Update on Mister (Genever's boyfriend)

Update from my thread in the pictures section...Well, I hadn't seen Mister for a while, about a week actually. Then he showed up in the backyard this morning, so I went out and was petting him and loving him and talking with him, and called to see if the vet is open today (they are), and they told me I can bring him in to be scanned for a chip. So I got him in the carrier with no more difficulty than getting G-cat in there, and off we went.

OH MY GOODNESS the noises he made in the car! He HATED it! It was making me laugh almost. So dramatic.

He was quiet again once we got to the vet and out of the car. The office girls were hesitant to tell me what to do when I told them the situation and asked what I should do- keep him or let him go? No one could really give me answers, but the office girls and techs leaned more toward me keeping him.

We went back in a room and a tech scanned him, no chip. So then I opted to wait 15 minutes or so and get him an exam. Genever's vet isn't in on Fridays, so we had another vet who I think is new at that office. I never saw her before anyway. Mister was not having any of the examining, he was squirming a lot and MEOWING, or really just making noise, like a long, continuous moooowwwwwwwww.. I imagine it's the kind of cursing that otto's Jennie does.. Anyway the vet brought in a tech to hold him so she could poke at him and whatnot. They think he's at least 5 years old, he's 12.5 pounds, neutered, has bad teeth and gums. Poor guy. Otherwise looked pretty good and was not agressive at all despite all the noises.

So I talked to the vet for a bit about what to do about him. She thought he's probably someone's, not only because he's not scrawny, or because he's friendly, but mostly because he's not scratched up or beat up at all. I basically had to pry it out of her asking What would YOU do? She said SHE would put up signs around the neighborhood asking if this is someone's cat, because i want to adopt him if not. And also she said I would have a very hard time keeping him indoors. She wouldn't really tell me whether i should take him in or not. No one could tell me. She sounded like she was leaning towards me letting him go.

So in the meantime she got me a list with prices of all the tests and shots he would need, as well as the dental cleaning, so I could decide what to do, if I'll keep him or not.

So we came back home, howling away the whole car ride. I talked to BF, and we just don't know!! We are torn. And not exactly prepared at the immediate present to have a secluded cat in our house. So I let him out of the carrier. He's been in our backyard ever since, for over an hour. I gave him some wet food.

Just now though, he came up to the screen door and must've surprised Genever cos she ran up and puffed up and hissed!! So I closed the door. I don't know what to do!!! I think Genever is sensing something's going on, that might be why she got upset.

So I guess I'm in the same situation as a week ago. If you want to judge me for letting him stay outside, at least for now, then fine. I know some would be just as critical if I took him in. So... this is what I had to do (or not do) for the household at the moment. I hope he keeps coming around though, if we can figure out a better solution then perhaps we'll act on it. SIGH. I feel like poop right now.

Most people are out spending a ton of money at the stores today; me, I avoided the crowds and just spent $50 for an exam for (probably) someone else's cat.

Thanks everyone for the replies and support. I am just so conflicted in my head! I can't relax! I guess I have to agree though that it seems more like Mister is someone's, since he's not ALWAYS around, though I haven seen him at night a few times, but mostly in the afternoon (or morning- today).

I like the collar idea, I guess I could try that. What do i say in a note though? Just that I'm wondering if he has a home, and if not I'll take him in? If I would get a call, what do I say? Sigh. In any case it will have to wait a few days at least- I am NOT going near any kind of store this weekend.

I will also say I wasn't crazy about the vet who saw Mister, like I said Genever's regular vet isn't in on Fridays. I'd have liked to talk to her about him. But I guess I don't really need to now.

Relax Erica!!! Deep breath! Maybe we will have to visit the SPCA this weekend, and who knows, we might fall in love with one of the residents there and just have to take one home with us. It's definitely time, overdue really, for us to add a kitty. SOON.

Thanks again for your support and ideas and everything on this. Where was I... well he hung around for most of the afternoon after I took him to the vet, so he wasn't mad at me. But I didn't see him all weekend. We really are thinking he's probably someone's, and even though I hate to see a cat roaming around, not identified as someone's, I also hate to steal someone's cat, and BF is very against stealing someone's cat.

I do like the collar/note idea, the paper collar is even better, then I don't have to go buy one. BF was kind of put off by that though, he doesn't want me to upset people, and then they have my phone number. I told him I wouldn't lecture them or anything (even though i want to!), just say 'OK, I won't take him in then since he's got a family. Thanks for letting me know.' In reality though, I am really thinking he does have a home, or else I would expect to see him more often, and more often at night too. I only saw him once at night.

So, as much as I love Mister and want to steal him, I think we are going to let him be, be friendly to him when he visits, give him a snack or something, and look in the shelter for our new addition.

Assuming he'll still come around every now and then, I'll try to get some more pics and post them. He is a cutie.

Thanks. That's pretty much the conclusion we came up with.

He was in the yard a little while ago, hanging out, being his cool self. We'll just stay friendly neighbors.

Sorry to bring this up again...

I didn't see Mister all weekend, but I did see him briefly in the mornings everyday since Monday.. And just now I was out to water a potted plant on the patio thing, and he ran up from out of nowhere! I didn't see him but he was yelling Here I am!!!! Genever always wants to come out when I go out so she was right at the screen door and puffed up when he went up to the screen to say hi. But no hissing or anything.

Anyway, I thought "Hey, I can feed him and get rid of some wet food I tried yesterday that Genever snubbed!" (she only eats Wellness beef & chicken and turkey. i don't know why i ever try other brands or flavors.) So I went in and got it and put a dish out for him. He sniffed it and walked away. Authority turkey & giblets. Can't be that bad, can it? One other time I fed him G-snubbed Authority beef. He ate some of that but didn't scarf it or even finish it. So he's not starving. Another reason I think he's someone's.

He is a sweetie, but we'll just have to be neighbor friends. Thanks for your support and help, and I hope I'm not too much of a disappointment because of my decision.