- Joined
- Jul 24, 2018
- Messages
- 11
- Purraise
- 8
Our indoor outdoor cat (but always in at night) didn't come home one night - 7 weeks ago, but we discovered he comes to the front porch and driveway about once a week. We discovered this from our doorbell camera and garage camera we set up (we leave garage cracked). He has come by and sniffed his litter box and pet carrier that we put out on porch, he won't enter the garage but peeks under the door. We have a humane trap but he won't come onto the porch fully when that is there. We have seen a raccoon and an opossum come by the driveway (maybe because the garage is now cracked and garbage can is in there), but these critters haven't gone onto the porch as of yet. We saw them via the trail cameras we have set up in our yard.
I even had door cracked one night by porch when my cat came there, but he either didn't see that it was open or decided not to come in (I think it was the former). I can't leave my front door open all night for him to come in. We have sensors in the garage and porch so we know when something is there. All this happens in the middle of the night when we are sleeping. I have gotten up when the sensors go off, but my cat leaves before I can try and call him in (we see this on the camera feed). He has always been a little skittish, but always came in when we called.
We are at a loss for how to get him back inside. Should we use food and a trap? What about the critters? We don't want to attract them. We were hoping to use the garage as a house trap, closing the door once inside, but he won't come in with lights on or off. We've tried leaving back door open - he doesn't go in backyard (trail camera there) - we tried it all.
I did order a larger trap as thinking the one I borrowed from animal shelter may be too small for his comfort level. Where should I put the trap? In yard? He doesn't seem to want to come on porch when I place it there. He clearly is coming home, but can't or won't come inside. Help, we miss him! PS. He is 7 and neutered with all claws and shots, plus his collar is still on with tags and he is microchipped. Neighbors have seen him a few times but he always avoids people.
Here are two links from my doorbell camera showing his behavior.
and
I even had door cracked one night by porch when my cat came there, but he either didn't see that it was open or decided not to come in (I think it was the former). I can't leave my front door open all night for him to come in. We have sensors in the garage and porch so we know when something is there. All this happens in the middle of the night when we are sleeping. I have gotten up when the sensors go off, but my cat leaves before I can try and call him in (we see this on the camera feed). He has always been a little skittish, but always came in when we called.
We are at a loss for how to get him back inside. Should we use food and a trap? What about the critters? We don't want to attract them. We were hoping to use the garage as a house trap, closing the door once inside, but he won't come in with lights on or off. We've tried leaving back door open - he doesn't go in backyard (trail camera there) - we tried it all.
I did order a larger trap as thinking the one I borrowed from animal shelter may be too small for his comfort level. Where should I put the trap? In yard? He doesn't seem to want to come on porch when I place it there. He clearly is coming home, but can't or won't come inside. Help, we miss him! PS. He is 7 and neutered with all claws and shots, plus his collar is still on with tags and he is microchipped. Neighbors have seen him a few times but he always avoids people.
Here are two links from my doorbell camera showing his behavior.
and