeps on the couch, doesn't let me touch him, but looks at me as if saying, ""what took you so long".  Never looks out the door or windows.   Has no use for the outside world.  couch, food, litter tray, what more can an old tom want.   You don't have to take him in, but you will feel better knowing he's neutered, and fed, if nothing else.  good luck. Randi  ps, he's fat from his winter coat.  he'll look skinnier in the summer. 

mittmott

By the way, I enjoyed this off topic discussion.  It cheered me up and took my mind off the drains that are bothering me now....

mke

Some years ago I wondered aloud "Why is that white tom cat always hanging around our porch?"

My son replied "Do you think it might be because this is where I feed him?"  What can you do but laugh?

The cat was adopted by neighbors and fixed.  He no longer eats here but he still hangs out on our porch I guess he likes the view.

Mizsissy

Called TLC this AM...they have adopted several feral cat "colonies" and minister to them through their program.  This cat makes the rounds...visits a lot of the neighbors, so he's not just "ours"  (help!  did I actually say that?!!).  The last time I glimpsed him he was pretty big & fat, so he's in no danger of starving.  Someone may be feeding him, but there is also a very large population of moles and rabbits around here, and he's probably the only major predator...we're in a fairly rural area with lots of treed areas and wetlands. Since he's got to be a good mouser, I'll advertise around here.  They may be some farmers or folks at church who need a good cat....on my way right now..

mittmott

I hope you can find a good place for him, and try to talk the feral people into doing the trapping for you.  They know how to handle these guys. They are all volunteers themselves, but this is what they do. Do a lot of crying about the poor guy, it's winter, yadayadayada, etc.... sometimes it helps.. Randi

Mizsissy

Just checked on our friend "Tomcat" and you girls should be happy to know that this guy is in no danger of starving and appears to be in excellent health.  I know this because we just removed the tarp from the furniture and he took off at about 80 miles an hour and didn't slow down until he was completely out of sight...a huge fat guy with a beautiful thick fur coat.  He's doin' just fine.

We took your suggestion, Mitt, and took a large round plastic trashcan, placed it on its side in the middle of the furniture, stuffed in a big old down jacket that nobody wants anymore, and that can be his new snuggle place....nice, dry & warm.  We've replaced the tarp, and we'll see now if he comes back.  We're going to relocate him as soon as we can find a place. 

Mizsissy 

nosurrender

<----------- I was a stray

MissZ- my cat was abandonded and left out in the snow and rain and the harsh realities of rotten kids.

I took him in over the objections of all my neighbors who told me he was a wild cat and would attack me and bite me.

He is sleeping right next to me now with his head buried in his collection of stuffed animals and has been the greatest companion to me.

When you take in a cat that was unwanted, they pay you back ten-fold with love.

jmo

Mr. Fluffy's mom 

Anonymous

Oh, my, I'm an animal lover PERIOD!

We have four cats.  I will tell my story again.  I had a dog and two cats.  One of my cats had cancer and we had to put him to sleep...but not before I TRIED to SAVE him.  Then my precious (okay, now I'm crying thinking of my pets and the poor pets that have no homes) dog, Tasha, had to be put to sleep.  So, that left one cat, Mitzi.  I decided that Mitzi need a friend.  I had three strays that I was feeding.  I brought in the one who was the shyest (Prissy), and that I thought needed help.  We first took her to the vet, had her checked out, ect., and brought her in.  That didn't work for Mitzi.  They never "bonded."  So, then I adopted a kitten from the cat adoption people.  Mitzi and the new kitty, Abby, became friends.  Well, that left Prissy without a friend (by the way Prissy was a feral cat...clipped ear). So, we brought in Cleo.  We took her to the vet and had her checked out, etc.  Cleo and Prissy hung around together outdoors.  However, Cleo WAS NOT a happy camper when she found out she had to stay indoors.  She now has adjusted...and the stinker got out the other day..spent the night out.  Cleo is petrified of rain and thunderstorms.  And this poor baby lived outdoors until we brought her in.

I'm like most of you.  I think cats (or any stray animal) is only trying to survive "out there." 

Mom to four female cats and three female humans! 

Shirley

Harley44

I want to wish you the best of luck in trying to save this poor cat...

I have TWO cats, and they are great to have around!  They kept me company this past year, while I was going through bc dx and tx, chemo, and reconstruction. 

