Blanku the hiding cat

My BF and I were feeding a stray from June - Dec. We made a feral cat house and even made a small opening in the basement so he could be warm in the cold. In Jan., we caught him, had him sterilized and checked out (immunized). We brought him 50 miles to my house where he lived in the spare bedroom. He was very shy, living by day, under the bed and at night, on the bed. He was immaculate with the litter box and ate well.  Two months of trying to play and sitting in the room, he still remained shy and aloof. 

I was away Friday night and came back to the cellar door open. Long story short, he went down there and enter the wall via the door to the fuse box area. He was found hiding between the paneling and wall. For 24 hours he was in there. We got him out using rope and weighted object to swing over the side of the paneling. He ran out, hid behind the washing machine then ran back and jumped 6 feet UP into a hole in the ceiling, only to hide again. 

12 hours later he is missing...we cannot see or hear him. I out his litter box down there and he has not used it but part of the ceiling is on the floor so he was on the move. 

He has not eaten or drank water in 48 hours. i am afraid to feed/water him for fear he will stay down there forever and never socialize.  His water and food bowl is open in his room waiting. 

Part of me feels we should trap him and bring him back to his neighborhood and go back to feeding him and caring for him on his terms in his "hood".  

I have no idea what to do..I am staying as calm as possible. I am sending out love to him.  I want him to be safe and happy but am worried as he is hiding near unhealthy insulation and could get stuck perhaps. It's no way for a cat to live and it's stressing me out. I have not slept in 24 hours.

I want to add, when he trapped him to sterilize him, we wanted to keep him warm for the winter months and often discussed releasing him back to my bf's home/neighborhood. I want to do what's best for Blanku. I want him safe and happy. 

Also I have a therapy calm docile dog that has never chased or tried to hurt the cat. In fact, they have not interacted much at all. Confy is 12+ and couldn't be bothered. She is used to cats as well.

Do you keep the spare bedroom door open when you are home? Is he in the rest of the home when you are? I would keep him where he is and continue to work with him.

Can you get a live trap? A lot of times the rescues or humane societys will rent them out or loan them out. If you can, set it up where is is currently with a nice smelly food in it. When he gets hungry he will go in and you will be able to make a decision about long term.

Feral adults are incredibly difficult to socialize. It would be for his best outcome longtermn if you can dedicate the time, to continue to try to socailize him. The room that he usually stays on needs to have the hiding spots removed. If you can move the furniture out then create barriers to keept him from being able to hide (stack textbooks around edges of a bed or boxes without room to push them or squeeze between for example). The idea is to allow some hiding and safety in spaces you can reach or get him out of. Think safe spot versus cave. My girl was feral and her safe spot is under the table she can see us but we can't easily reach her. However, if I have to I can. Then continue the talking, reading, whatever quietly in the room with him. Only feed him during times you are in there. Set a schedule so he knows when you will be coming in and make sure you stick with it. It is a blend of forced interaction/trust building but a little space.


http://www.urbancatleague.org/TamingFerals
http://catcentric.org/behavior-and-psychology/socializing-a-feral-cat-its-all-about-trust/

^said this so nicely yes. i put our spare bed on the floor and created safe but accessible hidey places mainly those cave beds. good luck with this one. they have a tendency to go high i've noticed. mine lept atop the kitchen cupboards. giving a more confined space will help them adjust too.

When I am home, his bedroom door is open. At night,  I close it so he does not startle the dog and vice versa...they have not been face to face yet...

I can get a live have a heart trap..not sure what us being recommended...I am fearful he may never leave his hiding area in the cellar.

I have not had any advice yet on the food and water so where it's day three, I put down water and a trail of treats leading to the stairs...I don't want him more stressed due to hunger/thirst but then again, I don't want him living in the cellar. 

He does not seem feral. When we trapped him, he was easy for us and the vet to manage. No hissing or biting or anger, in fact, very chill. 

I am new to this and had I done it again, I would NOT have put him in a room with two beds. 

Now he is in the basement, God knows where..hiding in the ceiling or between the walls. I pray he is safe..and I hope I can get some sleep. I am having horrid cat dreams. I am committed to him whether he stays here or moves back to my bf's house/area. We will always care for him. 

It will be okay. If you are leaving food out he is likely taking small amounts when you aren't around. My girl did that and even nudged the food arpund some so it wasn't as apparent. Any brand of live trap works. Just put his only food option in there and it will catch him when he eats. That will get him out of the basement. There won't be a long term negative affect on him or your relationship.

He may have been a stray instead of a true feral but a lot of the same rules apply until he adjusts to thw living situation. Once you have him back I would limit him to one room until he is comfortable and adjusted. Then open up a new room at a time to slowly expand his world. It sounds like the transition to indoors startled him and he is trying to find a comfort zone. You can make indoors his mew comfort zone but it is a day at a time and slowly expand the boundaries.

thanks everyone, I definitely need some hand holding ..this is very stressful. 

I put out a trail of food and water and his old litter box is still there..nothing. I cannot see him at all. He must be in the ceiling..I do not smell urine or poop so not sure how he is holding it in...

I have 4 days before I travel and my awesome pet sitter arrives. Will find a trap today...

New question

Once caught, should I bring him back to his old room with the two beds or put him in our spare room with no beds and establish a new place? Or should I bring him back to his old hood where my bf will feed and water him and where Blanku was found and was free and settled? The cold winter months seem to be over....

He is definitely a stray not a feral...

Love him..

It should be mentioned, my intention was to bring him in for the winter post sterilization and see if we could socialize and make him happy and if not return him to his hood.

When you get him, I would return him to his original room and leave him there while you are gone.  Let him re-familiarize himself while you are away.  Once you are back, you can start the process of re-introducing him to the entire house and to the pup.

After all this time, I am not sure returning him to his old 'hood is a good idea.  It may very likely confuse him and he might try to make his way back "home" AKA your house.  He's gotten used to being an inside cat now.  I'd let it stay that way.

Thanks all, a wonderful animal behaviorist came over and caught Blanku in 5 minutes. He is in a big crate, cozy and warm. We positioned him in a central area so he is accustomed to the comings and goings.  She recommended I keep him there for two weeks to support my efforts to socialize him. She taught me some tricks on this and I was able to rub his neck. She fed him from her finger.  He is not feral but more likely an abandoned stray who is quite shy. We suspect he's been on his own since he was a kitten...we've seen him around off and on for 3 years but in June, he became a permanent fixture. I love him and have positive hope....

Stay positive and hopeful....he'll come around. Stray/feral domestication is a slow, inevitably difficult up/down back/forward process. There was a point where I was convinced I made a mistake in my attempt and actually contemplated releasing the Bug. I actually thought he was seriously depressed and better off released....WRONG.   

Beginning to end 5 months, well on his way to gaining free run, progress daily. The help and advise on TCS was invaluable! 

Chin up...hang in there!    

Week two update:

Blanku lets me rub his head, in fact, he pushes his head into my hand. He kneads and purrs as well.  He is in a bigger crate and has more room. Baby steps all in the right direction.

Wonderful news.  Sounds like he's getting used to the good life.