Help! My little feral is in the house and terrified

Hello all, I'm new here but I've reading for awhile. I need some advice on what to do with this little guy. Some back story: we live in a suburban neighborhood, and I've been taking care of 3 ferals on my front porch for some time, a daddy and his 2 sons - not sure how old they are, maybe just under a year or so? One of the sons has decided to pretty much live here and never leaves. He started trusting us, although we haven't been able to touch him yet. The plan was to trap him, neuter him, and then bring him in with us, (and then TNR the other 2) but so far the little bugger has evaded the trap completely. He is very smart. Recently he started coming in the garage and hanging out with us, and seemed to be getting rather comfortable.

Then last night, he followed me into the house! I was NOT expecting that. I was sure he would want right back out, but to my surprise he didn't, and walked around like he owned the place. That is, until he saw our other 2 cats, and then he went into "OMG freeze" mode. They haven't been at all aggressive towards him, just curious, but he's not having it. He got up on one of the chairs under the dining room table and hasn't moved since. I've got food, water, litter box and a carrier with his bed from outside right near him, but he won't budge. I plugged in a Feliway diffuser in there hoping it will make him feel calmer. But he is so scared he even let my husband pet him! At least, I think that's what's going on - it's hard to read him right now. He's just sitting on the chair calmly, but his eyes look scared and I don't think he's gonna move anytime soon.

Ugh, this was not how it was supposed to go. I'd intended to keep him in a room in the basement for awhile to let him adjust and meet everyone slowly. Things never go quite as planned though, so I guess I need a new plan. Should we just wait it out? I don't want to jeopardize the trust we had, and I feel terrible that he is now essentially trapped in here. On the other hand, maybe this is a good thing since I could not get him in a trap to save my life, so at least I've got him now? I'm just worried this is too much stress for him. Am I doing the right thing? Any advice is appreciated by this worry-wart kitty mama.

Here he is:

Splendid!   If you dont feel you have problem with quarantine, the simplest is to let him be there. He has choosed it so, with the accomondations you had provided.  He can leave too if he wish. So you arent nasty to him in any way.

He will proceed with the usual activitietes when he feels ripe for it. Perhaps in two days.  He will do it probably at night. Dont worry about this!   

The question is perhaps, if you shall let your own be there nearby, as he seems to be scared of them.

Im not sure.    Next question is of course, what about quarantine.  If your residents arent used to roam freely outside, you should have a quarantine at least two weeks, till you know everyting is cleared.

If you want to have a proper quarantine (our normal recommendation). You say he lets your hubby pet him? (it is probably not accepting to be petted, it is probably just surviving, but whatever. he is letting hubby touch him) - let hubby take on gloves,  take the carrier near, - and move /shoosh  him gently into the carrier.

And take the carrier to the basement where you had prepared this quarantine room.

Are you sure it is the daddy with them? not just a adult male being friendly?  Tell more in some post.

Family groups DO happen. Sometimes even the tom being the main caretaker.  But it is not so very common.  Mom had probably perished along the way...

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

Thank you! I had the same thought, that maybe we should try to corral him into the carrier.

I'm assuming he is the daddy because they are all 3 gray shorthairs, and the boys look just like him. Mama was around for awhile, and then she disappeared. Daddy (Moe) is very feral and only comes around to eat now and then, but does get in the shelter when it's very cold. The brother (Larry) is a little better, but not by much. Our guy (Curly) has always been much friendlier/less afraid than the other 2. It's the strangest thing, how one can be so different from the others. The whole family had been travelling as a pack around the neighborhood, and then I started feeding them and they've stuck around. But at some point I realized Curly wasn't ever leaving. He'd sleep in the shelter, and then hang around the porch all day. So we decided to try and make a go of socializing him. I wanted to trap him first because he is so wary of it to begin with, and I was afraid if he saw the other ones trapped I'd never have a chance. I guess I don't have to worry about that now!

Update: he is up and about now, roaming around like he's lived here for years. Still a bit wary of the other cats, but not nearly as bad. This is just amazing.....never in my wildest dreams did I think he would adapt so easily. They are so full of surprises!

Now to get him to the vet. That could be a challenge.