Trapping my own cat - help

Has anyone had any experience w/trapping their own cat? My neutered male, Napster, got out when I was not home & someone was cleaning, left door open. He's an indoor cat who I trapped at 10 weeks, he's now 3 years old; hasn't been outside since he was a kitten. He's been out now for over 2 weeks, and is hiding in a tree line behind my house. I have only seen him 3 or 4 times in over 2 weeks, but I hear his bell at night, usually after 10 p.m. He runs from me the few times I've seen him which breaks my heart; won't show himself if I call or rattle food & bowls; would not go in a trap to get food, etc. I have a large cage that I've used to separate other rescues that I put outside w/door open & food just inside the lower lip of the cage. I put a full day's worth of food in each night and it's gone in the morning. I'm not 100 percent sure Napster is eating it, but I'm assuming/hoping he is. I can't see him in the dark but I do hear the bell in the middle of the night. He is a true scaredy cat who hides under the bedspread when anyone comes in the house. He is also very affectionate towards me and I can drape him around my neck when he's inside. But, outside, he will not even come around the house. I'm concerned I might not be able to get him back.

It took me 3 months to trap a mother cat last fall, but I got her. I can't bear to think it might take that long for me to get my own cat back. I feel like i am feeding an invisible cat since I never see him. Has this ever happened to anyone? Does anyone have any hints/tips to offer? Thanks so much, Leslie

Leslie,

I feel so bad for you and your scared cat. Click here for an article on how to find a lost cat. It is full of excellent ideas that I hope will help you get your little guy back inside.

Let us know how it is going.

Renae

Thanks, Renae. I had seen this article before and just re-read it. When Napster first got out, I put his litterbox out back and the next morning, someone had peed in it. (I'm pretty sure it was him.) I posted flyers and did all that stuff, but once I realized he was still around, I made sure there was food & water out and it started to be eaten at night. I trapped a possum one night (instead of Napster) and relocated it the next morning a couple miles away. I am putting a tiny night light that goes on at dusk in the outdoor protected socket and that will provide me, hopefully, with enuf light so that I can see him if he comes to eat the food and I'm still awake. I plan to gradually move the food bowl further into the large cage until it's all the way in the corner, then pull the cage door shut with a rope I'll set up. That's *if* Napster even will go in to eat. He is definitely trap-shy, which is impressive since he hasn't been in a trap since he was trapped as a kitten. Of course, he was probably right next to the possum when the door slammed shut... Thanks a lot for answering my post. It may take a while, but I am learning the art of patience - or trying, anyway. Leslie

Leslie,

I haven't read the article in a while and can't remember whether it suggests taking a shirt that you got real sweaty in (that is soaked in your scent) and then to place that shirt either in the trap or by the door to attract the cat to the area. I sure hope all of this helps.

Renae

Yes, I put two shirts in the cage that I wore to sleep in. I put his food/water bowls on the placemat I used to feed them on. I have 4 other inside cats, who all hissed when they saw Napster outside one time. They couldn't tell him from any other strange cat outside their window. He ran away when they hissed at him, so now I'm keeping the windows shut at the bottom and open at the top, so they can't get to the window to hiss. And then, I started putting the bowl/cage where they can't see him so well. I've also been putting Rescue Remedy drops in his water. I swear, I'm doing everything in my power except levitating him into the house. I'm going to put the humane trap back out underneath the porch w/the door propped open so he can get used to seeing it in the vicinity, but not so close to the other cage that he stops going there for the food. I'll be sure to post if I'm able to get him. Hard to believe I'm having to trap my own cat. Leslie

I remember our cat Sierra who was inside/outside must have got spooked by something and would not come into the house. We would hear her and see her at night. This went on for a week and somehow she got into the garage and we shut the doors and she ran into the house and under the covers of our bed where she stayed for 24 hrs!!!
Never knew what had happened and she did recover and did go back outside.
I wish you the best of luck!!

Hello - not sure if anyone will see this or not, but there is a happy ending to my post. After 6 weeks outside, I was able to get my cat Napster back inside. This past weekend, I was able to scratch his head Saturday while he ate (first time I was able to touch him since June 16), but he wouldn't let me pat him further back. On Sunday, I scratched his head again and managed to slip a finger inside his collar and pull him towards me. I circled my arms around him and he stayed curled up tight and didn't try to get away. When I went into the house he was scared and squirmed to get away but I was able to get him up the stairs and into his own recovery room, where he immediately went under the bed.

I slept in the room with him last night. He came right up on the bed with me and seemed very glad to be back inside. He purred all night and stuck right next to me. This morning he let me trim his claws and comb him, and was drooling he was so happy. He was very hungry and ate and drank last night and this morning. He's much thinner but looks pretty good considering he had a 6-week outdoor adventure. He doesn't seem to have any fleas, which is amazing. I'm letting him stay in his own room until he re-acclimates and is curious to come out. For now he is still a little scared, but seems very glad to be back inside and he still loves me, for which I am entirely grateful. The other cats don't seem phased that he's back & in the other room at this point. They'll probably all gather around the water bowl some day and he can tell them stories of his adventure....

Grateful to have you all for support - Leslie

I am so glad to hear that!