HI there , I've posted before about the stray cat who's been coming into our house over the past few months and who I've been feeding off territory. I've continued to feed him and its reached the point where he's sitting outside the back door in the mornings and evenings waiting for his dinner.

He has started to miaow at me now, I'm assuming because I talk to him and he sees me talk to my girls, one of whom chats back a lot ! This weekend OH is away and I've been working in the evenings, so I've had other people drop down at his feeding times to put food down for him. He wasn't around when they called, but he had his breakfast as usual each morning, but this morning in particular he was particularly vocal, howling at me as he walked over to his bowl ( I feed him off our cats territory ) and he stopped at one point turned around and hissed, then continued and miaowed at me while I fed him. He came back about an hour ago and I fed him again, this time just putting a bowl down in the garden as he seemed starving. 10 minutes later he tried to come in, I shouted at him and he retreated, but I went out and gave him some biscuits so he looked at them and went off and sat on our window sill. Its bucketing rain at the moment.

My question is primarily, whats with the hissing ? I think he's done it before, but I'm not threatening him. Also, do you think he's just begging me for somewhere cosy as its been raining here for 24 hours soild.

Finally, as I've tried and failed to trap him, is it time to call in the professionals ? I really appreciate any advice I can get !!

Sorry, also, I live in the south of Ireland - we have no cats protection league...

Cats hiss. Some hiss more than others especially if they have been abused in some way or other. He might be injured and you can't see the injury.

It can be all kinds of variables without seeing body language.

Do you think he's looking for me to help him ? He doesn't miaow at anyone else so I thought that perhaps he doesn't remember how to communicate and hisses by mistake...

I had a feral and it was a right anti-social cat. Bit and scratched anyone she didn't like including my mother.

Sounds like he doesn't like the rain and might be a good idea to buy him a kennel with a blanket but ferals should also be trapped,blood checked and of course neutered.

I know - I'm going to have to do something for him - You'll note I wasn't worried about my girls when I was home late - I did lock them in as its a busy weekend and there's a lot of undesirables about. I have the girls carrier and I might put it next to my car with a towel in it. That way I may be able to lock him in and get him to a vet ...

He's a pain, but I feel really sorry for the poor old sod - He just wants to belong, and OH & myself are quite fond of him now, but he tries to run at the girls every now and then and thats unacceptable..

I remember you have had issues with this stray for a long while. No way of knowing what the hissing is about, one possibility is that he is unwell/in pain but there are many other possibilities too.

It is not unusual that he's asking to come in, your last thread mentioned he was constantly getting in through the cat flap. Given that it is raining, I am sure he'd like some shelter.

Since he is begging to come in, it's relatively easy, let him in (tomorrow, when the vet is open), then he's trapped, bung him in the carrier, straight to vet for blood testing, neutering, general healthcheck (as a long term stray he could have any one of various serious ailments he needs treatment for).

If he will not allow you to handle him to get him into a carrier without injuring yourself, you will need to try again with a proper trap. The 'professionals' don't have any special methods, they lend you the trap and tell you to call them when he's in it. It would be a lot quicker and easier to let him into the house and manhandle him into a carrier (if feasible).

Yes , that's not a bad idea - he needs to see a vet - the pupil in his right eye is blown - has been almost as long as I've known him. I have put worming tablets into his food , not sure if he ate it though. I don't think he's feral - I just think he's been badly let down & been fending for himself for too long - he likes a bit of human company , even if it's from a distance

If you have other cats it's possible the stray get their scent and hissed because of that.

Being abandoned food could have been scare and strays can be aggressive if they think someone is attempting to steal their food.

With children it really depends on how badly treat they have been in the past, I rescued a stray years which became a family pet eventually but she was less then 6 months when I found her.

Some strays will always remain out doors cats though while other once they trust you will gradually move in

I sense a reluctance to do more than feed him and keep him at a distance. I know he can be aggressive to your cats - that is probably mainly because he is not neutered, and is desperately competing for resources because he has no regular shelter and food.

You need to bite the bullet and get him in a cat carrier and to the vet. He sounds as if he needs some proper medical attention at the very least. If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting. Not a permanent or satisfactory solution for either you or the cat.

I wonder if he hasnt got a catarac in his pupil that is blown. If in the past he has had a bad infection in his eye. I wonder also could he be blind in that eye and thats why he is more agressive and possibly disorentated as well.

That kind of problem could make him more wary I agree Maisie. One of my cats had an eye removed, and the surgeon said he would have no problem with adapting to having sight only in one eye (and she was right, he adapted very quickly). But it could be that this cat has distorted vision which could be a problem. There is no way of knowing until he is seen by a vet, he has lived as a stray for a while and he could have a few medical issues.

There was a elderly cat near us a birman. He didnt know where he was at all and kept walking around in circles. I took him home a couple of times. He was a danger too his self and the stupid owner wouldnt keep him in at all. He had a out door kennel but the garden was right next too the road. His owner had too have him put too sleep as she couldnt cope. He was totaly blind blown pupil and deaf as well. Such a lovely looking cat

Actually no, I'd love to have him actually join the family, but have concerns - for the girls - they're two pampered little madams, but rule my world ! I worry they'll feel rejected. That said, one of them now comes out with me to watch me while I feed stripe, I think she doesn't have too many issues with him, its the other one.

