Seeking Advice Regarding Neighbors Barn Cat

So, about a year and a half ago, I started feeding a cat. He showed up at the same time one of my cats got outside, and I was putting food out trying to lure him back.  For a year and a half, I would put food out for him, and he would come up on the doorstep to eat it, but the second I would open the door, he would run away. I was thinking he was a stray for the longest time, until one of my friends did some detective work and discovered that he actually used to belong to a neighbor of hers, who lives about a 2 minute walk from my place. Apparently, the guy he belonged to moved away and gave the cat to a guy who has a barn who lived next door to him. Long story short, just this past week, he finally came right up to me, and let me pet him (ironically, this was the same day I discovered his real name, and called him by that for the first time.) He is very friendly and seems to love cuddles. Now, my problem is, now that I've seen him up close, I've discovered that this cat is not neutered, which concerns me, and it is very cold out, and after I've fed him, and given him cuddles, he just sits on my doorstep and looks at me with these big boo-boo eyes like he wants to come in. Letting him in is not an option, as he doesn't in fact belong to me, and I have 3 other cats that would not dig that idea. But it is so cold!! I can't help it that he likes my house more than his actual house....he is a barn cat, and probably doesn't get a huge amount of attention, and clearly hasn't been checked out by a vet. Should I just take him to the vet and put him back outside? He's breaking my heart. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

The barn is a ways away are you sure he returns to the barn every night? I doubt it. Also unless he is overweight I think it's doubtful this barn cat is fed at his barn. For all intents and purposes it appears he is your cat. I think you should do what you can for him. He will be a lot happier and safer neutered but how is he going to be able to recover it you get it for him? I'd think he would need to be sheltered at least a couple days.

He actually is quite a chunky monkey, and he can get to his barn by cutting through the woods...it takes no time at all to get there....maybe 5 minutes tops if going at a good clip. I don't doubt that he goes back there every night to sleep. I keep my garage open and have food in there as well, and it's sheltered and large and relatively warm, and he never stays the night in there. He never shows up when it rains, and on really cold days, he doesn't stay long..  I definitely want to take him in to get checked out by the vet, not just neutering, but FiV tested and get his needles up to date.

I would do it. I knew a neighbor who would let her tomcat roam the neighborhood and she only let him live on her back porch. After seeing him get continually get beat up by a feral Tom,I said the heck with it and took him in. She never came to my house asking if I had seen him or anything confirming my suspicions she didn't cate much. after 6 years of spoiling him before he succumbed to cancer I've never felt I stole him or did anything unethical by giving him a cozy home.

I'd "catnap" him for a day or two and get him checked out and neutered. Chances are his owner won't even notice, since the scrotum is usually left intact. The important thing would be to shut him in the garage for the night to make sure he doesn't eat anything for about 12 hours before the surgery and that you can drop him off for it as scheduled. Recovery time is usually quick for males - another night in the garage would probably be enough, just in case the grogginess is a bit prolonged.

If taking in this cat is definitely not an option for you, then you can just take the cat to the vet to get neutered and vaccinated for rabies and then release him back outside. If your concerns extend beyond the fact that the cat isn't neutered, you can do more detective work. Does anyone know the owner? Does he have multiple cats, or just a few? What kind of condition is this cat in--does he have fleas? Is he always hungry even after being fed (which would indicate parasites)? Does the cat seem well-cared for aside from not being neutered?

The other option is to contact the cat's owner directly. Offer to help him by getting the cat neutered (he may actually appreciate the offer). Ask him if he's providing the cat with food and shelter and let him know that you feed the cat sometimes, too. If you see that the cat is being adequately cared for and has food and shelter then you can have peace of mind. He may be very content remaining an outdoor cat who visits you. If the owner is not willing or able to adequately care for the cat and tells you so, then you can re-consider the option of adopting the cat--he would likely be an indoor/outdoor cat who spends time at both places, so not much will have changed (except he would be neutered, of course). If you took the cat inside, it would be an adjustment for your other cats, but cats usually do learn to co-exist within a few months. If you have the space, patience, and finances to care for another cat, then you can make it work. They are likely already familiar with each other from smelling each other on you and viewing each other through the windows, etc. 

It all boils down to doing what you believe is best for the cat, and doing what you're able to do for the cat.

Even if all you can do is get him neutered, that will be a huge favor to him.