Neuter my neighbor's cat

I mean, let the vet do it...

[spaceylacie]

There's a problem with stray cats in my neighborbood, so I'm thinking about scooping up my neighbor's cat and toting him with me to the vet when I spay my female cat(an appt. later this week). Maybe I'll get a 2 for 1 discount at the spay/neuter clinic.

Do you think my neighbor will mind if I take their cat in to be neutered? The neighborhood contains many houses so hunting down the actual owners would be difficult. I have asked around but my closest neighbors don't know where the cat lives(it wears a collar). I can hear his midnight escapades when I step out for a smoke break some evenings. I'd prefer to stop hearing this.
;-)

[spaceylacie]

If it isn't identifiably pedigree, my guess would be that the owners would not even know it was done in the first place, except for the fact that their cat suddenly became a more pleasent animal.

It's just a gray tabby cat. There are a bunch more in the neighborhood just like him... he's quite a stud in the cat world! Anyway, I think this advice seems sensible since the only rats we have here are tree rats, AKA squirrels. Which, by the way, are edible if you get them fresh and freeze them at the right time of year(slow cooked with rice).

[Leosghost]

I take back my Added on the last post -

you mean you are gonna go sing in her yard ..you have had all the kids you wanna have? ;)

Can't blame the cats if the owners have no more brains than the kibble ..

Nor the dogs in similar situations ..

Pampered house pets do real well when they have to go feral ..on the other hand people ..who cant function without light switches and air conditioning and microwave dinners and nicotine rolled into paper tubes are really just some carnivores eventual snackfood ..and directed by their addiction ..;)..

you have to force a beagle to smoke .and eventually die from it ..humans you just gotta convince them it looks cool ;)

doubt if any animal ever asked to be dumped either ..nor if it's owners looked to see if it was neutered before dumping it ..punish the criminal not the victim ..

[Stefan]

you mean you are gonna go sing in her yard ..you have had all the kids you wanna have? ;)

Ok, I'm only partially taking back the Added :-)

Now, forcing Beagles to smoke, that's a trick. You'll do better with Chimps and cigars.

You're right, it's entirely the owner's fault, but what if that cat has no owner and is really a stray? There have been suggestions to take it to the pound, where, if it's a stray, it will no doubt eventually be "euthanized". Better to just cut its testicles off and send it back to the alley from whence it came.

What's really needed is some research by the OP to determine if it's a pet, or a stray. If it's a pet, then you complain to the neighbour; if it's a stray, you sterilize the appropriate implements and wear thick gloves.

[vincevincevince]

research by the OP to determine if it's a pet, or a stray

Perhaps the OP should try some of these:
- Spray paint/ink on the cat and see if the owner washes it off
- Infect the cat with fleas and see if a flea collar or powder appears
- Place a collar on the cat with a tag saying Please Remove Collar if Cat Loved

[webjefe]

I made my earlier post in this thread (neighbor's smoking). I was trying to be subtle but apparently to much so.

Some people are bothered by howling cats, others by barking dogs, screaming children, lawn mowers and loud music (which never seems to be the same type of music I enjoy). It seems to be getting tougher every day to live in the city and it seems that respect and courtesy have taken a back seat to self-gratification.

To spaceylacie:
From your profile you seem to be a great person (loves kids, dogs, cats, nature). Looks like you are just looking to do the right thing.

When I complained of the problem smokers, the first and only response was to educate the business owners. Perhaps, that is your solution also.

Search for TNR (trap, neuter, release) on your favorite search engine. Look for local organizations that support this method. And educate your neighbors.

Perhaps you will even volunteer your time or become a caretaker for the animals that need you the most.

This, I believe is the most humane solution.

Good luck with your decision.

[spaceylacie]

After putting food out, I found out there was not one, but 2 similiar looking cats lurking around my house. The one with a collar is actually a female and the one without a collar is a male. So the male may be a stray living nearby attracting the female I keep seeing. So, if I can get the male to come up to me, I will put a pink collar(that's the only color cat collar I happen to have) on him and see what happens. If he has an owner, they will probably either remove the collar or replace it with their own. If, after a few days, he is still wearing the pink collar, I will trap him and take him to the vet. Oh, and also, he appears to be limping.

[lawman]

I will put a pink collar(that's the only color cat collar I happen to have) on him and see what happens.

That must be one docile stray.

If, after a few days, he is still wearing the pink collar, I will trap him and take him to the vet.

If he'll let you hold him long enough to put a pink collar on him, why trap him?

Oh, and also, he appears to be limping.

Probably engages in caterwauling all over the neighborhood. Big fella needs to take it easy. :)

[spaceylacie]

I'm not sure if I will be able to pull off getting the collar on him, that's still to be seen. He'll have to get to know me a little better first. For the vet visit, you have to drop off animals between 7:30 and 9 AM at the spay/neuter clinic. That's why I thought a trap the night before may work. Otherwise I'd have to find him in the morning or coax him into my house the night before. My plan is not fool proof but it just might work. From my office today, I could hear cats hollering and fighting(may have been mating) outside my window.

[malachite]

Otherwise I'd have to find him in the morning or coax him into my house the night before

Good idea. They have an uncanny knack of disappearing just when you want them ;)

If he's not inclined to be friendly, which he won't be if he's feral, the food bribery will probably work, but requires a great deal of patience!

Don't know if you have a catfood called "Sheba" where you live, but they love it. Gave ours some when he was sick, now the little sod won't eat anything else. He's costing me a fortune :(

Good luck with catching your tom!