I returned Twiddledee to the colony; MIA; Now What/Why?

As way of background, Twiddledee (and Twiddledum) (both males) joined the colony in early January 2012, TNRd immediately.  Friendly, previously owned based on behavior.  I moved 25 miles away in August, but I and another woman feed the cats four times a week.

While I was on vacation, a couple stumbled onto the colony (they were serving arrest warrants) and said when they moved to the area, they would be interested in adopting one of the more friendly cats.

In early October I decided to temporarily foster Tdee because he wasn't putting any weight on his front right paw/leg and I was concerned that he wouldn't be able to get food (diagnosis -- arthritis).  Tdee initially really really wanted out, to escape; that had decreased a little but by no means entirely.  Tdee is a sweet, affectionate, submissive, vocal cat.  He slept with me (and Ritz, reluctantly).

Introductions with Ritz (female--about a year older than Tdee) seemed to go well at first, but in the past week, Ritz had turned into a bully--swatting and hissing and even once chasing Tdee totally unprovoked.  (Based on Ritz behavior in the past two days, post-Twiddledee, Ritz was more stressed, upset than I thought.)

Meanwhile the couple has moved to this area, and want to see the cats outdoors today, Friday.  To increase the likelihood from none to slim that both Tdee and Tdum would be adopted together (litter mates), I returned Twiddledee to the colony Wednesday morning.

Two days later, still no sign of Twiddledee.

I feel awful, like I abandoned him too.  I felt sure he would re-adopt, re-settle in, especially since he still wanted to escape.  And that I sacrificed Twiddledee for Ritz. 

I'm most concerned that Twiddledee will try to return to my home, 25 miles away.  Given the territory he would have to cross, that is essentially a death sentence, by me.

Has any one returned a cat to the colony, and the cat lived to meow about it?  And how can I make sure Tdee stays at the colony instead of trying to make it back to my house?

Thanks.

Any news? Has Tweedledee come back? How is the new couple working out?
Sorry, I don't have any advice for you, just lots of

Thanks for checking back.

Yes:  He is back at the colony now, was probably within 100 feet all this time.  He came back to my "restaurant" (dumpster) on Tuesday,   I heard him meow before I saw him, so I called to him and he came straight down to the FOOD.  Well, at least he has his priorities straight!  After he ate, then he came to me to be petted a little, then went back to the food.

We are having unseasonably warm (and dry) weather, so I am glad he has this transition period.  Sad, that it had to come to this, though.  Ritz at least is much happier (though sick right now with bacteria in her stomach).

Oh and the new couple:  first, they never showed.  Then they never called.   So I called them a few days late.  The husband answered the phone, ,I  immediately identified myself as the lady who takes care of the feral cat colony (they serve arrest warrants and subpoenas so I suspect they have some angry people out there), husband turned the phone over to his wife, I again identified myself, and either her cell phone disconnected or SHE HUNG UP ON ME.

So I called back, left a message with my work and home number.  No return call.

Obviously I won't be calling them back.

try not to worry...I have a colony of 8 cats at my brother-in-laws barn which I feed every two days

they have all been trapped/spayed and returned to the colony

some of them took a couple of weeks  to show back up after the trauma...I suspect they were around watching me come and go....

now, months later I have some days when I feed they are all there and others when some are missing...but they all show up at times

yes, I worry to when they don't show but have faith...if you feed they will come...its' easier to eat your stuff than to hunt

I wish I knew what draws them away for prolonged periods...sometimes as long as a couple of weeks

hope this helps

Thanks Trudy.  That helps.  I remember during the torrential rains Washington, DC had during Hurricane Isabel(?).  The cats stayed dry while I got really wet!  They know where the good crawl spaces are.

Cats have a mind of their own and I worry when I haven't seen cats after a prolonged time.

I remember fondly Greystone, who introduced new cats to the colony, as if to say, this one is okay, let him eat.  (80% of the cats I've TNRd are male, of the cats I currently fed, only about 10% is female).

I remember even fonder, Kimba, who climbed on my lap one day and batted away the other cats, he wanted me to himself.

A month later, I never saw him again.