This vet clinic usually wants to do blood work prior to surgery typically then pain meds and vaccinations plus office visit. It can get quite pricey. It’s the type of place that has a lovely salt water fish tank and fresh baked cookies and a fridge full of soda in the waiting room. Haven’t been there since Covid. And they no longer allow any clients inside. It’s like an episode of emergency vets on animal planet. They are very good but very expensive. I would guess the neuter would be $300+ then the vaccinations on top of that. It’s a super fancy boutique type place. Way different than the humane society who probably squirts a syringe of Ace into the hissing angry feral cats mouth locked in the Havahart trap then drags it out snips their balls injects some vaccines and tips the ear. Anyway they’re really good in an emergency or if you need specialized care. Not so much for the Ahole neighbors sweet Tom who needs a male
Lobotomy.
He is so cute!! Looks very content and happy. You’ve definitely got a new cat! 
You need to change the title of the thread, looking at the pic technically you are his, so he is now yours, technically or not 
Orange boy cat? YOU MUST KEEP HIM. They’re the best!
Always spay first and ask questions later!
Reminds me of my beloved “Cowboy” ~ he was something special !
Hope this handsome gentleman has a forever home with you ~ ThreeWishes
Neuter, vaccinate and take care of any other issues. Since you’re already feeding him and he’s protecting “his” territory, he’s already decided where he lives.
The good thing is, if crazy lady ever tries to get him back, make sure you keep all of his vet bills, etc. You can keep them as proof of ownership (I’m assuming she’s never gotten him a rabies vax or any other proof that he is her cat). If she wants him, she can reimburse you for the bills.
I had to do this once with a neighbor’s cat. Was on my front porch when I moved in and never left. Took her back to them several times but they did nothing to keep her at home. I ended up having her spayed and vax. Started having trouble with her ears, had polyps twice, $5K of surgeries, ended up with even more health problems and only lived 7 years. They never even noticed she was gone.
I really hate people sometimes.
btw … I have never ever had a previous owner show any interest in re-claiming his/her cat.
I have rescued / given forever homes to all my ‘stolen’ CATS… in total throughout the years 20+ cats and kittens !
I have adored each and everyone of them.
Enjoy your new HANDSOME boy !
If the ‘owner’ ever comes to your house, deny that’s her cat, and claim a friend gave you her cat when she had to move. Practice saying that in front of a mirror, until you look sincere.
I agree with this 4x’s over!
Well the local SNIP program is way behind and not offering appointments until late May. So I called another vet and he has a date for next Thursday. $280 including vaccinations. The little bugger better not disappear next Wednesday. He’s here every day so I think it will go smoothly. Adios fuzzy balls!
Good luck! As an aside, I’m grateful again for my vet’s usual fees. I just did the Three Amigos in December, two female, one male, spare parts removed and vaccinated for just over $300, as I recall. I know it didn’t hit $325.
The SNIP program in the past when I’ve used it for
Ferals was around $80 for altering and all vaccines and tests ( can’t remember if it was feline leukemia and or FIP). My usual vet converted to a 24 hour state of the art vet practice about 8 years ago. The place is like the Mayo Clinic. Excellent care every bell and whistle and diagnostic but so expensive. A lot of the other local practices seem to have been bought out by bigger companies and or upgraded their facilities and what they offer and fallen in line price wise. My father is a retired solo practice vet. I don’t think he ever turned away a client and certainly did not have the same type of practice that is becoming the norm here. I imagine the incredible cost of vet school and real estate plus the various modalities and expensive treatments for pets are likely why you cannot really find what my father was able to provide 30 years ago.
$80 sounds amazing to me! I’ve gotten the local colony used to be fed at a certain time & place, I have 2 traps lined up, but I am having a hard time finding a vet that 1. isn’t booked until August, 2. will take a feral or 3. will take a feral cat from a normal citizen and not a 5013c.
Local rescues send helpful links, but can’t spare a person to help and are already full themselves. The vets they recommend don’t have weekend appointments (I work 8-5, so weekdays are not an option), so I’m still searching. I admit, I thought it would be easier to find a low-cost vet for TnR in this area, but it seems I have more stones to turn.
Absolutely! The programs available years ago are now overwhelmed or gone. About 45 minutes away 6 years ago there was a trap spay neuter release program that ran 5 days a week including Saturday. Just show up behind the building with a trapped cat. I brought several. Ear tip spay neuter and vaccinate. Then release. And the cats I brought were werewolf FERAL! Hav a Hart trap feral. Hiss spit and pee in your truck feral but they got it done. I live on a small farm in a semi rural area which is a dumping ground for people’s unwanted pets. And of course the dogs are never altered usually heart worm positive. It’s Florida ! Hello mosquitoes and the cats are pregnant or fighting Toms. It’s a heartache to try to do right by other peoples discards. It’s how I acquired 5 dogs and various cats over the years.
There is a low-cost place in the city, but I try to go with the vet when I can afford it. I believe the low-cost place is around $50. But yes, they are booked out a couple of months in advance. Very tough.
I’ve always thought that if I ever win the lottery, one of the things I’d do is sponsor free spay/neuter one day a week at my vet clinic (five-vet practice, medium-sized place). As many as they can do, first that number to schedule. Yes, you’d get some people taking advantage of it who really could pay on another day with no problems, but it would still hopefully hit many pets whose owners otherwise might not get it done, and it would prevent several litters of critters.
Our new house in is a ‘transitional area’ in a historically lower income area - I guess you could say we are part of gentrification. Just over the fence is a low-income senior housing trailer park. My guess is that a few of these kitties are adult offspring from senior-owned kitties, or failed pets who got kicked out. Couple that in with some rougher street toms and we have a booming colony.
Keep doing what you are doing! Showing mercy and love to the outcasts is hard, but they cross our soft-hearted paths for a reason.
@dressagetraks I love that idea! I donate to a few local kitty rescues, but this is the first time I have had to TnR in my backyard.
At some point in my life when I have an extra room and time, I would love to be a kitten foster. Around here kitten season is SO long, all places inevitably fill up and all the outdoor kittens lose the chance to be socialized and adopted. As it is, I had to promise hubby that I won’t be taking in any street cats (except for an overnight stay in a trap in garage while waiting for vet app) - he knows I’d keep any friendlies if I could.
I think the biggest surprise to me is the lack of my county’s support or subsidization of TnR or low cost fix. There is a new 30 MILLION dollar animal shelter (which was very much needed) but no county-wide support for TnR or feral fix days. Its crazy. I’ve lived in other areas where the county was very supportive, by spreading awareness of TnR or the municipal shelter would accept animals for TnR, but not here.
@BatCoach you are a kind soul! I wrestle with taking care of my own and then the influx of feral/strays. I am not rich and I’m not poor. But I cannot save everything. There seems to be no end to people dumping animals. I wish you all the best.
My vet is a fancy, full service place. Their discount for “existing clients who find themselves with a feral cat” is about $250 for a spay/neuter and basic vaccinations (rabies and distemper). I know that’s a loss leader for them. I suspect even their full foreign spy/neuter is a loss leader but it’s a way to get and keep clients while doing the right thing to control the pet population.
