2 months ago I saw a little feral outside my workplace hungry and scared, I started feeding it and week later got it in a friendly cat trap and took him home. he's been very scared, hiding under the bed and wouldn't let me touch him. he very slowly started playing wiht me after about a month and he slowly started playing regularly with me and letting me sneak strokes in but still unable to freely pet him or pick him up. he escaped one night and now only comes to my door at night to eat where iv set up a kitty buffet. Please help! he is the sweetest cat but so scared and I don't know how to help him calm down and come back inside. To top it all off I have to move house again in a week and unsure if he'll even get in a cat trap agin or if he even wants to come with me even though I so desperately want him to
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please help!
- Thread starter luci2017
- Start Date
Hello luci2017, welcome to TCS 
Just want to know how did the kitty escape? Was he frightened by anything?
There's hope still as he still comes back for feeds. But the thing is that you are moving in one week and with all the packing and shifting of stuffs will make it harder for him to settle down. Unless you can have a safe room for him for the time being without any chance of him escaping.
Or you can take the chance to capture him on the last day when you move after everything is settled at the new place with a safe room for him. This way he only transit once and only one place to get use to instead of here and then at the new place.
Let us know your situation so that more ideas can be thought of to help you better in socializing him.
Keep us posted
Just want to know how did the kitty escape? Was he frightened by anything?
There's hope still as he still comes back for feeds. But the thing is that you are moving in one week and with all the packing and shifting of stuffs will make it harder for him to settle down. Unless you can have a safe room for him for the time being without any chance of him escaping.
Or you can take the chance to capture him on the last day when you move after everything is settled at the new place with a safe room for him. This way he only transit once and only one place to get use to instead of here and then at the new place.
Let us know your situation so that more ideas can be thought of to help you better in socializing him.
Keep us posted
I would definitely try to get him captured shortly before your move and keep him in a large wire dog kennel, big enough for a small litter box and a box to hide in. In fact you might try to get him to go into the large kennel to eat, I have captured several by doing this (and using a garden shed too) and running a long cord through the back and into the house, then you can quickly pull the door shut when he is inside. The door would be facing away from your house and the cord would run through it out the back so the door pulls closed. Throw a blanket over it if you are successful to calm him. It will seem cruel at first, but he will be much better off in the long run, good luck!
I have also recaptured a few feral cats by feeding them in a large dog carrier and getting them used to it. On the morning of capture, I put the food in as usual and once the cat is inside, close the door.
Has this little one been to the vet yet? He will need vaccines, testing for viral illnesses, dewormed, as well as being spayed/neutered. I would do this sooner than later. When you capture him with the move, you might want to get him straight to the vet to avoid another capture.
Has this little one been to the vet yet? He will need vaccines, testing for viral illnesses, dewormed, as well as being spayed/neutered. I would do this sooner than later. When you capture him with the move, you might want to get him straight to the vet to avoid another capture.
