I have two ferals living in my backyard. I managed to trap one--I call her Karen-- and had her fixed. After I Karen's surgery, I kept her in a dog kennel in my bathroom for a week so she could recuperate, but released her after a week b/c she was getting cage rage. She was the most miserable cat inside (and I've rescued several ferals). I also have another backyard feral, I call Karl. I have not yet been able to trap him. He now has a limp and I have an appointment for him to get fixed and have his leg looked at, but I am not sure I will be able to trap him. Neither Karen nor Karl come at regular times. And, what is most annoying to me, is that they come out after it gets dark (after dusk) This makes me so nervous b/c I have several coyotes in my backyard that come out after dark too. I put the food close to my house, b/c the coyotes don't like to come close to my house (though they have on occasion). My question: Why do Karen and Karl come out after dark and not at dusk?? I have seen them out in the daytime (rarely). I don't leave food out in the daytime b/c I am at work and won't be able to watch or get Karl on a schedule to be trapped. On weekends, when I'm home, I'll leave food out in the day and it is rarely eaten (except by the birds). I haven't seen Karl now for two days. With his bad leg, I fear he won't last much longer. I don't understand why he won't come out at dusk--when it is so obviously safer for him. I've even been putting out smelly chicken or fish to lure him to eat at dusk. I once fed a mangey fox, and I was able to get him on a feeding schedule no problem!! The fox came promptly at 6 pm every night--until he got better thanks to the Ivermectin I slipped into his food. Any advice would be welcome.