I trapped and fixed Jeff (my black cat who escaped) and his mom several years ago. they were outdoor cats for years.. but in a different community. When my ex and I split up and he refused to take care of them anymore I relocated him with his mom and one other cat to my new home as outdoor cats, this is back in Jan 2013. Jeff was always a bit nuts and I tried keeping the 3 of them in my shed to get them used to the new area. Well back in 2013 I opened the door and Jeff bolted out, so I had to let the other 2 go at that time too so he wouldn't be alone in the new neighborhood. One cat Whitey... I haven't seen since. But Oreo (momma) and Jeff stuck around. Jeff is probably 6 and his mom 7 or 8. I was finally able to trap them with the help of a rescue group. After getting checked up, cleaned up dewormed, etc (and keeping them in separate quarters for a couple of months so my other cats didn't get sick) I brough Jeff and his mom in. Oreo likes being inside she sleeps and loves my other cat Geppetto. She has no interest in going outside but every night Jeff would get into crying fits. Would stare out the windows, we have a lot and cry incessantly for a while. He's been in for 1.5 years at least at this point. We do feed 2 outdoor boy cats who are very territorial (both fixed). So Fri night when it was warm and I was throwing out treats to the outside guys Jeff bolted underneath my feet. He went to the bottom of the steps and looked up at me. Shocked, I calmly said Jeff come back in holding the door open for him but he must've seen the other 2 boys staring at him, he took one step towards me and then ran the other way into my backyard (very woodsy back there) and I"m near a preserve tons of trees. I heard rustling in the leaves as he ran back but it was midnight and I couldn't see anything.
He still hasn't come back, I made my husband pour the used cat litter in the woods so he can maybe smell his way back. He may be close but is afraid of the outdoor guys to pass. He's a bigger cat and a bit chunky but worried that he's ok out there. I'm 5 months pregnant and don't even know how to trap him now b/c I can pet him but not pick him up. also he's probably full of ticks and parasites now which is a whole other issue with my other 3 cats never going out. I"m just shocked and hope he's ok and wonder if there's anything else I can do. I put stinky food out but the 2 outside boys are constantly around.
He still hasn't come back, I made my husband pour the used cat litter in the woods so he can maybe smell his way back. He may be close but is afraid of the outdoor guys to pass. He's a bigger cat and a bit chunky but worried that he's ok out there. I'm 5 months pregnant and don't even know how to trap him now b/c I can pet him but not pick him up. also he's probably full of ticks and parasites now which is a whole other issue with my other 3 cats never going out. I"m just shocked and hope he's ok and wonder if there's anything else I can do. I put stinky food out but the 2 outside boys are constantly around.