Retraining a stray/feral cat to go outside

I'll try and give some background to the cat (Jack) first so you can get the whole picture. Jack started sneaking into our house at night to help himself to our resident cat's food. This was close to three years ago now. As time went on he would start coming in during daylight hours, too when we would catch a glimps of him but would never allow us near him. Eventually he claimed an armchair as his own which was situated at the far end of our lounge and out of the way of through traffic. If we so much as looked in his direction he would bolt for the cat flap.

This went on for two years. The only time we made physical contact with him was when he came in one day obviously ill. He was very lethargic and basically crawled into the house. The one side of his face was swollen and it was obvious he was in pain. I scooped him up, put him in the cat box and took him to the vet. He had an absess caused by a bite of some kind so the vet lanced it, drained it cleaned it up. We asked them to give him a full physical and tests for feline HIV, etc. Had him checked for an ID tag and when that was negative had them give him his shots and got him neutred. All this was done over a couple of days and then we took him back home, parked him on "his" armchair and let him recover.

Once recovered he continued his routine of coming in in various states of cleanliness (we think he was living in a fox or rabbit hole in the field behind our house), getting some rest on his chair and stuffing his face with food. This whole period was over about 2.5 years and during this whole time we'd never heard a meow, a purr, hiss or anything. Total silence. Anyway, he suddenly started exploring the rest of the house on his visits and then took to curling up in front of a radiator in the upstairs office. We bought him a cat bed and put it on the floor on that exact spot infront of the radiator and the very first time he saw it, he claimed it. One day I took a chance and approached him to see if I could give him a fuss and although he was nervous he allowed it. That was the first time in 2 and a half years, other than when he was ill, I'd actually been able to touch him.

That was like breaching a wall because from then on he's totally changed. He doesn't stop meowing for attention, purring his head off when fussed and even telling us when it's time for bed. The problem we now have however is that he hardly leaves the house at all. He's gone from being outside on his own for probably 20 hours a day to rarely going outside at all. Not even to potty. We have litter trays all over the house, upstairs and downstairs, but rather than go outside or use the trays, he insists on using the floor, usually under a desk or in a corner somewhere. We don't want to make an issue of it because it's taken us 3 years to get to this point and we don't want to blow it. He knows what litter trays are for because he knows our other cat uses the ones downstairs.

For some reason he just won't go outside other than for ten mins here or there if the sun is out and he wants to catch a few rays. We just have no idea how to either persuade him to go outside to potty or use a litter tray without stressing him out and ruining three years of patience and hard work. Any ideas would be really appreciated.

Whoa! I think I've just re written 'War and Peace'. Sorry about that, guys.

Anyway. Thanks in advance

Steve.

Oh, Here's a couple of pics...


This is when he first started visiting. He has scratches on his nose and is feeling generally sorry for himself.


This is him now. On his own bed.

He may see the other cats using the boxes but still not realize he can too. Try a new box with dirt in it or dirt and leaves covering the litter. It's what he's used to using outside.

Before that, though, you may want to have him checked for a urinary tract infection. They can make it painful for cats to go and cause problems as to where they go. You will also need to spray the spots where he's gone with a good enzyme cleaning to rid them completely of his smell, so he won't re-offend.

Finally, there may be something outside that is frightening him - another cat perhaps, construction in the area, anything new that might be making him nervous.

And last but not least, your work with him so far is amazing. Thank you for helping him.

Definitely get another litter box.  You can try dirt or dirt mixed with litter or there also is a product called Litter Attract.  When I brought my stray, Marvin inside a few weeks ago, he wouldn't use the litter box and preferred the floor.  The Litter Attract did the trick.  He now uses the litter box and no more accidents.  Sometimes cats do not want to share litter boxes.  I have also heard that outdoor cats sometimes need 2 litter boxes; one for pee and one for poop.  If you can find the litter attract it really works.  You can mix it with current litter or just use it by itself to start.  Someone also suggested to me that when he has an accident, sop it up (if it's pee) and bury the paper towels in the litter.  You can do the same with the poop.  He will recognize the scent as his own.  You can also try Feliway spray or diffusers to help the situation.

Are you up for letting him stay inside permanently?  I have heard of many ferals/strays that have lived outside for years and one day just decided they have had enough.  Jack knows that you will care for him and he realizes he has hit the jack pot!!
 

Thanks for all the tips, guys. Some we've tried already and some we haven't so I'll get moving on those ones. It's not that he's doing it that bothers us as much as WHY he's doing it.

As for letting him stay inside permanently, that's not a problem at all if that's what he wants to do. He seems to be in love with his bed right now. Like he realised from the get go that it was bought for him and he intends to guard it with his life.

They are funny. I have two ex-ferals who are actually terrified of the doors to outside. They will run as soon as they hear one opening. It's like they think I'd toss them back outside and aren't taking any chances!