Q: A stray tomcat has been visiting our house. He's a loving cat, but he has been spraying everything. We don't have room in our house for him, but if anything ever happens to our indoor cat, we would probably bring him into our home. The only option is to get him fixed though, right?
A: If possible, capture the cat and bring him to your veterinarian to be neutered. He should also be tested for the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), two dangerous viruses that are seen more commonly in free-roaming, intact male cats. Neutering is about 95 percent successful in controlling spraying behavior in previously intact male cats. Hopefully, if he tests negative and is neutered, you’ll be able to find someone who can adopt him permanently. I have found that many big, sweet tomcats make wonderful indoor cats.
Regards,
Arnold Plotnick, DVM