We got them after my first cat, Axel passed away.  He was 11 years old when he was dx'd with cancer.  He had fluid all around his chest, and also around his stomach.  He eventually reached the point where he couldn't eat.  We didn't want to put him through an 'experimental' operation, just so the vet could find out what he had.  They told us that they couldn't take it out, since the mass was in front of his heart, and they might cut his major artery and that would be fatal.  Oh, when I think about it, even now, 5 years later, I cry!  

We weren't sure we were ready for another cat, but...  Thanksgiving day weekend, about a month after we lost our precious Axel,  we went to Petsmart and found Spike.  While visiting him at the shelter, we also found Thor.  We decided it would be best if we had BOTH, so they could keep each other company when we aren't home.

Sorry for the long story.  Just wanted to add my 2 cents... animals are worth saving!! 

Spike & Thor's Mom,

Harley 

Mizsissy

I know I know...cats are worth saving, but I can't be a Crazy Cat Lady.  Three is my limit.  I have a sister whose totally nuts who took in a stray who had a litter of kittens and she can't give even one away (nobody could possibly love them as much as she does) and she's driving everyone crazy in her apt bldg.  I also used to cat sit for a lady who had 13 cats, and her house was a very dirty disaster, and her cats were horribly neurotic.  I have to draw the line somewhere and for me it's three cats, whom I love dearly and who have my first loyalty. 

I'm going to be optimistic and hope I can place him.  I am also wondering if I didn't see just the most fleeting glimpse of a blue tag on his neck when he took off this afternoon, maybe he belongs to somebody around here.  I'll get him neutered free of charge!!!  This cat can really move, we tried to track him out of the backyard and his tracks were over six feet apart!

  

iodine

I love all animals, (ok, not moles) and I understand your feelings of not trying to bring him in.  If he can be caught and neutered, that would be the most important thing to do.  In the meantime, if you have given him a good place to rest and feel safe,  I think you've done well.

We had a 5-6 month old kitten show up here, all ribs and sad.  We fed her of course, but had to take her and leave her with the Humane Soc. here.  They have a set of cages, all fixed up with bedding, food and water.  I'd taken those things with me, but they weren't needed.

I will never forget how hard it was to leave her, but we had 3 cats at the time and 2 of them were NOT open to additional guests.  We even had to have our daughter rescue one that was getting picked on by them.

Good luck with the capture, hope it finally goes well.

mittmott

Hold Everything,,, No, you can't be the crazy cat lady, because, that's who I am.  We have a decent sized house, and since I've been sick, have had someone once a week to do the heavy cleaning for me.  I have 12 cats, 2 chihuahuas, and 2 (not mine, and in the basement in enclosures) iguanas. (they're vegetarian of course) (lol). You don't have to take him in, just give him shelter, and food, and water.  Just make sure it stays real dry under the tarp, because the old jacket will freeze if it gets wet.  I usually use styrofoam, but the jacket will be fine, as long as it's always dry.  I would still get on the animal rescue groups if possible, you never know when you'll get lucky, and he can be placed somewhere.  good luck with him.  by the way what color is he.  I love tabby's and orange ones the most, but most orange ones aren't bullies, they're usually gentle giants.  Randi

Emelee26

My neighbor had the same situation..she set up a nice shelter on her porch..left food and water and after A YEAR the cat is their best friend...lives on their deck in the shelter because she has 2 cats inside..who used to hate him but now they are ok...he was tamed down because he learned to trust and was actually cared for..hoping that happens to "your" cat also.  BTW, some cats are "fat" not because they are well fed but because they have parasites..so he still needs to eat and drink I'm sure....soon you will be putty in his hands and he can still enjoy his outdoor freedom without the terrorism

abbadoodles

Miz, I guess you don't have many predators in your area.  Stray cats don't last long around here.

My husband and I both love animals and have had our share of them, dogs, cats, rabbits.  At present we have one cat and about 20 rabbits.

A year or so ago a lovely, black queen showed up on our deck.  Well, I could see her pawprints in the snow every morning.  It was bitterly cold and she could be heard mewing.  Finally, I caved and let her in but I put her in the garage because of my cat.  (My cat had had a very bad start in life with toxo or something and has a weak immune system.  I could never expose her to any possible germs.  We love her too much.

Well, when I called the local shelters everyone acted like it was MY CAT and I had to take care of it, even let it in the house.  I was getting pretty peeved about it.  Some of these people are really crazed and unreasonable.  I was just trying to keep the cat alive while I found it another home.  What was I supposed to do?

