Help!! Then there were 2

[Bluesparks]

About 3 months ago we took home a feral entire male cat, I kept him secure until we could get him to a vets to be neutered and on trying to get him from the pen to the carrier he escaped and he ran, and ran and ran! Dispite looking and calling and leaving food out, no sign, so we decide to give up and when another cat came up
that needed a home we thought we would try again, another outdoor cat which we wanted but this one has been neutered and chipped etc and is human friendly just prefers outdoor living, made him a bed etc in the outbuildings and brought him home on Saturday, all good so far he didn't run away he comes to us when we call
and likes his food, tonight however we went out and got back around 10pm only to find guess who sitting next to the food bowl in the garage but the original cat!! So now what do I do? I haven't seen evidence of fights and our new addition (Fred) is sleeping now in his usual spot but I'm scared that the original cat (yoyo) will scare him away as he's a boisterous cat and still Tom cat and very feral, any advice please I'm new to this site and would be happy for any suggestions please!!

[Kay]

I think you will have to see how it goes - if you provide separate outdoor sleeping quarters and food for both, they may rub along just fine - the first cat must have found somewhere to kip down whilst he was away, and may well chose to return to it, just coming to you for food

I provide a watertight outside kennel for a stray but he never uses it, but never fails to come twice a day for meals, so you could find there is no real problem - until you set about getting first boy into a carrier and to the vet, anyway

[bobbys girl]

Getting the first cat neutered might be a game-changer. If you are having difficulty getting him in a carrier, perhaps you could borrow a trap from the vet (most will have one). Some strays/ferrals will happily give up their wandering days and become very domesticated pets (like our Tommy). Others will always value their 'freedom'. 'Our' stray Felix is like that, happy for food and a fuss (and the odd cold night under the kitchen table) but still back on the road in the morning!

Good luck and let us know how you go on.

[Bluesparks]

Thank you, we have decided to try and trap the original cat and get him neutered, then see what happens, I'm not going to leave food out overnight so I can keep an eye on them during the day and I've also introduced the new cat who is more people friendly to the house (just the bathroom which is downstairs and the hallway) so he can get in if need be as is hate him to leave!

[Cussypat1974]

i think your approach is sensible! the second guy being neutered is helping, as if he wasn't sparks would fly! I have 29 neutered, a mix of feral and tame, plus ONE rover who comes for winter who I have been unable to catch so far. there is no fighting except for mealtimes, when some of the rescues get possessive. then it is just hisses and smacks, and I redirect them to a different dish. neutering DOES make all the difference, and the first guy was probably off fathering feral kittens who have since died horribly..... PLEASE get him neutered if you can! then sit back and enjoy 2 garden cats!