Help!! Straying cat!

Hi
I am new here so please bear with me.
I have two cats. Portia a lovely little long hair tortie, and Morphy , my Maine Coon. Morphy is my 'problem'
He was a happy normal cat until 18m ago. He was not a house cat..he was free to go out and used to go in the garden , hang around and be pretty ok. Then SOMETHING happened..we don't know what but he went missing for 48 hours and I found him, terrified and shaking in a electricity station enclosure near out house. he hissed at everything and was obviously traumatised.
After that thing went downhill..he stayed in at first them disappeared..he'd be gone for days on end coming back starving and stressed.
A few months ago he went missing for 3 WEEKS. Can you imagine? I was distraught but eventually found him one night. He was ok for a few days then escaped again.
I was out every night calling, looking for 5 weeks. I posted pics everywhere, called the vets etc etc NOTHING. I eventually assumed he'd been ran over.
Then... tonight I was driving to the local garage for milk and a cat ran out from the farmers field (about 10 mins from our house) and it was him! I braked like a lunatic, jumped out and called and he came to me!!! Grabbed him and bunged him in the car (which he was not happy about) and got him home. he has been cuddly and loving and just himself, and I feel like Lazarus has just come back from the dead.
BUT..obviously he did not come home of his own accord. He has become semi feral and I don't know what to do. I love him so much..he loves me too but if he gets out I KNOW he will vanish.

To complicate matters we are moving in 7 weeks time. I know the house we are going to is perfect for doing cat fencing..and I will...but how do I keep him in til then??? I have 4 children (who adore him and are ecstatic that he's home) but who are not great at keeping doors shut!

I truly feel he had some traumatic experince that 'damaged' him in some way. Am wrong to keep him in ? Should I let him go? I can't bear the thought of losing him again but I can't bear the thought that he might prefer to be 'wild' either. I have truly been to hell and back over the last 7 weeks.

Any suggestions greatfully received..I only want him to be happy..and safe..and loved... I would (reluctantly) rehome him if I knew he would be better off as he is the most loving and fabulous boy ever!)

Juliex

For heaven's sake, keep him (if you have no choice.. kid-wise) in a room with a lock on the door, a litter box, food & water and go in an play with him a lot, maybe bring the other (friend?) cat in too when you're there (cuz he could become aggressive towards her now that's he's so stressed). Just do it and speak very carefully to your kids about just not letting him out. It may sound harsh, but cats adapt well and the conditions he'll be in (temporarily anyhow) will at least not harm him, make him sick, get him run over, locked up, chewn up or anything else. You were incredibly lucky to get him back, so take charge and do the safe thing now. Do the same thing at the other house and only let him out (at first) when you're around to monitor doors and things and just let him gradually become an 'indoor' cat. My street-born 'Maine Coon" was a wild thing alright when we got her, but we played with her til we were exhausted, and she did settle in. Then we let her out only in a 4 point harness on a short lead hooked to a ground-stake away from entanglements or stray dogs, etc., or walked her around on the lead (5-6') and she lived a long happy life.

Oh, I forgot... if he isn't neutered, do it ASAP, because that's half the reason he wants to roam at night. He's a cat, a sexy, macho man, and will get into fights, and catch who knows what if he's not fixed. He'll still be a sexy macho man afterward, but with a little less drive to roam so far (but don't take that for granted :-).

Is he neutered? If he isn't, it explains a lot of things.

Originally Posted by Larke

Oh, I forgot... if he isn't neutered, do it ASAP, because that's half the reason he wants to roam at night. He's a cat, a sexy, macho man, and will get into fights, and catch who knows what if he's not fixed. He'll still be a sexy macho man afterward, but with a little less drive to roam so far (but don't take that for granted :-).

Click to expand...

I agree. Getting him fixed will really cut down on the roaming. And that's VERY important for his safety.

Thanks for all the advice.
He is neutered...and chipped. believe it or not I'm not a careless owner..I have had and successfully kept cats my whole life and he is a seriously new experience, as I have always had happy well adjusted moggies!

My biggest fear is him escaping in the next 7 weeks. If we can successfully keep him inside til then the new house will be securacat fenced (or our home grown version) which may annoy our other cat a bit but she's pretty content to stay home anyway.The children are very much aware they have to keep all the doors shut but my youngest son has learning disabilities and isn't as quick on his feet to move (mild cerebral palsy) hence my big big worry.

It is very reassuring to hear that he WILL adjust to being a house cat..believe me is is played with and spoilt rotton

I'd love to know if anyone has cat proofed their garden successfully themselves tho, or failing that who is good to use in the UK! It will be a walled garden thankfully so hopefully easy to do.
Juliex