I'm actually quite fond of Stripe, but am terrified that if we get him to the vet and bring him back, we'll have broken his trust and never see him again - more's to the point, he'll have lost the only sort of home he has. I'd prefer to be able to let him have his food bowl in the garden with a kennel where he'll be safe and warm behind a gate when he needs to be, and we might even get him inside in winter..

so, I'll check in with the vet tomorrow and see if they'll take him as soon as I catch him and get this sorted once and for all. We're going away for a week in June, and I'd like to be able to relax knowing that he's not stopping the girls from getting in, or running from the strangers calling down to feed him.

It's obvious you are fond of him, and I am glad you have put aside concerns about 'breaking his trust' and are going to take him to the vet. It is the right thing to do, for him and for your own cats. He knows which side his bread his buttered, and he is unlikely to hold a trip to the vet against you - particularly if he returns feeling a whole lot better having had any medical issues sorted out. Once neutered he should be a lot more amenable to living companionably with you and your cats. The existing situation isn't satisfactory for any of you.

My brother took the neighbours cat in once the other one had been taken away by a rescue for her 3rd litter in 10 months or so. He had too be caught and taken too the vets too be checked out but we couldnt keep him in the cage let alone get him in the cage he escaped as i got him too my car. He did come back and was neutered about a wk or so later with help from a rescue. If he is feral he could be scared of a normal cage and will most likely have too go in to a trap or he might escape in unfamilar surroundings.

Just an update - I have spoken to the vet and they have said that they'll take him whenever we catch him - so long as its not the middle of the night or whatever. They suggest putting biscuits or some food he likes into a cat carrier to get him used to the idea, and they have a trap I can borrow, but there's a waiting list...

She did ask if we wanted him put down apparantly a lot of people are doing that I hope they try their best to make sure they're not anyone's pet before hand ! less than €60 to get him fixed and checked out, though I reckon the eye won't be covered in that, but we'll deal with that when the time comes...

All I have to do now, is trap the wily bugger ( hasn't turned up for his dinner this evening - I think he must be on a date - he insisted on his brekkie at 6.30am this morning ! )

Hi,
I have/had exactly same situation. I have had my own cat tillymint for 9 years. Over past couple of years a very skittish black cat was coming into my garden for food. I could not get near him to pet etc, and he seemed very nervous and did hiss and try to claw if got too near.

Last year i made a bed up in garage for him to go to when it was really cold, but because this winter was too cold did not want him outside.

Over time he relaxed (a bit) until he was coming in to the house for a nap, though he bolted out of cat flap if i got too close.

This past winter I let him come in at his own pace as it was freezing outside. I figured he must be someones pet as he was not feral just scared. Knocked on a few doors and low and behold discovered he belonged to people up the street.

They had given up on him because he liked to 'roam' and would go 'missing' for weeks at a time and since they'd got a 'big' dog he had not been home, hence he was looking for new 'lodging'.

They basically told me cause i had been feeding him etc him he was now 'my cat' and they did not really want him back. They said he'd had no innoculations because they could not get him to the vet etc, etc. He was too wild etc. So whether i wanted it or not i had 'another' cat, As they basically told me they would have to find' other arrangements' for him - your guess is as good as mine....

Anyway, i had to also 'bite the bullet' and decided to keep him so went out of my way to coax him let him sleep where he wanted and was always encouraging him with gentleness etc. He still likes to roam but only for odd couple of hours he comes in when i call him and is settling in reasonably well. The first time i picked him up i half expected to loose an arm but he was fine. The picture his previous owners painted was very different.

I grabbed him the other day and quickly shoved him in the cat basket, then rang vet asking can i bring him in for innocutations etc as i had to 'seize the moment' to catch him.

Was very worried how he would be at vet as previous owners had said he would go 'nuts'. He was as good as gold. I think cause i'm gentle with him and never shout at him and have let him know he's going to be looked after he's calming down.

My own cat puts up with him (no fights) she just hits him with her paw if he gets too 'fresh'

As long as you fuss your own cats and make them feel wanted you should have enough love to help this poor cat. Its not his fault his owners were *********

Bite the bullet, make him one of your' family' i promise it will work out in the end.....

That is a lovely story, how nice the cat has been given a second a chance at finding a home.

I am willing to bet the previous owners got fed up with the cat when he ceased to be a cute kitten and they realised he was costing them money for vaccinations and other treatment. If they thought he was 'wild' they obviously either had no clue how to interact with a cat, or they are plain lying.

Cats are quite clever at finding new, better, owners!

Thats a lovely, and yet sad, story. I think Stripe was abandoned at some stage, and I'm pretty sure he's a lovely cat under all his pricklyness, and whether we like it or not, we're his ! Every morning now, he's outside waiting for his brekkie - 6.15 this morning it was that one of my girls started sitting on my head to go out (not raining for the first time in a couple of weeks ! ) and there he was, waiting patiently for his breakfast. I'm glad we've been able to give him that certainity of where he gets fed... he's always there in the mornings now !

just wait till he realises that I plan on cutting his most prized possessions off !!

Am glad you are keeping him, and having him 'done' is the best thing all round. Encourage him into the house it will take time and effort but in the long run its worth it to know 'you did the right thing'.

This world is full of selfish & as we know very cruel people - i am glad to be part of the 'solution' and care (sometimes too much), Do your best and let things 'happen' naturally, everyone will find their place.

& Remember your cats will NEVER leave a loving home were they are getting lots of food, cuddles, protection and love - so don't worry they are going to start looking for a new mum. It wont happen - they know what side their 'bread is buttered' They just like to sulk to make us feel awful and guilty but they are not DAFT....

Good luck.....