Sadly, our vet told us the life expectancy of an outdoor cat is about 2 years. "Buddy" may be pushing the law of averages already...

Most feral cats can be trapped and "domesticated", but it takes a LOT of work and time. And it will be almost impossible to "break" him of wanting to go outside.

At this point, it may be best to just keep doing what you are doing. If he'll let you, putting a little peroxide on the wounds will help.

You're a good man for doing what you can for him.

Phil,

I have a client that takes in abandoned cats, I'll contact her and see what she suggests. Then I'll give you a call next week.

Todd

Having owned more cats that I'd like to admit, I concur with Jay's medical advise. LOL  Clean with the peroxide and follow up with a dab of antibiotic ointment.  After applying it, try to keep him distracted by gently rubbing him and talking to him for as long as possible so that he doesn't immediately lick it off... enough of it will absorb into the wound to help him and licking it won't hurt him.

Cats are very resilient... ours are inside/outside cats that have been neutered.  They are brothers (our oldest daughter brought the mother to us Christmas eve of 2000 and we kept her not knowing that she was pregnant -- had 7 kittens of which we kept 3.  One was mentally challenged and the others picked on him alot - he disappeared about a year ago).  The 2 remaining seldom leave the flower beds or lanai other than to check out lizards they see on the bird bath a few yards out in the back yard.

Cat lovers everywhere thank you for what you are doing, Dr. Phil! :-)

Phil, We've got 4 outdoor cats. Two we adopted, and two adopted us. A male that age is probably sexually active and therefore you do not want him inside as he'll spray. We all know what that smells like...

"Buddy" sounds like our "Tom". We live in a rural area and our house backs to woods. Shortly after we moved in Tom started coming around. He would eat "Hunter's" food and lay on the pool furniture. We felt bad for him, so we put out a bowl for him too. He came around more, but would never let us get closer than 4 feet to him. We'd always "talk" to him when we saw him.

The morning after Hurricane Isabelle, he was at our back door, scared out of his wits, meowing away and since then has been part of the family. Now Tom lets us pick him up, pet him, take him to the vet, put flea and tick treatment on him, etc... He's was like Buddy, came home with wounds from fighting, but has settled down quite a bit in his old age. The vet said he has had a hard life. He's missing a bunch of teeth.

Tom brought a stray kitten home ("Sabrina") this past spring. Sabrina is very skittish. She won't let anyone touch her head. But she's warming up to us and our other cats.

We've got places for them to go outside to get out of the weather if it's bad. In the winter, we'll bring them into the garage at night when it's very cold and the wind is blowing.

Keep doing what you are doing. It sounds like you are attached to him and he to you. Eventually, and ever so slowly he will trust you more and get closer and closer.

Thank you, Dr. Phil, for doing this!  This poor cat wouldn't stand a chance without you.

I agree with continuing to feed and tend to the wounds, if he'll let you.  One way to develop some trust may be to casually "play" with him without touching him.  This could be as easy as dangling a long length of ribbon for him to try to catch.  Tissue paper, paper bags or a cardboard box that he can crawl in and an under are also attractive to cats.  Ping pong balls for him to bat around.  They're lightweight (as opposed to golf balls) and won't cause any damage.  The more he enjoys being around your "space" he'll feel more comfortable.  

I'm not saying you have to try to get him in your house.  That's your dog's domain.  Your dog may actually become more accustomed to the cat if he realizes that "his" space is not being encroached upon.  The cat will always want to roam but if he realizes he has a safe haven, I'll bet you gain a fast friend.  Rescued dogs always seem to know that they have been rescued.  Cats are no different.  Once trust has been established, you may want to think about getting a rabies shot.  Chances are he hasn't had one.  Many towns will offer a free shot a few times a year.  Maybe the local shelter will neuter him and give him the shot for free or at a discount?

One other thing, cat carriers are relatively inexpensive at Wal-Mart or you may know of someone who has one.  Just leave it open, place a towel inside and some treats.  Don't shut the door once he's entered. It will probably take a while.  Just make it a safe place for him to curl up and grab a nap.  That will make it easier if you ever do need to take him for a shot, etc.

If you talk to your animal control folks, they may have a "trap" you can use to trap him  and if you are of the mind, take him to get neutered.  Then bring him home and just do what you have been doing.  I don't mind a stray cat, but I hate to think he is out "procreating" and making even more of a mess for your area with more and more kittens who will be taken to the shelter and put down.

Just an idea,

shelly

Sorry, Shelly, I can't agree with trapping the cat.  I think what you suggest (neutering) is correct but I believe it can be accomplished in a more humane way.  Buddy's already had a hard time, no need to scare him anymore.