Finally, the shelter where I got my own cat agreed to take the "new cat" in but I had to make a considerable "donation."  I guess all's well that end's well but it was a real pain in the butt getting her placed.

Another thing:  even if you get that male cat neutered, he may still spray.  I had a male that did that.  The only good thing about neutering that's for sure (I think) is that he cannot make babies.

Glad it's not me, again.

Tina

Mizsissy

Thanks for all the input, fellow BC gals, and crazy cat people...I've heard from two neighbors since I last posted, on of them a woman here on BC.org who doesn't live far away.  She confirmed to me that this area is heaven for small mammals and that they are very well fed, with all the lakes, fish, and rodents, and recommends that above all, I should not feed this cat, or else I'll attract skunks and raccoons.

Another neighbor...someone I know across the way, approached me in the grocery store and said she'd heard from another neighbor that we consider this cat a pest..."please get rid of him," she said, "I think he's scared away my kitty.  I haven't seen her for three days!!!"  She had adopted a small black female stray cat, and set her up outside with a shelter with electrically warmed pads, and she says the tomcat attacked her, partially bit off an ear and left her face scared.   Now she's gone altogether.

It warmed up a lot today, it's in the high 50s, so we'll try and get him tonite with our havaheart trap...he's in no danger of freezing.  Enough is enough!!!

Miz 

Anonymous

Hey, Miz.  Some cats are not "trainable."  If he's been in the "wild" for too long with no "loving hands" touching him then he's not going to trust anyone.

The feral cat we brought in was a baby when she first strarted hanging out with the other two strays.  She would not let me touch her for the longest time.  Then one day while I was sitting on the porch "floor" and also was feeding them she let me pet her briefly before she jumped off the porch.  She always turned her tail toward me to pet her...I guess she was afraid to look at me. LOL  She still does that.  In fact she still hides under the bed when I walk into the bedroom because she has never forgotten that I had TRIED to clean her ears.  However, when I'm in or on the bed she gets up there with me.  I suppose she feels safe because my feet aren't on the floor. 

No, you don't need a house full of cats.  We have four and that's my limit as hard as it can be.  My cats do not want more cats around.

Good luck on you trapping the little stinker.  It's hard to catch them. 

Oh, and we did have an opossum come around at night and eat their food outdoors.  Sometimes we put their food in the garage because of the weather and he even went in there!  I drove my car into the garage one night and he scared me to death and I scared him.  I crawled over the seat on the opposite side of him and he jumped on some boxes and I suppose he got out (well I know he got out).  I don't like to look at opossums.  They are an ugly little creature.

Shirley

mittmott

It's true, you will get a raccoon or possum, but not if you only put the food our when he's there.  Your neighbor who doesn't want to see him fed, doesn't have much of a heart.  It's a hard world out there for feral cats . They live on the outskirts of society, always wanting a home and a meal, but too frightened to get one.  I am really hoping you will truly get in touch with as many animal rescue groups as you can find to get help with him, if you can't get him,yourself in the trap.  Let them know your neighbors don't want him around and that they consider him a pest not a cat.  Her cat ran off not because of him, but because the cat is outside.  sometimes they just plain get lost, get taken in by someone else, or get killed by cars, and other animals.  She's just assuming and blaming him, for her runaway cat.  That makes me very sad as an animal lover.

Emelee26

I second that..this thread is making me sad..good luck with the trap..

kiwikan

It's been somewhat of a roller coaster reading this thread.  I'm a professional cat sitter and very passionate about all animal care.  I'm currently looking for homes for 2 cats.  It is heartbreaking when cats are left to tend to themselves.  It is frustrating when shelters and rescue organizations "can't" take them in.  Sometimes it is simply because they don't have the space.  It does my heart good, though, Mizsissy that you are determined to help this guy. Thank you! Pooh on the neighbors.  All of us animal (cat, especially) lovers would try to save all the fur babies, but obviously cannot.  But, what we can do is help one and get him/her neutered/spayed, at the least.  A dry place with food and water will help immensely.  I have four 100% indoor kitties.  One of them was a new born orphan rescue 7 years ago and to this day I cannot pick him up.  He is a handsome guy and I love  him.  All that is really needed - for any creature, fur or otherwise is love and compassion.  Ruth

Mizsissy

So sorry but I've think I've been giving you cat lovers the wrong impression!!!

