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.