My half wild tomcat has been gone for 5 days. Is he gallavanting. I never had a tomcat before.Am very worried?

Question

He is half wild because although he eats in the house and I can pet him and he purrs. I cannot lift him and I am WORRIED SICK about him.

Thank you to all who have already answered. I forgot to mention the cats age about 18 months.I have known him for about 13 months and he has NEVER done this before. I have tranquilisers from the vet to give him if he ever comes back.

Answer 1

Probably yes, he is just out gallivanting. Fighting and mating, that is the life of a tomcat. Make sure there is food and water outside for him when he comes limping home, and at that time check him over for injuries. You may want to check the local animal shelter daily until then though -- if they pick up a half-wild tomcat they will probably put him down the first day -- they basically have no compassion at all for "wild cats" (I guess most shelter workers are dog people, I have found maybe 1 in 10 with any real understanding at all of how to deal with cats, least of all cats that grew up wild).

When he comes back, get a collar and tags on him so you won't have to worry about shelters again.

If he eats in the house and lets you pet him and he purrs when you do so, he is not truly feral -- he is, just as you say, a half-wild tomcat. Like our little Norwegian Forrest Cat, "Oscar." He comes in the house maybe 10 minutes a day, is the sweetest thing ever (he does let us pick him up but only for a few seconds at a time and that took weeks to get him used to it -- feeding him while doing so helped). He still can't be left alone or even unsupervised in the house, because he doesn't understand the idea that "you don't pee in the house." He probably never will. But he is a sweet enough cat to overlook that, we just keep an eye on him while he is inside.

You do need to get him fixed. That will take a lot of the "wanderlust" out of him and it will dramatically increase his life span because he wont get into so many fights and pick up so many diseases and injuries and infections as a result.

He will probably never really be a true lap-cat or house cat. The "wild" got into him at too young of an age, that is the life he knows and the life he likes. But at least you can help him live longer with good veterinary care.

You may need to put a tranquilizer in his food to knock him out enough to take to the vet for fixing. He will hate you for it. He will get over it, as long as there is food and a warm hiding place for him at your house.

Answer 2

He's, probably, out & about looking for a Lady [cat]. Hopefully, he'll come home & hasn't gotten into the street or met up with a racoon or opossum. He needs to be neutered & then try your best to keep him inside where it's safe. Once they get a taste of the outdoors, it's hard to keep them in. They'll try to sneak past you, when you open the door. Usually, once they are neutered, they'll stay close to home. I have a Tom cat who is 3. I've had him since he was 16 months. He's gotten out a few times. Only once did I worry where he was--gone 7 hours. I think he got locked up in my neighbors garage. That happens, too! The times before, he, just, played in my bushes. Now, if I'm going outside for anything, I shut him in my bedroom, so, he can't escape. We had a cat when I was a kid that was gone for a week. Prayer works. Good Luck!

Answer 3

He has prob found a lady cat or an old lady that feeds him a few doors from your house, try not to worry as 5 days is not really a long time 4 cats to on "holiday" for.
You could try phoning cat rescue, your local vet and stick some posters up to see if any one has seen him.
Good luck x

Answer 4

He's a TOMCAT, yes he's romping the territory. I wouldn't give him tranquilizers unless he absolutely needed them. When he does return home, continue to love him, feed him and encourage him to come around you. He will need to be neutered soon also. I worry about my kitties when I don't know where they are. We tend to love them as much as if they are human (sometimes I think 2 of mine think they are humans!!!!) Always offer to let you cat smell of your hand and never act as if you want to pick him up. Sit close by him and pat your leg or something trying to entise him to come to you and possibly crawl onto your leg (only if you are in a sitting position close to him say on the floor---you don't want to teach him to climb up your leg as when standing or he could scratch you!)
I had a female cat that did not want me to pick her up and pet her and certainly not for any amount of time. I would touch her every day and rub her back then once in a while pick her up but when she wanted lose I'd let her go. I continued with this. It was as if she didn't know how to love or be loved. I had her from about 6 weeks of age. Now she is spoiled rotten and loves to be held and petted. They like to be talked to and they DO understand what we are saying to them.

Answer 5

Cats belong to themselves. When you take on a cat you need to know he will not change. He will come visit you for the food, but if someone offers him better food, he'll promptly switch loyalties. They are opportunistic.

Yes, he could be fighting. Yes, he could have been hit by a car. BUT he could be shacked up one street over munching on gourment cat food and shrimp. Comfort yourself with the thought that you gave him a chance to live and a home for a while. Not your fault if he found someone else.

Answer 6

A cat will learn all of his/her reactions in the first few weks of life. He will always be feral. You may worry about him, but you can't change him.

My cats when I was young, always suddenly stopped coming home. Cars have that effect, you know. (not trying to worry you, but it is a real world).

Our cat now, is not let out of the house, except on a lead. Cruel? I don't know, but whe is still here.

Enjoy your cat as you can, but he will, one day, not return.

Answer 7

Oh ! Tom's are notorious for going AWOL apparently they hunt and procreate during that time. Hope he returns home soon and maybe he should get the snip to stop his wanderlust. Cats eh we love them.

Answer 8

Dont tranquilise him; get him neutered, before he is killed by mad drivers, packs of dogs, or some pervert. You know he loves you to bits; isnt it worth keeping him safe?--and think of all the diseases he can get while he is out there.........

Answer 9

The only way to keep him as a pet is to get him cut.They are usually more trouble than they are worth,he will urinate all over your house and the stink is hard to get rid of.

Answer 10

A Tom cat , also known as a "ball Bering mouse trap" will do pretty much as he pleases.