My feral who has been inside 2 years got out!

Have had a feral indoor kitty for 2 years since he was 8 weeks old who has never been completely tame. He'll let me pick him up and love him for short periods, not allow husband near at all and has always been skittish. Always knew that if he ever got outside he would take off and not come back. Have 10 acres of woods around the house and no neighbors. So yesterday after pleading with husband for the past few years to "never leave the door open", he did and Blue got out ;-( So put out the kitty buffet, left the basement door cracked for him to come in if he was nearby. About midnight I heard one faint meow from outside the basement door and got so excited. Within 10 minutes there was a raccoon hanging over the deck possibly having scared Blue underneath. Not a sign of him today. Tonight I'll try it again and tomorrow get a trap even though I fear I'll trap 20 raccoons before I'll ever get Blue. There are tons of raccoons and coyotes around. I'd never heard of a raccoon killing a cat but someone told me they can if desperate for food- Blue is small-ish. His buddy my 12 year old diabetic cat, is beside himself crying and pawing at Blues toys so sadly. Do ferals sometimes just take off because that's their preference or do they hang around for the easy meal?

If you leave the trap out with food during the night, you will catch many raccoons! You would have better success if you put the trap out when it's daylight in the morning, or before it gets dark at sunset. Since you've had him almost his entire life for 2 years, though, and he's socialized to you, I wonder if you even need a trap. He may have wandered off and gotten lost since it's been a long time since he's had to navigate around outside. You may have better success looking around and calling his name with a can of food in your hand. Chances are that when he gets hungry, he will try to find his way back to you. I'm assuming that he's neutered. I know how worried you must be. Sending positive thoughts your way.

Thanks so much for your compassionate reply. Appreciate the word on the raccoons...they've already found their way into the basement with the food I left out. Unfortunately Blue'd never come to me- he'll meow back so I could localize him in the dense woods here, but would not let me get near him. He was socialized only to the point of letting me pick him up, pet him for short periods when he was nestled somewhere.  Hate to think of him scared close by. The coyotes have even caught a feral cat right under my bedroom window. Blue's also never been outside where I live- I adopted him from somewhere else so I fear he doesn't even know the land around our home. This is not a good situation for him, but will try early morn late evening. Thanks once again for your pointers and caring support.

Just wanted to tell you I am sending vibes that you find him and can bring him in again.

I'm sending your vibes and prayers, too.
You could also put out his litter box, he might be drawn to the smell. (And hopefully no other animals).
And some of your (dirty, smelly) clothing.

Thanks so much Ondine and Ritz. Your caring and suggestions help a lot. I'll just keep on hoping and trying. Husband who left the door open is offering zero support sadly.

Mine stayed out awhile when he first got out and I fed him outside.  As the weather grew cooler and fall rains began, he came up on the porch, would watch the other cats coming in, and eventually if I left thedoor wide open and stayed away from it, he would come in, and eat, and settle down somewhere comfy.  Now he comes and goes as he likes, and lately he stays inside more and more.  I think the important thing is when they discover they actually have a choice in the matter, and thta the BEST food (the wet food) is always INSIDE the house.

What an encouraging story. Thanks so much- gives some hope. My worry is that we have so many coyotes around (I have even seen them get a cat) that I feel this is a race against time. Since he's never been an outdoor cat, except when he was an abandoned 8 week old cat, he doesn't have the smarts to defend himself. But he's a superb hider- know I will never see him. There are some ferals around but  rarely see them, yet caught one in a trap set for Blue this morning. The encouraging thing is that I left our basement door cracked the last few days and at nite the food disappears. Could be another cat or a raccoon which we have tons of, but betting it's Blue. Going to sleep on the floor in the basement (yikes-spiders!) but hoping if it is him I can slam the door behind him!

Can't tell you how helpful your story is tho- the weather is closing in and hoping like your kitty, Blue will decide to stay indoors.

Thought of another tip.
Cats eyes reflect the light, that is, if you shine a flashlight on them, you'll see their eyes.
You could go around at night (or perhaps the time you'd normally feed your cat) with a flashlight and shine the light behind bushes, small enclosures, etc. Remember that if a cat can fit his head into an opening, he can fit his entire body.

Thanks so much, but the flashlight option is near impossible. Live on 10 acres of forest covered in massive trees, and 6-12 foot high undergrowth bushes everywhere. There are paths crisscrossing but nothing visible beyond those high walls. Perfect place for cats, bobcats and coyotes to hide in as 95% of is inaccessible. Even if a miracle and he appeared he'd poke a head out he'd vanish again. Softly called him at night walking the paths with a flashlight but may be succeeding in pushing him further away. All so depressing- was almost sure it would be the outcome if the DOOR WAS EVER LEFT open. Have forgiven husband; he is hopelessly forgetful.

Heartbroken that the first night he was gone, heard him cry right outside the garage door. Had the garage door open about 4-5 inches, and knew the noise of opening it further would scare him away. No sigh of him even leaving the door open now 12 inches. Trap empty. Could die that I didn't leave garage door open wider for him initially-may have come in. Perhaps his choice to remain outdoors despite the rains of the Pacific Northwest already starting. No food taken last night :-(

Will pray that the Cat Goddess watches over him, and hopefully he'll come to food in the garage.  Make sure there's some place he could get into in the garage so he could not be cornered by a coyote if one followed him in.  He needs to be able to climb up high or fit through some tiny opening into a pile of boxes or something.

Thanks so very much for your kindness. Our place is set up nicely to protect Blue in the event a creature follows him in. The garage door is open 12" and then there is a second door to basement that I leave open about 6". Worse case scenario there are high shelves in both areas he can scale up. Still nothing today :-(  Your thoughtfulness and concern is so very appreciated.

Can you borrow a trail camera or two from someone? Everyone who hunts has one nowadays. These cameras have motion sensors and take digital pictures. So sorry your kitty is missing. I had a feral get out once and was not able to get her back, but have had successes, too.