How to get stray in the house

Hi - I'm new here...

A little background first.

A few years ago these neighbors put up posters of their two cats who were missing. I called them when I spotted one of them in my yard. The upshot of it all was that these people were from the city in Ohio and relocated to the sticks of Connecticut with two house cats. After a while, they decided to let their cats outside. All was well for a week or so, but then all of a sudden the cats were gone. (Surprise, surprise, can you say "Coyote"??)

One of their cats has survived the past THREE years on its own, outside in Connecticut! AMAZING! Well, that cat adopted me/my yard this summer. He's very skittish, but allows me to pet him. I actually was able to trick him into a kennel and take him to the vet for a check up (he still hasn't forgiven me for that!) and he's a very healthy 16.4 pound boy!

Anyway, I've tried to get him into the house b/c winter is coming and I can't bear the thought of him being outside yet another winter - he deserves a forever home (his former family has since moved away.) I've even gone so far as to pick him up and carry him inside - my arms still bear the marks, too. He panics being in the house and he doesn't like my inside cats, though he loves the dog.

I need advice on how to get him inside. I do not have any outbuildings for him to winter in and we have coyotes in these woods. Can anyone give me suggestions?

Welcome to the Forums!

Well, he is apparently one of these successull survivors. Who even managed quite well, so he feels not in any big hurry to come inside...

I presume it will be easier when the winter is on... So dont worry the winter i coming, the winter will be your ally.

Another trick may be to say, take him in a trap, and release in his own room. Let him be in this room till he settles down. With this dog friendly dog and pal as companion. You can reinforce with a Feliway diffuser.
And slowly try to get him pal with your own inside cats, one by one.

Is he neutered? If not, try to neuter him. It will make the incoming easier.

There are surely more ideas...


Good luck!

If you can get your hands on a nice sized metal dog crate you could pop him in that and then walk that into the house(make sure it fits the doorway while empty! and also make sure the bottom pan holder is in the locked position.

I have a cat outside(was feral-I trapped and neutered when we first moved in) who stayed out first 2 winters and only recently started coming in cause of an injury that needed medicine/vet visit.

I have no plans to make him 100% indoor as hes a cat I truly think needs some time outside to be happy, but at least this winter for the bad storms I know I can get him in and WARM!

Aw, this poor, poor baby! How wonderful of you to care for him as you have been.

I'd use a humane trap and release him into his own safe room. He used to live inside - he just doesn't trust it right now, it's not what he knows. He feels safe in his territory. You just need to make inside his territory. He doesn't like your other cats, because he's invading their territory. Cats can not only learn to share territory, they can become friends - it just takes longer than introducing dogs. If you start by letting him make just one room "his," it'll progress much more smoothly. You can decide later if you want or need (for his own happiness) to make him an indoor/outdoor cat. But that won't happen until he makes "indoor" part of his territory, and this is the quickest (and probably easiest) way to do it.

He'll be freaked out and hide at first. But if you follow all the normal tips for socializing ferals (even though he's a pet kitty reverted to feral), he should come out of his shell pretty quickly.

Welcome to TCS . This poor, poor kitty but now his life will be changing for the better !! I am not surprised to hear he freaked when you carried him in , it has been a long time since someone has shown him some kindness, I am sure. And as LDG says, he used to be an inside kitty so the adjustment back indoor WILL be an easy one . He just needs this SOOOOO much and I am so happy to hear this wonderful story. This kitty needs to be rescued and brought back indoors where he belongs. What a miracle he has survived three years on his own. Cats are pretty savvy when it comes to the coyotes. And if he survived this long, I don't think you have to worry about a few more nights until you can get him in. I wish you the best getting him into a trap or crate and into his own room inside your house. Loads of good luck vibes