Now that's just funny, Phil!  ROFL

"Jezzus...you women and your neutering"

Sorry, Dr., some males just should not be allowed to procreate!  Some females,too.  Paris Hilton comes to mind.

Well, I think that using a humane trap might be a good idea.  Once he is captive, you can tame him IF that is what you want to do.  The important thing about getting him trapped/tamed is to get him neutered.  Once that is done, most of the fighting will end. He'll defend himself but he won't go looking for a fight and he won't go on scouting expeditions looking for females.  If you do trap him and take him to the vet they can tend his wounds too.  The one on the back sounds really nasty and would worry me most.  Once he understands that you aren't going to hurt him, he might not be happy with being trapped but he will start to trust you.  Cats and dogs can become friends but it is a slow process. Your vet can advise you how to introduce the cat to the household if you decide that is what you want to do.

You might also do some investigating.  There are agencies in some cities separate from the county shelter or city pound that have "no kill" policies.  Some work with foster homes when their shelters are full.  We have one here called "Rescue the Animals."  Our local Rescue also works in conjunction with the local PetSmart to sell the animals they take in. Before putting in the PetSmart sale, the cat is fixed and checked for ringworm and feline leukemia.  Your vet might know of resuce agencies too.  We have vets here who work with these agencies to do discounted spay/neuter/rabies shots for people who take care of these feral cats like me. These vets are very good at handling frightened cats.

With the spring litters, I have 5 grown cats (4 females plus 1 who is fixed and about 5 years old, and 1 male) and 7 kittens - all these are outside. It has taken a long time but most of the adults will let me pet them while they are eating.  The fixed female will let me pick her up.  I can pick up 2 of the wild kittens - they aren't crazy about it but they don't scratch me either.  I picked up the little yellow kitten when he came up to eat and he didn't scratch me but he doesn't let me get close to him anymore. The other kittens wait until I go back inside to eat.  I've had cats nearly all my life.  One of the reasons outdoor cats have such a short life expectancy now is because of feline leukemia.  Many are born with it.  They can live about 3 years with f. leukemia but it can be a nasty death at the end.  The problem with f. leukemia is that they are passing it on to other cats.  Before f. leukemia became such a problem, some of my outdoor cats would live up to 8 years old.

Oh, a tip about getting stray cat to trust you.  When you put the food out, get on their level.  Sit down.  You might have to toss a tidbit at a time making each one closer to you until the cat trusts you enough to come up and eat on their own.  Stay seated, don't make fast moves, talk softly, and gently stroke their head and neck, maybe scratch right between the shoulder blades. Many cats don't like it if you touch their back so stay away from the back for now.  

Phil,

You remind me of my brother the reformed "cat hater."

When a stray mama cat with 3 kittens was killed, my brother hand fed all of the kittens. That was more than 12 years ago. He found good homes for two of them, and he kept one. It was his constant companion and friend.I will never forget my brother's tears when that kitty died.

Keep up the good work! Basically, just keep on doing what you are doing right now. I have friends who are totally cat people and they have had to go through exactly the same steps that you are doing right now. In time, the cat will trust you.

As for the neutering part. It is true that the cat fights will stop after the neutering. However, I recommend that you just take it slow.

You get my vote for "Number One Human Being" of the day!

Well well Dr Phil, we have found your soft underbelly. You are a cat person and you have been in denial all these years. Bless you for taking car of this animal. He is choosing to come around you because he knows you are a good person and won't harm him. If the people left him behind they probably were not very nice to him in the first place. He is probably people-burnt, we can all identify with that from time to time.

Given a little time, you will be a full fledged cat-whisperer. Give him some milk. Don't trap him or neuter him. Oh and if he gets to liking you and brings you a mouse, that is a good thing. lol

Phil you did say he will let you pet him?  Keep it up.  Gently pick him up then put him right back down (before he can bit or scratch you).  The more he is handled the easier it will be for you.  We tend to be dog people too until a little female decided we were her people.  It sounds like Buddy has decided you are his people too.  Phil it is very important to get his shots and get him neutered as soon as possible.  We have a very sweet outside kitty now who was already fixed when he found us, but he has a totally feral friend who eats and hangs out with him.  I think the only reason Blacky is alive is because of the good diet he gets.  We can't get closer than 2 or 3 feet before he takes off.  I wish I had trapped him and taken him into a clinic when he first started hanging out here.  I am afraid now it would kill him to do so.  So do what you need to do to catch Buddy and get him in.  You will be saving his life in the long run.  But the way check your area there may be free clinics there too.  By the way Buddy looks like a bigger version of our Morris.  :)

Jana

lol, define "works". Are we still talking neutering?

Good luck with Buddy - we had two black cats (a brother and sister) given to us by friends that were moving. Ended up the female was pregnant and the male was great and loving until the kittens came around.  He left.  

