Hi, I recently found a stray, male cat at my estate. It's ear was badly injured so I decided to bring it to the vet for treatment.
Although this cat is a stray, it is well fed in the community. It also has a very tame and gentle personality. It wasn't very difficult to get it into the carrier and loves belly rubs and being petted. In fact, at the vet, it decided to go to sleep whilst the vet was examining it.
The vet told me that the cat is about 5 - 7 years old and had not been neutered. She also told me that I should keep it indoors for 2 - 4 weeks before releasing it back to the estate.
At home, he is confined to the balcony because the vet advised that there may be parasites on him. In the mornings, he does mew a lot to be let out and generally for the rest of the day he mostly sleeps. However, if we pet him and rub his belly, he seems genuinely contented.
The wound appears to be healing nicely and I am thinking of releasing him but a part of me wants to adopt him as well. However, I am concerned that if he has been a stray for so long, is he better off back in the estate where he is free to roam around (and where he is fed by the community)? I would not want to deprive him of his 'freedom' so to speak.
Grateful for any advice or if any of you could share your experiences if you have dealt with something similar?
Lastly, if I neuter him before releasing him, will it put him in danger with the other community cats? As it is, his ear was quite badly injured in a fight and he seems to be very gentle (with humans, I have not seen him interact with other cats as I do not have a cat at home).
Thank you!
Although this cat is a stray, it is well fed in the community. It also has a very tame and gentle personality. It wasn't very difficult to get it into the carrier and loves belly rubs and being petted. In fact, at the vet, it decided to go to sleep whilst the vet was examining it.
The vet told me that the cat is about 5 - 7 years old and had not been neutered. She also told me that I should keep it indoors for 2 - 4 weeks before releasing it back to the estate.
At home, he is confined to the balcony because the vet advised that there may be parasites on him. In the mornings, he does mew a lot to be let out and generally for the rest of the day he mostly sleeps. However, if we pet him and rub his belly, he seems genuinely contented.
The wound appears to be healing nicely and I am thinking of releasing him but a part of me wants to adopt him as well. However, I am concerned that if he has been a stray for so long, is he better off back in the estate where he is free to roam around (and where he is fed by the community)? I would not want to deprive him of his 'freedom' so to speak.
Grateful for any advice or if any of you could share your experiences if you have dealt with something similar?
Lastly, if I neuter him before releasing him, will it put him in danger with the other community cats? As it is, his ear was quite badly injured in a fight and he seems to be very gentle (with humans, I have not seen him interact with other cats as I do not have a cat at home).
Thank you!