There's something wrong with my feral cat

Hi everyone, I hope someone can help me. I've been taking in a feral cat in the evenings after work for months now. Last night he never came "home" and I felt something was wrong because he always shows up in the evening. I didnt see him until I got home tonight and he's very listless and his anal area is very red and irritated. He's licked at it but not excessively. More disturbing is that it seems like he's having trouble walking - going very slowly and he tried to jump up onto the futon where he likes to sleep not once like usual, but twice before he made it up. He ate twice, purrs when I pet him and drank lots of water and made pee pee. He hasnt tried to do number 2 yet. His nose is cold but his ears and head are hot - the problem here is that first, I dont know what's wrong with him and second, he would never let me handle him to the point of getting him in a carrier and taking him to the vet. He's about 2 years old and was raised for about a year in his colony outside. Every morning he screams to go out so I let him go out before I leave for work, and every night when I come home he's there waiting for me to come in and eat and sleep and spend the night. I am beside myself, dont know what to do, dont know what is wrong with him. I cannot handle him to do anything medically to him because I dont believe he would let me. I really care for this cat and want to help him. Anyone have any ideas? I hope nobody did anything bad to him. I knew there was a reason he didnt come around last night I'll be watching for replies. Thanks so much to anyone who answer.

Definitely sounds like you need a vet and quick! He could have an abscess and it's irritated and infected. If you post in the feral forum, there may be some folks who can help you with getting him in a cage. The easiest way is a trap.

Thanks stephanie, i posted in the feral forum. i dont have a carrier no less a trap. I'm kinda lost here for the moment. Maybe those folks will have some idea what's wrong with him. Thanks again for the reply.

Without trapping him there is little you can do for him. He could have eaten something that upset him and he is unable to pass it, he could have been bumped by a car, anything could be wrong with him. Best you can do is watch him and see if he improves unless you find a rescue in your area willing to trap him and send him to their vet.

Your saying he comes into your house each night if I'm getting this correct? If thats the case borrow a cat carrier some one must have one you could borrow for the day..Some vets have carriers you can borrow call and ask many have sturdy cardboard carriers that are cheap.... Get the carrier and just do not let the cat outside in the morning get him to a vet ASAP.
Hes ill and needs to be seen by a vet and should be kept inside for his own best interest untill he gets seen and is on the mend..

There was a great suggestion in the ferals forum post to use a laundry basket and secure someing (secure it well!) to the top (another laundry basket with a lot of twist ties holding it in place is best).

But even a large cardboard box will do the trick. When we rescued our first, we had nothing, and we used a box. Just make sure you tie it up so he can't bust out of it getting to/from the car or while in the car.