First of all, I've not seen Lucy since the night she escaped, so I've pretty much accepted that she's not coming back.
Tommy has been a different story. This spring and summer he's been kind of sporadic - sometimes he's here for several days in a row, then not for a few more days. I haven't seen him for over a week, so I've been worried about him. Well, tonight when I got home from my walk, Tommy was sitting on my patio just waiting. When he saw me he went to the backyard next door and watched me go in the house and then take his food to the feeding area. Almost immediately, he made his way to the food and ate it all! So - I'm hoping that he is now making the connection between me and the food!
I've returned the trap because I think he likely is already altered. He doesn't have the big tomcat head, nor is he pregnant (which he most definitely would have been by now if he had been an intact female). So I've decided to just feed him and get him into a routine, feeling safe here. Then in the colder weather, I will try trapping again. I really don't hold out any hope that he'll be able to move inside - he seems like a very street-smart and happy boy outside so I will do what I can for him as long as he's with me.
Tommy has been a different story. This spring and summer he's been kind of sporadic - sometimes he's here for several days in a row, then not for a few more days. I haven't seen him for over a week, so I've been worried about him. Well, tonight when I got home from my walk, Tommy was sitting on my patio just waiting. When he saw me he went to the backyard next door and watched me go in the house and then take his food to the feeding area. Almost immediately, he made his way to the food and ate it all! So - I'm hoping that he is now making the connection between me and the food!
I've returned the trap because I think he likely is already altered. He doesn't have the big tomcat head, nor is he pregnant (which he most definitely would have been by now if he had been an intact female). So I've decided to just feed him and get him into a routine, feeling safe here. Then in the colder weather, I will try trapping again. I really don't hold out any hope that he'll be able to move inside - he seems like a very street-smart and happy boy outside so I will do what I can for him as long as he's with me.