Hey all.

I have 2 male cats. 1 is about 5 years old and the other is approaching a year old.

My older cat is quite a big cat and has always been loving and affectionate and comes and goes as it pleases and never leaves it more than a few days before he comes in.

However it has now been 3 weeks since he stepped inside the house and i've seen him in the street and in the road opposite just doing as he pleases and ignores me and the rest of the family and refuses to come anywhere near the house.

I've put it down to maybe he feels threatened with my newer male cat now getting older and it could be a territory thing.

Damn annoying it is though as we thought he was dead somewhere after vanishing so it was a relief to see he is still alive and well but not nice that he doesn't want to come in.

Anybody else had this problem?

When you have seen your cat in the street, has he let you go near him at all, aso as you can pick him up, or is he being a right little so and so!!

He sits under neighbours cars staring at the house and if you go up close he runs off. He doesn't respond to calling his name or shaking his biscuits either.

He's seriously go the hump then!! He can't be hungry, as he would have come back home.

How long have you had your other cat?

Coming up to a year now.

I did have 3 cats, the mother of my younger cat went missing last year so i'm left with the 2 boy cats now.

There are lots of cats on the street and people who feed them so i don't think he will be any rush to come home.

I would put notes through neighbours doors expalining the situation, as someone may be feeding him thinking he is a stray.
Is he neutered? If not then as soon as you do grab him then he should be off for the snip asap!
Feliway diffuser in the home will make him feel more 'at home' once you get him back.
Oh...and Yes....I have had several similar episodes with my gang when they were younger.

Nope he isn't neutered.

If i get him in i'll get it done.

Then I guess the younger one is not neutered either? I think it is pretty unnatural for two whole Toms to share the territory of one house...the fact that the younger one is now mature has probably triggered this move-out.
Snip snip!!

Neither are snipped.

I hate to say it, but if neither of them are neutered, that's why they aren't so likely to get on.

Isn't it kitten season as well? Your older cat might be off trying to impregnate the ladies. Good luck on getting him home. Perhaps you could put a trail of his fav food leading in through the door, hide behind it and shut it quick when he's in?!

I'm going to have to try something to get him in. In the 3 weeks or so though i've only seen him twice.
I understand i've messed up not getting them neutered and i just hope it doesn't cost me my cat to realise this.

Seeing as you have a sitting target with the one year old cat, book him in today to be neutered. Then at least you won't lose him too. The change in scent profile may then make your other cat more inclined to return so you can get him done too.

Aww, Tom. (((Hugs))) I hope it doesn't either. You could try 'phoning your local Cats' rescue or RSPCA and see if they have a cat trap free for you to use? They are just long metal cages, chicken wire style, and you pop some of their fav food at the end. When they get in to eat it the door springs shut at the other end. Doesn't hurt the cat all.


Very good idea. Also, if you are on benefits I believe the Cats' Protection can give you a £10.00 off voucher towards the cost of neutering. Worth checking out anyway.

It makes my blood boil when people don't bother to neuter their pets. It is animal cruelty.

Personnaly, I find that a bit strong. I do agree strongly with neutering, but it's not always so black and white. Don't forget, older generations might not know the benefits of it. When I was a kid only very young cats were neutered. Anything older and it was deemed too much of a risk.
Also, some people are still under the impression it will change the cats personality. Finally, you feel guilty! With my baby boy I kept thinking 'How can I make the descision for him to take away a body part/s.' I had to gety him done though as he spent his kitten hood with a dog (Not mine.) and kept bunching up my quilt and humping it. Espechially when I was in bed! Lol. Sadly he got killed by a dog not long after though. I felt so guilty though when he first came back from the vet walking like John Wayne!
So, anyway, waffling on... I do agree with neutering but wouldn't get so emotional about it as it's nothing like animal cruelty to me. When you have seen real cruelty to animals you couldn't compare it. That's what makes my blood boil (Cruelty.) anyway.

It is cruel when pet owners allow their pets to get pregnant regularly and they become sick and slack wombed leading to the poor quality of life for the breeding Queen and for their kittens.

I agree. When I was young I didn't know much about it, and a lot of people thought ( some still do ) that it was alright for males not to be neutered. It has benefits for males and females of course.

And you could say it's cruel to the animal to neuter it.

Why is it cruel?

The PDSA will help too if you are on benefits

http://www.pdsa.org.uk/pdsa-vet-care/eligibility

If you knew the number of kittens one tom cat can generate in it's life time, you would neuter. Then the kittens start breeding. Then their kittens start breeding and before you know it, a million kittens.

Why is it cruel not to?

It's no way animal cruelty.

Tom....I am not going to wade in to the discussion and label you as a cruel owner because you obviously care for your animals a lot. However I think if you deliberate on the life of the un-neutered male cat you will understand why it is not kind to leave the animal entire.
Putting aside the huge numbers of kittens that an entire Tom can sire each year let's think about the animal himself. As you have already recognised, the Tom cat is destined to a wandering outside existence without the companionship of other cats....they are all competition for him after all. He is totally driven by a desire to protect his territory and will fight to the death to do so. He will collect a full range of abcesses and bite wounds as trophies of war....not to mention FIV. His hormones will drive him far from the comfy home his owner provides and he will rarely live into old age.
Gosh....I am laying it on thick aren't I?
But anyone hesitating to get the snip for their Tom thinking it is cruel....well, look at the alternative.

Is this really true that unneutered tomcats have a much shorter life span .Im in two minds about getting my male cat aged about 2 yrs old done as i was going to and then changed my mind a few months ago .