I NEED SOME ADVICE--PLEASE HELP

HELLO

I MOVED INTO AN APARTMENT 2 YEARS AGO-

WITHING 1 MONTH A BEAUTIFUL BLACK CAT SHOWED UP AT MY SLIDING DOOR-LOOKING LOST AND SCARED-AND HUNGRY

I STARTED FEEDING HIM-

HE WOULD NOT LET ME TOUCH HIM OR GET NEAR HIM FOR 6 MONTHS.

**FYI- I HAVE AN INSIDE KITTY-(BOY)

THEY SEEM TO GET ALONG- THEY HAVE NEVER HISSED AT EACH OTHER--THEY PLAY THRU THE SCREEN

ITS BEEN ABOUT 2 YRS. HE KEEPS COMING FOR FOOD-

***I LOVE MY OUTSIDE KITTY.

HE WILL LET ME TOUCH AND PET HIM.

****HE WILL NOT LET ME PICK HIM UP!!!

HERES THE PROBLEM...

I HAVE TO LEAVE MY APARTMENT WITHIN 2 MONTHS.

I CANNOT LEAVE MY OUTSIDE KIITY.  IT WOULD BREAK MY HEART. CAUSE HE THINKS THAT I AM HIS DAD-SO DO I.

I NEED HELP.

I WANT TO CATCH HIM- TAKE HIM TO VET. (TO MAKE SURE HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY DISEASES) ,CLEAN HIM UP.

I HAVE TO GET HIM- WONT BE EASY. I WANT TO BRING HIM TO MY NEXT APT. AND HOPE FULLY BOTH CATS WILL GET ALONG.

I WILL DO WHATEVER I HAVE TO  HELP MY OUTSIDE KITTY.

HE SHOWS UP AT 8PM-EATS AND SLEEPS OUT SIDE MY DOOR-LOOKING IN AT ME AND MY INSIDE KITTY.

HE HAS WALKED IN BEFORE--BUT WILL NOT STAY. EVEN IF IT IS 10 DEGREES OUTSIDE , AND MY DOOR IS WIDE OPEN HE WILL STILL JUST SIT AND WATCH ME-- I AM VERY STRESSED.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

YOURS TRULY

THOMAS McCLOSKEY

OK you have two months. You can do it but it won't be easy!

I don't know where you live, but if you were in my area I would advise you to get in touch with an animal rescue charity. A problem shared is a problem (half) solved. Your vet will probably be able to help by providing names and addresses. A good animal shelter will have traps which can be borrowed and they will help you getting the cat used to only eating in the trap before it is time to set the trap to take him to the vet.

Unfortunately, your main problem will concern your new apartment. A cat which won't enter your home now will panic if you try to imprison him indoors in completely new surroundings. Your own cat will also be stressed by the move. Is the new apartment really suitable? Perhaps the animal shelter can offer more advice and members of this site have far more experience than I and will no doubt help you.

I always keep semi-wild neutered female cats in my cellar until they have got used to being indoors. Unfortunately it doesn't always work out so they are released again in the area they were trapped.

Good luck. I hope you find a solution for your outside kitty.

Thank you for taking care of this cat and for wanting to take him with you when you move!

I'm not sure where you live; but, your best bet is to get your hands on a humane trap. Contact your local animal shelter, rescue or animal control and ask to borrow a live trap (often called a Hav-a-heart trap.)

Start by rigging the trap door open using a zip-tie or something similar. Then, start feeding the cat in the trap. Do this for a few days to a week (you want him comfortable going in the trap.)

Only feed him in the trap.

Once he is comfortable eating in the trap, your next step is to set the trap door to release once kitty is inside.

The trap will work as a cat carrier for you to take the cat to the vet, get shots, neutered, etc...

Since this cat will not let you pick him up, I then suggest you crate him in a large dog crate to work on socializing him and building trust. Hopefully by the time it comes to move in a few weeks, you will have had good progress with him!

THANK YOU

I AM RELLY STRESSED

THANK YOU

I AM SO WORRIED

IT MEANS A LOT THAT YOU ARE HELPING ME.

IT WILL DETROY ME TO LEAVE HIM.

MY INSIDE CAT LIKES HIM

IT MEANS ALOT THTA YOU ARE HELPING

THANKS AGAIN

Just a thought, but is there somewhere outside the sliding door that you can put a cat carrier - ideally with a nice blanket and some food inside so he can get used to going into it?  and eventually close it. I caught our latest "wild boy" (#5) this way.  It is less stressful than a trap, although that could work too.  Also it  is not unusual for a stray to accept petting but not being picked up.  Can you try petting him and then letting your hands gently move to under his chest and just lift him up a few inches, that's a good start?

Try moving to the "caring for strays and ferals" site, you can probably get good advice there!

THANK S FOR CARING

GREAT ADVISE