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- Dec 20, 2006
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ETA: He's back now. The good news, hungry cats make mistakes. We were able to herd him into the backyard when he came into the other section of the yard wanting food and water. The problem last time is that I let DH guard the back gate and he wasn't doing it right.
Looking for some suggestions if anyone has any.
My second time out of bed this morning, around 10:15, I noticed that the door from my deck leading into the backyard where the cats are was hanging wide open. It has a tight hook and eye on it to keep it shut (screen door) - meaning someone unhooked it on the deck side. We didn't do it so that means someone else did...
MewMew is a good girl, and not adventurous. Boo on the other hand is a semi feral (emphasis on feral) who used to have plenty of room to run loose. He got out.
The good news is that he nearby - across the back road in the dense cedar trees/shrubs. We literally live on the edge of town with only one neighbor behind us, the rest is fields and trees. I can't chase him out of there because I do not want to risk spooking him further away.
The problem is that Boo has been in a live trap three times before (once on his own, once from me stuffing him in it, and again at the vet), he knows what those and carriers are quite well. He's a very wary cat that knows when you're trying to corner or box him in. He's not likely to go over the gate leading to the front of our yard since he's never had to jump over a 6ft tall gate before and it's too "busy" up there, nor will he attempt that side of the fence with 4 yapping shelties on the other side. That leaves our very large back gate. I have two other people and Boo's own belly which will be wanting his wet food come 7:30pm on my side...
Any quick tips for feral cat herding?
He does seem to want back in his fence where he's safe but spooks easily. He often answers (meows) to his name but will not come when called.
And yes, the gate on the portion of the cat fence and the deck door will now be chained and padlocked. I suggest anyone else keeping cats outside in fences or enclosures padlock theirs as well.
Looking for some suggestions if anyone has any.
My second time out of bed this morning, around 10:15, I noticed that the door from my deck leading into the backyard where the cats are was hanging wide open. It has a tight hook and eye on it to keep it shut (screen door) - meaning someone unhooked it on the deck side. We didn't do it so that means someone else did...
MewMew is a good girl, and not adventurous. Boo on the other hand is a semi feral (emphasis on feral) who used to have plenty of room to run loose. He got out.
The good news is that he nearby - across the back road in the dense cedar trees/shrubs. We literally live on the edge of town with only one neighbor behind us, the rest is fields and trees. I can't chase him out of there because I do not want to risk spooking him further away.
The problem is that Boo has been in a live trap three times before (once on his own, once from me stuffing him in it, and again at the vet), he knows what those and carriers are quite well. He's a very wary cat that knows when you're trying to corner or box him in. He's not likely to go over the gate leading to the front of our yard since he's never had to jump over a 6ft tall gate before and it's too "busy" up there, nor will he attempt that side of the fence with 4 yapping shelties on the other side. That leaves our very large back gate. I have two other people and Boo's own belly which will be wanting his wet food come 7:30pm on my side...
Any quick tips for feral cat herding?
And yes, the gate on the portion of the cat fence and the deck door will now be chained and padlocked. I suggest anyone else keeping cats outside in fences or enclosures padlock theirs as well.
