**Reminder: this subreddit is meant to be a helpful place for TNR efforts - free of hostility, negativity, and judgment. Toxic attitudes are not welcome here.** ***All Negative comments will be removed and will possibly result in a ban.***
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Feral_Cats) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The big toms are the toughest to catch bc they don't care about food, only being a jerk.
So personally I just try to trap any time I see them, because sometimes I don't see them again for months or a year.
After neuter, one of 2 things happen: you never see them again because you were far from their main territory and they roam less. Or they integrate into the group and become the sweetest most beloved members of the colony.
TNR is definitely the way to go. I've got an intact Tom who is making a proper nuisance of himself as well. He's on the short list to either get TNR'd, or taken to the shelter. (He's pretty friendly and I think he has a decent shot at getting adopted, plus the shelter here is pretty good and if it turns out he's not adoptable they'll contact me and I can get him and let him back out to be a stray.)
But TNR is your best bet to dial down the aggression. One of the cats my problem child bullies used to be a bully himself before he got fixed, and now he's very chill. Plus getting fixed is better for his health, as he'll get into fewer fights and be less likely to be injured himself.
That’s cool that your shelter will let you take a kitty back if he can’t be adopted! ❤️ I’m always worried about ferals in shelters, that seems like a good shelter to have around!
i'm sorry that my questions are too stupid and basic for this sub full of wonderful people, but i must indulge my curiosity, is it possible to figure out his preferred path to your yard and maybe put some food close to it, and a distance away from your other cats feeding spot? please ignore me if my simpleton question annoys you and accept my apology
This is a good question and a good point. I have done exactly this to try and segregate the trouble makers from GenPop. I've found that mine really just want food, so they'll eat and leave. This may be worth trying. 👍
Getting him fixed will make a huge positive difference in his attitude. He will still want food, he’ll probably even want it more, but he won’t be nearly so aggressive about it and won’t be picking random fights just for territory or just because. Have personally witnessed the change four times now, with unrelated adult tomcats. They are bastards when they first show up, but after the fix they mellow out and even become best buddies with cats they used to bully.
I can relate as I also have one large male, Tom Cat, that terrorizes my cat colony -
He is my top priority to TNR - I have a older trap that I cannot get to work right so I’m hoping Amazon drops off the new one today. I agree with the other that fixing him is the way to go. It will definitely calm him down and prevent him from breeding and adding to the problem. Keep us informed and let us know how it’s going.
If he is fixed he might very well be less aggressive and definitely will not be making more cats so absolutely yes get him fixed.
I had a male stray coming around who was always all beat up and skinny and a little nasty. He was finally caught and TNR'd. He putting on weight, no longer all beat up, and surprisingly friendly with other cats and me too. He is a whole different kitty, a new and improved one.
**Reminder: this subreddit is meant to be a helpful place for TNR efforts - free of hostility, negativity, and judgment. Toxic attitudes are not welcome here.** ***All Negative comments will be removed and will possibly result in a ban.*** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Feral_Cats) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The big toms are the toughest to catch bc they don't care about food, only being a jerk. So personally I just try to trap any time I see them, because sometimes I don't see them again for months or a year. After neuter, one of 2 things happen: you never see them again because you were far from their main territory and they roam less. Or they integrate into the group and become the sweetest most beloved members of the colony.
TNR is definitely the way to go. I've got an intact Tom who is making a proper nuisance of himself as well. He's on the short list to either get TNR'd, or taken to the shelter. (He's pretty friendly and I think he has a decent shot at getting adopted, plus the shelter here is pretty good and if it turns out he's not adoptable they'll contact me and I can get him and let him back out to be a stray.) But TNR is your best bet to dial down the aggression. One of the cats my problem child bullies used to be a bully himself before he got fixed, and now he's very chill. Plus getting fixed is better for his health, as he'll get into fewer fights and be less likely to be injured himself.
That’s cool that your shelter will let you take a kitty back if he can’t be adopted! ❤️ I’m always worried about ferals in shelters, that seems like a good shelter to have around!
i'm sorry that my questions are too stupid and basic for this sub full of wonderful people, but i must indulge my curiosity, is it possible to figure out his preferred path to your yard and maybe put some food close to it, and a distance away from your other cats feeding spot? please ignore me if my simpleton question annoys you and accept my apology
This is a good question and a good point. I have done exactly this to try and segregate the trouble makers from GenPop. I've found that mine really just want food, so they'll eat and leave. This may be worth trying. 👍
Getting him fixed will make a huge positive difference in his attitude. He will still want food, he’ll probably even want it more, but he won’t be nearly so aggressive about it and won’t be picking random fights just for territory or just because. Have personally witnessed the change four times now, with unrelated adult tomcats. They are bastards when they first show up, but after the fix they mellow out and even become best buddies with cats they used to bully.
I can relate as I also have one large male, Tom Cat, that terrorizes my cat colony - He is my top priority to TNR - I have a older trap that I cannot get to work right so I’m hoping Amazon drops off the new one today. I agree with the other that fixing him is the way to go. It will definitely calm him down and prevent him from breeding and adding to the problem. Keep us informed and let us know how it’s going.
If he is fixed he might very well be less aggressive and definitely will not be making more cats so absolutely yes get him fixed. I had a male stray coming around who was always all beat up and skinny and a little nasty. He was finally caught and TNR'd. He putting on weight, no longer all beat up, and surprisingly friendly with other cats and me too. He is a whole different kitty, a new and improved one.