What are my chances of getting my escaped cat back?

[Madrone]

Past cats (2, no longer with us) got out when they were young but would come when I called them, or come running if I shook the treat can. This cat was one of two I got that were rescued from a feral colony. While the 2nd cat is super relaxed and afraid of nothing this particular cat is not real sure about people. I finally got him to chill out and relax around me, and he sleeps with me and comes to get pets at night in bed. He still runs away if he's on the floor somewhere that I'm heading, and won't let me walk up to him and/or kneel down with outstretched hand to pet him if he's on the floor, and only sometimes will let me approach him like that if he's laying on furniture.

Anyway - on the 23rd he ran out when I let the dogs out. He just ran right out after them before I knew what happened. Backing up a bit - he got out a month or two ago by pushing loose a screen. We was out for part of a day before I even knew he was gone. Looong story short, he was in my neighbor's garage and it took FOREVER to get him. He wouldn't let me near him, and ran to hide any time I moved. I don't know how it finally happened but I was able to barely grab him - he went nuts and I thankfully had a carrier there I could put him into or I wouldn't have been able to hold him.

So this time he gets out and takes off - I haven't seen him since. I borrowed a trap the next day and set it up in my neighbor's garage yesterday evening. As of this morning it was untouched. He won't come to me when I call, if I do see him I don't think I can get close to him. I'm not sure if he's close by anymore so the cage in the garage may be completely useless in it's current location. I've read stuff online about catching escaped cats, etc. I've put signs up at the local post offices (small town, no home mail delivery so everyone goes to the post office for their mail) but it's been a couple of days and NOTHING. And even if I see him I don't know how I'll GET him. What if he doesn't go in the trap? What if he does THIS time and gets out again - never going in the trap again?

Does anyone have any practical information or suggestions? I am feeling rather hopeless.

[here_is_to_hope]

1. Sometimes, you have to let a cat be a cat.

I have five, two rescues and three 'normal' cats.
The two rescued cats come around when they need food or water, the rest of the time, they are just cats.
We let everything run free here though, rabbits, chickens, even the dog. The rabbits were tame but found themselves after being set free to roam our place.
Now they act like rabbits but still stay close to home.
True, we lose a chicken now and then to the food chain and we lost a cat to a pit bull that was wandering the 'hood (it was SSS'ed) but overall, I like the idea of the critters being critters.

[Madrone]

2. I GOT HIM!!

OMG! I am soooo happy to report that I've got my boy back! I woke up this morning and went to check the trap @ the neighbor's immediately. I wasn't able to check last night because when I got home it was dark, I could see something was blocking the garage door (neighbor is having a bunch of construction done on his house and there is equipment and supplies everywhere) and the neighbor wasn't awake to ask about it. This morning when I got up to let the dogs out I went out with them and knocked on the neighbor's door. There was no answer so I went back to his garage and found some big table saw blocking the door. Somehow I was able to squeeeeeeeeeze into the garage and immediately saw that the trap had been sprung. I peeked under the cover and did a few back-and-forths of "it's my cat!" ... "is it my cat???" and was able to get the cage up, over the machinery and out. I set the trap down just inside the front door and saw that he started pawing at the door wanting out. I opened the trap and he came right out - ending up in my bedroom under my bed.

I am also happy to report that he's not overly freaked out. A little bit, sure ... but immediately after him running under the bed (where his brother followed him to investigate) I came in, sat on the bed, and shook the treat bag. His brother came out first for a treat, but my escapee followed right behind and was happy to take treats from my hand and get pets. He left the room a few minutes later which is when I figured I'd better grab the laptop and let everyone know he's home safe and sound - and he's come back in twice since then to come say hi and get a few more pets. I couldn't be more pleased about that because he really is not very sure of people in general and although he's accepted and is mostly comfortable with me he also still isn't 100% relaxed. I was really afraid that a few days on his own outdoors and/or the potential trauma of being trapped would have set him back a great deal with his people comfort level and his trust of me. So far those worries seem to be unwarranted. Now that I know bolting out the door if it's open for 10 seconds is a part of his M.O. I'll be extra diligent in making sure it doesn't happen again. The other time he escaped it was by pushing a corner of a window screen and it coming loose - hopefully he is out of tricks!

