meet Buggy

my  vet was closed today,  they loan humane traps with a deposit. No problem. i'll be on it in the morning.

I'll bring the trap inside and slowly introduce the food to the inside, same as I did using the carrier, I got him half way in, but any further...he balked

Lets see how it works, not rushing here. 

.   

Yea, do it slow and easy

yessir, admittedly, I'm not the type that lets a task sit...want to get him in ASAP, but must yield to the complexity involved. ALL in the Bugs' best interests, of course.  

Hey, he's back again sleeping in his hot house outside. A cold, raw rainy day....he was late for his afternoon feed...showed at 730....ate a ton...laid on the floor indoors...cleaned....(was hoping he'd stay)...5 minutes later but got up and retired to his outdoor house. I'm monitoring him. on the cam.....curled up on the heated pad.

i believe he knows he's got a great overnite safe spot to dry off and warm up. I'm relieved. Lights out, nitey nite Bug.

Whoa!! I see that avatar is now Bugs! Alright!

Is the heated house near or far away from the sliding door that he goes in to eat? Was wondering if it should be nearer so that it don't look like a hiding place away from his soon real hiding place.
If you move it nearer and nearer to the door and eventually move the heated house indoor. It is already like his sleeping bed and if the catch is successful, he can use it as his permanent bed even after winter is over. Not sure if it'll work that way.
But might not as you need to lock that door for security reasons.

Yes, the sliding glass door must be closed (cold) and locked (secure). Only under my supervision is he allowed to enter and be fed or hang out indoors...sliding door open 6" , The security camera aids in knowing when the little prince arrives.   

His hot house (Buggy Towers) is outdoors at the entry way. Yes, after vet and neuter once he's in...I'll move the house inside...heat unplugged...no longer needed.

Agreed...I'd think his house would offer some comfort and familiarity.

That avatar pic IS the real Bug, alright!  A regular wise guy : )   

Edit: returned 9PM...after a bit of dry food...he's back sleeping in his hot house tonight...2 (or is it 3?) nights in a row!  Its cold again here....hopefully the heated pad has influenced him....perhaps he's moved in?

If so...another positive step forward. 

And my vet was closed yet again today....no humane trap yet. Try again in the morning. Sheesh. 

Originally Posted by ShadowsRescue  

10.  Remember that when working with ferals it is often 1 step forward and 2 steps back.   Just take it slow and steady.  Also celebrate the small advancements.

Read this earlier,...so true. The Bugs' feeding times got messed up today (obligations caused my absence) as a result....Buggys' not sleeping over tonight. With snow starting midnight. Dammit.  

On an up note, his tree is assembled in his room. He gave it a loooong stare, it freaked him a bit...but ate 1/2 dinner tonight before leaving. I think he's in the dilapidated garage 2 doors down. Dammit.  Could he sense the weather about to change for the worse? 

Tomorrows another day.  

Yep, I read ShadowsRescue post in the other thread.

Good that the tree is up. Maybe you can get an old t-shirt or cloth and go to the hot house and soak up his scent and rub the t-shirt all over the tree and leave the t-shirt there. This way, his scent is already there rather than freak him out with a giant object as new trees has enough got different smells.

great idea, TT....I'll use a mini blanket that was in his travel crate. We had used it outside prior to getting the hot house, got his scent for sure. I'll get right on that for tomorrow AM feed.   

More scent more secure

Oh, I forgot to add this. Is there a big eonugh litter box for him to use? This will be additional scent and remind him that this home have a nice toilet for him. Not sure if you have a place to put it so that the snow does not get into it and cover it and make it wet.
As what Advisor Ondine always say, sprinkle some dry leaves over it just like he used to do it outdoors.

should I put a litter box indoors?  even though he's still  "outside"?   Indoor or out...I can make that happen easy enough.

An inch or so of snow overnight ...and no sign of Bug this morning   : (

I would try one.  Maybe make sure he is the only one with access to it for now.  He and you other cats have plenty of time to learn to share

Make sure his routine stays if not all your efforts will be wasted.

trying my utmost to keep consistent during my presence...  

though i AM GOING to the Rolex 24 hours @ Daytona IMSA (pro sports car) races for 8-9 days

my SOLO winter getaway vacation : )  

I also do some bike riding down there...full access to a Kawasaki Ninja (yessss)

Have fun!

^ well, thank ya, Ondine. 

Bug is napping in his hot house this afternoon, his timetable a little whacked out. Possibly due to snow?  and more tomorrow. Yech.  

 I AM relieved he's hanging about. With family members coming and going, he's now found refuge in the hot house...where he previously bolted...he now stays...knows he's safe, not gonna get harassed.. .getting used to the situation here. 

 I'll wake him for 4PM feed

Edit: done, ate well....headed into the woods....hunting again? 

Take care at the races!

Could not be hunting as he's just eaten. Proably his routine rounds and potty business?

Fed the Bug a lot this morning 9AM ...snow forecast all day till midnight.

5PM...about 6" out there...wind blown snow....the camera motion detector activates...guess who is at the door...I fed him again....had his hot house indoors to dry the pad, the snow had blown into his house.

i'm pointing towards his house PRAYING he'll go in, meanwhile inching towards the slider to close him in.  Still eating...he looks at me, the door, eats more, looking again at me, the door...finally bolts outside. He's under a car in my driveway....I put his house back out....the camera monitor is set.

Cold, wet...he's gonna have one miserable night out there. at very least he ate.....regardless I feel I have failed during his hour of need. Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.

Was hoping he would take the option...but should i have been more forceful and devious in locking him in tonight?

What would YOU have done?  

I wouldn't beat myself up.  He's survived 12 years out there, so he's obviously found a warm spot to sleep.  As you said, he's got plenty of food to fuel him.