This cat is truly not deprived; he is thriving. This is a rural area filled with wildlife of all sorts. Miranda catches moles all the time.  This cat is not just living on his own, but he is making a very good living...but unfortunately, he is not a very nice guy, especially when it comes to other cats.  Here is what he has done in the past year:

1.  Gotten into numerous fights with neighborhood cats,including my cats, Miranda and Hannah, who are terrified of him

2.  Has ripped open the belly of Festus, my neighbor's cat, who had to be taken to the vet and stitched up

3.  Has gotten into a fight with a small black female stray that a neighbor was taking care of, ripped off part of her ear, mauled her face, and now may have killed her or frightened her away permanently

4.  I cannot let my cats outside anymore because of the threat.  They come in terrified, their fur standing up..

5.  He constantly comes to our window, looks in at night; my cats wake us up screaming...

This cat is fat and well fed.  We live in an area that is filled with prey for cats to live on...this cat is not deprived. Normally male cats will fight other male cats that are full males; but this cat attacks females, neutered males, and cats that are no threat to him.  My neighbors are not cat haters, they are loving cat owners who want to protect their pets from this very dangerous and aggressive animal..I've met lots of cats in my life and I never met a cat I didn't like, but this guy is the exception that makes the rule.  I don't know why he is so mean...maybe he's crazy like a lot of people I know.

I will take a picture of him so you can see healthy he is....

Also...I live in an area that is very humane, and there is a society that takes care of feral cats....here is a link to some of the cat colonies that are under their care....click here 

Mizsissy 

snowyday

Here's a happy cat story.  Sorry it's a bit long but worth it.My cat went missing a week before my fiance died, I was a mess, not only was I crying and carrying on about my missing cat and then Ronnie died.  It was horrible.  Well my son's fiance has a sister who always volunteered at the shelter we had in our small town.  Now this shelter was basic and the owner was doing the best she could with the cats and relied on donations and volunteers.  So my son and his fiance's mother went to the shelter and brought me home this gray cat with a white tuxedo marking on him. He had the most beautiful blue green eyes and his name was Rupert. Well Rupert lived in the shelter for 3YEARS he was always passed over for another cat or kitten.  The poor guy had the worst cat cold and mites. So Kathy and my son Jesse bathed him and we called the vet and got him anitbiotics for his nose cold. So for a month the two of us were glued together on the couch, me crying and him sneezing and snotting all over me, but I didn't care. He was so loving and so happy to have a home and someone that snuggled him he was truly a Godsend.  Well it turned out I had to move from Red Lake and my son loved Rupert so much that he asked me if he could keep him,it was hard but I said yes. So now he lives over the best gift shop in town Kathy's, she set up a pillow for him and Lucky another stray we took in but Rupert gets visitors everyday and tourists from all over the US come to visit Rupert they just adore him.  So Rupert is now loved by the town and many strangers that meet him in the store. So for three years he lived cold and sick in the shelter where no one wanted him to now being petted and fussed over every single day. Now that is a happy cat story.  And every word is true. If you ever go to Red Lake to fish (NW Ontario) go to Forever Green and you'll see Rupert being talked to and spoiled by someone.  I'm so happy for him and when I let Jesse take him I found two more strays and they're mine now and I love them everyday.  Good things can happen in this world and to me this is the best thing ever. Pearl

Mizsissy

Thank you, Madalyn, Randi, Shirley.... I've never had a problem like this before because I have never met a bad cat before.  But my first loyalty is to my own dear kitties, one of whom started out in life as a feral cat. 

Here is my sweet little Marissa, she is full grown now, but she weighs only five pounds.  When the weather is warm, she loves to go outside and play on the deck...we have a swinging cat door in a window so she can get in & out on her own..

 

Here is Bear, the stray, feral cat we fostered almost a decade ago.  He was about seven years old when I met him and according to the neighbors, had never been touched by human hands.  He was deaf from ear mites and had a severe respiratory infection, but he finally got to the point where I could pick him up.  The vet came to my house, cleaned out his ears, and we put him on antibiotics and he recovered.  He was very grateful and extremely polite with the other cats..always showing deference.

 

Here is Bear's legacy, Miranda, who we found in a horse barn about four years ago.  Ever since we had Bear, we had wanted a gray cat just like him.  She came from a feral colony....and is very different from my other cats, very smart, wise...and she is so much like Bear!!!

 

She is our treasure... 

iodine

I wonder if your vet would give you sedation to put in some wet food for this guy so that he could be caught?