Cash - that was his name, man in black and all... - came back about 8 or 9 months later and we were sooooo happy until we realized he was WILD. We had to (unfortunately) put him back outside but it was obvious to us someone(say PHIL) had been feeding him and taking care of him.  He just could not come in the house anymore due to his nature.  We still feed and try to pet him when he comes around but for the most part, he seems to have someone else to care for him also.

And, he seems to prefer the other person....

Thanks Phil for helping out in the animal world - and the cats too.

This was kind of funny.  Doc, some of these may be what you have to look forward to!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3pBXXpVq-Hg

I have bangel cats (more like dogs then cats) and the spraying comment is correct.  If you get him fixed it can stop about 70% of the time but no guarantee.  It always has for me.

Do you have kids?  I would not necessarily want a "wild" cat in my home with little ones running around.

I LOVE the compassion you feel for this little guy.  You are really a nice guy and should pat yourself on the back.  

You may want to check out some canned food in an effort to get him to be your new friend.  My sister took care of what started out as one stray, and turned into 3.  They would not come near her but she used the canned food to try and make them love her.  It worked.  My cats cannot resist canned food.

I think you are doing a really nice thing and don't worry your dog will forgive you if he ever comes in.  I have 2 American bulldogs that are beaten up by our cats daily.  It's kind of fun to watch.  Our cats are kin to the Asian leopard so they may be a bit better at fending for themselves.  Good luck and good job.  Nice to hear that this little guy had a chance.

Christina Stevens

www.Galveston4sale.com

www.SanAntonio4sale.net

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Many years ago I was without any pets, having buried my Dalmation after a wonderful 16 years. Then one day my girlfriend at the time called to say her daughter found a little black torn up kitten behind a gas station and the guys wanted to put it in a mailbox (over 90 degrees outside). Knowing that I was an animal lover she asked if I was interested in taking it. At first I said no because I thought I really didn't have time to be a good companion, always being on the go. But I decided to give it a 'try' and now 'Spooky' is almost ten years old. During that time as winter drew near I took in another little girl, Bootsie, who followed me around as I moved along from hole to hole planting my tomatos and waited for me to get up in the morning and return in the evening while waiting patiently on my picnic table. The next winter I took in another stray, Crybaby, who paced around after me crying all the time. Then Mama kitty came with her three kittens at the beginning of another winter. I cut down a Rubbermaid shed and filled it with hay and put lower shelves in it so they could make it through the winter. Only one kittie would come and let me pet it. As the temperature dropped below freezing and the snow was almost 6 inches deep, I went and bought a fishing net and captured them as they exited the little shed. Two kittens, Smokey and PeeWee, survived and Mama stayed outside and made it through on her own. She was accompanied by tomcat Blackie who has survived several winters but won't let me touch him even though I feed him everyday. I even shovel a path for him in the winter so he doesn't walk in the busy street and get killed. Then I started seeing a cat running around and eating the food while holding up his front leg. Thinking it may have a sliver or piece of glass in its paw, I borrowed a trap and caught him. As it turned out, the leg was totally shattered and had to be amputed. He became my little tripod, Charlie, and even though he has been with me for almost three years he won't let me pet him or get too close. He will sleep on my bed with some of the other cats but he buddies up with Smokey who is about 50% ferral. If you haven't kept count, I've got six wonderful strays and even though they were all reluctant to have a 'newcomer' come into their domain, they all get along just fine.

Phil, do what you are doing, spending time sitting out with the stray while it eats and maybe giving it some additional treats. It may not have been abandoned by the former neighbors at all. They may have just been feeding it and had to sadly leave it behind when they moved. It's unlikely that a tame cat would be afraid of you still, having been handled in the past. I sit outside quite often when Blackie comes to eat and when he is really beat up from an encounter, I put a little medicine in his wet food for a few days to help heal him from the inside out. Since he seems to make it through the winters I just let him be and try to keep water and food out for him each day.

For you animal lovers, here is a page I have on my website from Katrina's animal rescue:

http://www.view-mls-homes.com/Nav.aspx/Page=%2fPageManager%2fDefault.aspx%2fPageID%3d1869174

Gene's cat "Tripod" reminds me of our cat Tillie we had for years and years. She was born with 3 legs. One of the hind legs had the umbilical cord around it and it cut off the circulation or something like that. When my granddaughter, Stephany, was going through measurements in school she was having a hard time grasping inches in a foot, feet in a yard, etc. So I told her to remind her of how many feet are in a yard think of Tillie. And it worked great for her, 3 feet in a yard, Tillie.

I loved those Katrina rescue pics.

What about all the mean and money-grabbing real estate agents and brokers out there? Shouldn't you be doing something constructive?

What a bunch of softies this group is!  No wonder I like you!!!