[Why Syzygy]

3. Yippee!

I'm so glad you got him back! I was going to ask, though, is he neutered? They are MUCH more likely to stay around home and return if they are not on the prowl for females.

:applause: So happy he's back home.

[Madrone]

5. Yes, he's neutered. TWICE.

He was part of a feral colony that was being trapped and released. He and his brother were young and one of the women involved in the project thought perhaps they could be adopted out, so she took them home. I answered her ad for the escapee and did NOT want two. I ended up leaving with both.

Anyway - a couple of weeks after having them I came home from work and the smell of urine about knocked me out. It was SO pungent. Long story short - he still had a testicle and had to be re-neutered. I'll spare you my rant about the asshole that "neutered" him the first time, never mentioning to the rescuer (who HAD intended to re-release him to the wild) that he hadn't been fully neutered.

This particular cat is more cat and other animal focused / trusting than he is with people. His brother is completely chill, trusting, and unafraid - they are very different that way.

[Warpy]

6. Well, that would certainly explain why he doesn't trust people!

Seriously, though, he's likely to go walkabout from time to time. The trap is a good idea, and he'll probably get used to the idea that when it's time to go home, that's the way to do it.

I had a Houdini who'd go walkabout for three or four days at a time and then come back home, occasionally stinking of unwashed dog. I figured he'd found a canine buddy in the area to snuggle up to on cold nights. Fortunately as Houdini got old, his wandering ways came to an end and he became a creature of comfort instead of adventure.

One thing that can call cats pretty efficiently is training them to associate tapping the edge of a ceramic dish with a spoon when it's time to feed them. I had all my semiferal cats trained to that when I lived in the country. They won't respond to us all that consistently but they'll respond to the prospect of food every single time.

[Why Syzygy]

7. My cat

usually shows up when I call him. If he needs extra incentive, I tell him "num-num" (wet food). That never fails. I never use it as a trap. If I say "num-num", I follow through and give it to him.

[Warpy]

8. Oh, I always fed them, but ringing the edge of the dish

worked a hell of a lot better out in the country when they were at the far reaches of their territories. I suggest it as an outdoor call that never fails.

I'd see the trails of cats rocketing across fields and through the woods.

[emilyg]

4. I am happy for you. May I make

a suggestion - put some kind of oil on his paws - this way if he gets out again - he'll smell the oil tracks back home. I do it with all my cats.

[TuxedoKat]

10. I'm so glad you got your cat back

I had one I had to trap 3 or 4 times when she ran away, so it is possible to trap the same
cat more than once. If they get hungry enough they will go into the trap.

FYI, there is a yahoogroup called missing cat assistance if you ever need it again! Lots
of great advice.

[badgerpup]

9. My two oldest males prefer to be out and about...

...when the weather's good enough.

As long as they check in every day, we're good. They'll eat a bit, but not like they're starving (their shiny coats and muscled bodies attest to their hunting prowess), maybe clock some laptime, and then it's back outside.

I didn't go to adopt either of these cats; 5 month old Riktor was brought home by our then-alpha Misha as an apprentice.
The little guy was now part of the household and would I please make the necessary arrangements, thank you.
Phrased as a request...Misha was always courteous.

Wimsey (going by his teeth, 7-8 months) upgraded from an unhappy situation down the street by invitation from another of my cats (MacFeegle).

I think the fact that both cats were forced to be self-reliant from a young age affects their indoor-outdoor preferences...

[Jersey Devil]

11. Had a cat that once left for 3 years, then came home

He was an outside cat, neutered, came back home every night until one night he didn't. About 3 years later we opened the front door one night and he came prancing in like he'd never left. We pinned a note on his collar and let him out again later on. The neighbors called us and told us their kids found him in their yard and adopted him, thinking he was a stray. They offered to give him back but naturally we said no. He did visit us from time to time over the next year or two before we moved away.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

12. I had friends who were very hurt that one of their cats adopted itself out to neighbors

They had five cats and this cat was a loner. He insistently inserted himself into the neighbors lives - he just preferred them. Sat on their porch, greeted them when they cam home, ran inside whenever he could, etc. The neighbors were not encouraging the activity, but what could they do? My friends said "hey! he's made his mind up, if you want him, he's yours." Once the decision was made, that cat never stepped foot in my friends yard again. I think that obviously, the other cats were the issue, but my friends were still quite put out. Me? I admire the cat's independence and perserverance in getting his way.