Re-socialized feral cat freaks out; MIA

Buckley showed up at the cat colony from which he came!!!!

It took him about two weeks, he had to cross several busy highways, walk/run along busy streets, and through some dense bushes with thorns.  But he made it.  A little thinner in the face, but fur in decent shape.  I had my suspicions when he knew right away what fish flakes were (his favorite when he was being resocialized).  I called the co-foster, Trysh (he lived with her), she came over, we took pictures and compared them to the ones were know are Buckley.  And she said, yup, that's the guy.

He's hyper-aware of the other cats, figuring out his place in the colony; he is at ease eating in front of humans.  I can of course pet him.

We are not going to attempt to socialize him again; he's made the decision that he is more comfortable outside I guess.  Timing sucks; it gets colder from here on out (Washington, DC).  But at least we know he's alive and I'll make sure he gets a little extra food.  Still, I'm kind of sad that he won't know the joys of a Forever Home.  Though that of course is the human perspective. 

I'm fascinated by how he knew where to go back to; Trysh is more interested in knowing how he escaped from the house (cause what can get out, can also get in).

Surprising update. 

The remaining cat (Mystique) in our cattery became depressed after the last cat was adopted out.  She is by far the most feral of the cats in our mini-cattery.  You can walk over her and she won't move, but hisses if she accidentally touches you.  We figured she need company, a playmate.

So we decided to retrap Buckley because they were in the cattery together for almost six months.  Amazingly, today (Saturday) I was able to scruff him, place him into the cat carrier, and Trysh took him back to her house, which is where the cattery is.   

Perhaps less amazingly, less than ten hous later, he is once again behind the eaves, maybe on his way back to the colony.  We will not be trapping him again; lesson learned.  The question is:  if he does return on his own accord to the cattery, should be let him be, or take him back to the colony?

MEANWHILE, on Monday, I re-scruffed Precious Boy and moved him to the cattery (separate rooms) to keep Mystique company eventually.   PG joined my colony around a month ago after being abandoned by a man who lives two buildings from where I do.  From day one, he has been inordinately friendly and remains so, freakishless so.  Should I be concerned?  He is still afraid of Trysh, who has years and years of experience with cats; me, only two.  My (twin) sister is coming over to see if he is bonded only to me, or if he can be comfortable in front of other people; Trysh may have startled him earlier.

Precious Boy is around three years old, was neutered October 13.  Today tested negative for FIV/FELK.  Delicate face, normal weight.  He keeps on scent-marking me every time I see him, and occasionally doing x-rated stuff to my arm.  He kneads blankets/rugs, too.  I've never been around a male cat (Ritz is 101% female), so I don't know if this is normal behavior.  Ultimately, we want to adopt him out.  We don't think Mystique will be ready until the spring, if then, to go into a Foreever Home.

Thanks for any advice/insight.

PS:  TNRd another cat today.  Named Peaches so of course it's a male cat....Precious Girl was so friendly I swore she was in heat so I made an emergency appointment to get her spayed.  And had to rename the cat Precious Boy.....

Thanks for responding and your advice about Buckley.  It's a wait and see regarding Buckley-whether he returns to the cattery through the opening he created through his claws, or to the colony.  The decision is really up to him.  Would a safe "room" (large crate) be helpful.  There are plenty of places he can hide, large and small.

Regarding Precious Boy (was named Precious Girl until I learned she was a he):  yes, he is the one afraid of Trysh; and yes, he is marking/mounting me.  Is there a correlation between age of neutering (three years of age) and marking/mounting behavior? Hopefully after all the hormones in his system are gone, he won't be quite so friendly.  He did finally settle down and napped beside me--until the Great Escape took place. 

I crave a cat being so friendly and not so afraid--to a point! Ritz still is very easily startled after two years and quite the independent woman. 

I am starting to recognize the size of mounting, so I will distract him when that occurs:  picking him up and setting him down on the floor, or getting up and walking away; or initiating playing.  Not sure how much he's played in his life.

Mystique was in the same room as Buckley, did not move one iota from her chair, totally non-plussed.  Strange cat.....)

Peaches was the cat I TRNd yesterday; Peaches and PB are two different cats.  Another example of my track record naming male cats with femine names.  Of the 25+ cats I've TNRd since November 2010, around four are female, the rest male.

Thanks Feralvr and Laura.  I'll give my new boyfriend (Precious Boy) a size-appropriate stuffed animal, thanks for the hint about the size.  .

PB is now appropriately friendly towards Trysh; he's become much calmer.  Mounting behavior has decreased; he used my arm as a pillow yesterday while we both dozed.  I'll see how he reacts to a brand new person (my twin sister) this afternoon, which will simulate an adoption appointment.

Interestingly, Buckley has decided for now to stick around; we're not sure where Mystique is.  Trysh assures me there is no way either can get out of the house; she's thinking, maybe she accidentally left a door open. 

Also interestingly:  Buckley is in the same room as PB, in part because it's a more secure room (no escape hatches).  PB has already asserted his dominance, hissing and a paw strike that did not connect.  Buckley backed down immediately.  Buckley has always been somewhat docile. They can co-exist in the same room; while PB and I were dozing on the sofa, Buckley was on the pet bed on the floor directly next to the sofa sleeping.

Buckley and PB are both males, around the same size, and about the same size as Ritz (working on THAT issue).   In the back of my mind is my desire/wish/dream to adopt PB myself.  But I would want Ritz to be the dominant cat; it is only fair.  I'll have to do some research about this issue.    PB is definitely less scared than Ritz is.  Ritz is a little over two years old; PB around three.