How to.......otherwise I'm not moving!

andieg

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Hi all,

My husband is thinking of us moving to another state for his work.

We have been taking care of a part feral cat who 'adopted' us last year.He's about 12+ y/o.

I love, love love him! I even made my husband put in a cat door and gave him his own room away from our indoor cat. He's also set up under the house with heated bed for the winter plus other warm spots and another heated bed on the patio.

We spend alot of time together and is a great friend and healer (just happens to be in a cat's body - Himalayan at that!) I cook for him as I do the rest of the family.

He is King of his territory outside and is a real toughie and knows how to take care of himself. I've seen him chase a pit bull who wondered onto our property.

So, I'll probably check with my animal communicator (although I am one also but too emotionally attached and an animal reiki practitioner) but has anyone moved a cat who is part feral? I don't want to take him against his will, but I'm not willing to leave him behind either. And if I did take him, I'd be concerned he'd run off, you know how we hear of these stories of cats traveling thousands of miles to get home.

If it can't be done. I'm unwilling to move. My husband will have to start the move without me or do business in the other state part of the week and then come home. I'm serious, I won't budge! (and my husband knows that!)

Any thoughts, ideas!?????
 

msaimee

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You're very fortunate that your feral will use a cat door and come inside your home. I'd give anything if my feral buddy would come inside when it's sub-zero or when he's ill and I'm worried sick about him! When it's close to moving time, get him to come inside, get him into a carrier, and move him with you. When you're in your new home, keep him indoors and see if he'll adjust to being an indoor only cat. If he's absolutely miserable being indoors only after a few weeks, let him go outside but keep an eye on him because he might get lost or try to find his way back to his old territory. You're his caregiver and I think you should take him with you.
 

Kat0121

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That boy is really lucky to have a friend like you. In a perfect world, all ferals would be so fortunate. 

I agree with @MsAimee  100%. I think you should take him with you. The recommendation is that once you move him to a new place to confine him for a couple of weeks so he can acclimate to his new surroundings. He may take to being an indoor cat, he may not but I would not let him out before the two weeks is up because as mentioned above, he may try to go back to his old territory and you don't want that. Thank you for caring about him. I'm sure he loves you, too. 


@Norachan  has experience with moving ferals. Maybe she can give you first hand advice that we cannot. I wish you the best of luck with your move and I hope you and your boy will be together for many years to come. 
 
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andieg

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I taught him by keeping the flap open and pushing him through a few times, in the beginning he ran. Then when he came inside I closed

the flap and tried to teach him how to push on it. He would take his paw and gentle tap it. I laugh because here's this bully with others, and he pushes his body against our storm door when he wants to come in through the front door, but a light door like the cat door, he just doesn't get it. So I keep it propped open. My husband wants me to close it cause the heat bill will sky rocket. At night he goes else where so I will close it for a few hours to keep the room warm and then re-open it around 3AM.
 
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andieg

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Thank you, both. It eases my mind. This may be a mute cause if my husband can get his business to take off. We're in a small city that has a mind of it's own. If it happens, it may not be until the summer if that soon. Thanks, again.
 

kittychick

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AndieG ---I'm impressed on the car door!!! Totally in agreement with @Kat0121 & @MsAimee. Moving him is absolutely possible. Years ago I moved one over 300 miles, & he turned out to be a fantastic, sweet (eventually 100% indoor) former feral kitty. He may even decide all indoors is a much better life!

And @Norachan has amazing knowledge & history of very successfully moving - and not just one but a bunch of them!!! I'd definitely reach out to her.
 

furry

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I would definitely try asking your animal communicator friend, and have a go yourself too. I know you say you are too emotionally attached but if you get yourself into the non-thinking state then your emotions will not affect the response.
 
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andieg

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Thank you both for your comments.

All the comments have lifted a weight off my shoulders.
 
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andieg

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I wanted to thank all of you again. We 'spoke' with Toupee and he is ok with moving with us since he is part of our family now.

He wanted assurance that he will be protected from predators, which we assured him we will have an enclosed area for him with a cat door

since he said he still wants to go outside. We will have an enclosed backyard as well and I'm hoping for a sun room, too!.

I was glad I had my AC mentor speak with him again since she reminded him to gather up his energy from the area and our home. She said this is important to do and one of the reasons cats return to an original place even if hundreds of miles away.

I'm very happy it will work out. We'll get him an extra large carrier so he can move around and room for a pad incase he needs to use the bathroom.  It is an 8 hour drive, and he told me not to be alarmed if he meows part of the way. Now I'm trying to decide if I should get there after everything is moved in so he doesn't get spooked by the strangers moving us. We'll load up the truck the day before so I don't have to worry about him hiding the day of the move.

He's the love of my life. We spend morning meditation and evening meditation time together and he loves Reiki! Hopefully that will keep him calmer.
 

catpack

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We have relocated a few very feral cats before. I would too would encourage you to take this boy with you, unless you can find someone to continue caring for him at his current location.

The way we did relocations was to confine the cats to X-L dog crates or dog runs that we have added a secure top to. The cats are kept strictly crated for 4-6 weeks. The crates/runs are kept inside barns which are meant to serves as the new "home base" for these cats once they are allowed to roam. The caregiver feeds the cats twice daily and changed the cleans the litter boxes in an effort to bond with the cats and set a feeding routine for them.

We and other rescue groups that follow this protocol have had a nearly 100% success rate with getting cats to stick around.

If you are going to have a cat-proof backyard or a outdoor enclosure for this kitty this would be perfect for him! Perhaps you could confine him to his own room inside and build an enclosure that he would be able to access from a window in his safe room.
 
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andieg

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Thank you. He's definitely coming with me - we are too attached to each other. That's exactly what I told my husband I want installed. Besides an outdoor enclosed area where he can gain access from his room and hang out and enjoy the outdoors with protection, there would also be a cat run connected to it for bathroom use since he's used to dirt and bushes, etc.  He has on occasion used the kitty pan and pads we put down for him.

Where we are now, he has his own room with a cat door and we sectioned off our in house elderly cat . even though they've met, she doesn't want any part of him. Thank goodness he runs from her, cause outdoors he can be a bully to other cats and dogs.

Thank you, again, for your response.
 

kittychick

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Please keep us posted as to how the move goes - -so glad you're taking him with you!!! 
 
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