feral cat in heating vent

[QueenScoopalot]

I was too pooped to respond yesterday, but sure am glad the kitty is OK. I agree however that if he's neutered and vaccinated he will be more likely to stick around and not fight. I had one of my cats go into the ducts of the furnace several years back. Luckily it was Summer and I was vacuuming out the fur from the ductwork. I thought the wastebasket I put in the hole would block cats from going in there while I set up the vacuum....but nope. Nosy Chip went on a safari into the tunnels, and I had no clue till the next day! I was freaking out trying to locate his cries and finally we found him down in the basement and were able to rip out an area and get him out. He was sooty, but fine after his adventure. Hopefully your mom will be willing to keep feeding him, but also look into getting him fixed if he isn't already.

[wielki]

Neutering and vetting him is what everyone wants to do, and that's probably what will happen eventually. At one point, she was going to use a humane trap to trap him and take him in, but that went by the wayside or got postponed for I don't know what reason. She's only barely gotten close to him recently. And yes, he's been back, in fact she just called now to say he's inside again. But they've determined he can't stay overnight anymore, (she kept him in again last night) because he's started systematically marking things. Anyway, it might not happen immediately, but I think the vetting and neutering will happen.

[lizbud]

Neutering and vetting him is what everyone wants to do, and that's probably what will happen eventually. At one point, she was going to use a humane trap to trap him and take him in, but that went by the wayside or got postponed for I don't know what reason. She's only barely gotten close to him recently. And yes, he's been back, in fact she just called now to say he's inside again. But they've determined he can't stay overnight anymore, (she kept him in again last night) because he's started systematically marking things. Anyway, it might not happen immediately, but I think the vetting and neutering will happen.

The quicker he gets vetted and neutered, the less a of chance for him
to get into the habit of marking in the house.

[Catty1]

I sense from Wielki's posts that the cat is a little too wild yet to be caught and taken to the vets. Maybe a live trap?

And vets have a pheromone spray that will calm him down at the clinic...but maybe Wielki's mom wants him to get a bit more used to them?

Or can a feral be successfully neutered and still leave all the skin on the handler's arms?

I'm sure he would tame down sooner if neutered...but wonder if he's tame enough yet...

[wielki]

Yes, Catty1, I think you're right. Even the vet is advising not pushing the vetting and neutering yet. I found out what happened with the safe trap -- she kept catching the neighbor cat. And then she had to give the trap back to whoever she borrowed it from. With this guy, they worry about a number of things -- traumatizing him, catching him safely, safe recovery. Not to mention my parents' other cat, who has his own health issues and whom they don't want to endanger. (Too late!) I suspect the vets are at this point invested in his well-being, since my mother has consulted with them from the get-go on him, but they are probably more invested in my parents' cat's well-being. I understand that the vet surmises this guy is truly feral, contrary to what I thought. He's very skittish. As for endangering other kitties, there is only one neighborhood kitty that goes outdoors occasionally (yes, the one who ends up in the trap) and they don't fight. Maybe because it's a girl, or maybe because they have a lot of space and don't need to fight over territory. And she's spayed. So yeah, in theory and in time, everyone is for vetting and neutering. It's the right thing to do. I just don't know when they'll do it.

[wielki]

Oh, and my mom has the pheremone spray, and it probably helps, but I wouldn't expect it to have a huge effect on him. I use it on my cats, and it seems to have an effect at home, but it doesn't seem to help a bunch if they have to go somewhere. But I'll remind her to bring it out, good idea. Hey, and it's actually supposed to help with marking, too!