Approximately 3+ year old feral or stray...options?

I was hesitant to post about this, since I'm really not sure there are any options that will allow us to help him out, but maybe there is something I am not thinking about.

"Papa" is, to the best of our knowledge, about three plus years old and behaviorally I would say he is feral.  He has never let us get within 15 feet of him unless you count on the opposite side of the glass patio door, and even then if you look at him too close he bolts.

My understanding that feral life spans can really average as low as 3 years, and if that fact isn't far off, I can see why... he is looking a bit rough.  He only used to come by maybe once a week or every two weeks...although lately in the past month or so I would say it is more every other day maybe even more now.  When he popped back up back a few months back after a couple months of not seeing him, he appeared to be less healthy, leaner, and maybe some type of healed or partly healed back leg/hip injury just based on less fluid movement.  In the past week or so, he has a paw or leg issue... he was limping and putting little weight on it a handful of days back, and the past day and half we both saw him at different times not putting any weight on it walking three legged.

We are not able to take him to a vet and the place we took previous ferals to get fixed made it clear they don't do medical aid, otherwise I would just attempt to trap him as I did the females in the past and take him into them.  Any suggestions on anything else or is this just one of those cases where nature is catching up with him?

Thank you for taking care of this little cat.

It's hard to say whether nature is catching up with him, or if he has/had an injury.  He even could have had an injury months ago and now has some arthritis (as happened to one of the cats in the feral/stray colony I take care of.

You could put some Gluosamine in his food--it comes in capsule form so you simply break apart the capsule.  No taste.

And you say you can't take him to the vets--why is that?  You can try trapping him again and take him to a vets.  Though if it is a soft tissue injury, nothing would show up on x-rays.  And if any sign of bite/injury, he might be quarantined unless you can prove current rabies vaccination.

I have used Arnica to treat injuries with my ferals.  Just one small pellet into their food for about 5 days has really helped. 

Can you provide a shelter for this cat? A shelter may allow him to stay closer to your home.  Also is the cat neutered?  If he is not neutered it may be the reason he is wandering so  much and then also getting into fights. 
 

I'll look into those two options.  The reason on the vet is financial since there is a huge difference between spending $30 on a spay/neuter program and a few hundred or more for something specific.  Additionally, the vet we go to for Pan doesn't take ferals (understandably I suppose, but was surprised nonetheless).

The leg is clearly hurt, but as to what is wrong I can't tell.  The possible older injuries are probably healed to whatever level they will, but may be the reason he go hurt more since he is probably less adept at defending himself or hunting maybe?

I don't know if he will stay but we did lay out a soft bedding area if he chooses to stay.

I don't know if he came last night at any point or not, but as I said in the past he really used to come by maybe once a week or two or even less frequent.  Has only been I think the wound/injury hindering his hunting that has had him come back more frequently.  Hopefully we will see him tonight to see how he is looking and I'll look into the drugs, but getting the drug in him and not the younger feral that is a constant resident on the patio or in the area may be tricky

Maybe your vet can recommend a vet who will take ferals.  We have numerous low cost spay/neuter clinics here and other vets who will do spay/neuter for less if you have a feral.  You could see if you could bring him in for a neuter and then have his leg examined.  You wouldn't necessarily have to treat the leg, but it might give you an idea what is wrong.  When you neuter him, it will greatly cut down on his wandering as well as cut down on fighting.  This is prime mating season and it will continue until it gets cold.  When the male tomcats wander, they often have no sense of food, hunger or pain.  They are completely hormone driven.  Could you provide him a shelter that would also allow him to get out of the elements?  You can make very inexpensive shelters out of large rubbermaid containers.  If you search online there are all kinds of videos on youtube showing how to make one.  I have made many and they work quite well.  If you are handy with tools, you can make a more sturdy shelter as well. 

Placed a bin on its side with some base padding in hopes he uses it.  Not sure he would and we haven't seen him in the past day or so.  Hopefully more of a sign of his routine when he wouldn't come around regularly.  Will update if updates become warranted.  Thanks for the advice everyone.

Just an update for those that commented or followed the original post/situation:

"Papa" seems to be doing better as far as the paw/leg goes.  He has become a slightly more regular visitor to the patio for food (last month or so it was daily or every other, now its more like every two to three days maybe: a good sign he is finding food on his own more now again maybe).  During the time that the leg was hobbling him the most he even 'camped' out a few nights/days for at least a couple or few hours (woke up to him usually, found him once midday too).  He at times will now "request" food by sitting near the patio door looking in, something he didn't do in the past.  He still doesn't get anywhere near us (heh) usually moving off 6 to 8 feet when we open the door to put food/water out.

Anyway, seems the injury has healed as he does not appear to be limping or favoring it any more.