Any suggestions on luring my cat out from under our shed?

[Scurvy]

OP, I was wondering about you also. I hope your kitty finally came out and is safe and sound at home now!

I grew up in an era when most people where I lived had outdoor cats.

So did I. Fortunately, most people know better now.

 

[EMom]

I grew up in an era when most people where I lived had outdoor cats. We didn't have snowflake cats. The only ones that didn't allow them outdoors were the ones who were afraid the cats would run away. Cats evolved from being outdoors in the wild. And as the OP will attest from all her scratches & bites, they are perfectly capable of protecting themselves.

OP, I do agree with stop feeding him food. Give him water, but when you feed him, he has no incentive to come to you or to come back inside. Now, that you've fed him, you will probably have to wait another 24 or more hours till he becomes really starving and may want to come to you.

And if you saw it walking about at 5am, that may be the time to get him. When the neighborhood is quiet. The cat is more scared of the environment than of you - unless you blow a leaf blower at him.

Snowflake cats. Now I have heard it all. (Although I have known a few cats named Snowflake.....)

I grew up in that era too. We had indoor/outdoor cats. And significant acreage. So ours had a better chance than most. Then I got married, moved to the suburbs and decided I didn't want a flattened cats. So when I got my own cats, they stayed indoors. One lived to be 16 and the other almost 20. Let me assure you, NONE of my childhood indoor/outdoor cats made it nearly that long. One made it to 13 and she was the great-granny of the bunch, making it many more years than the rest.

 

[Casperina]

Borrow someones dog? Kidding!

He should come home when he is sick of being hot and hungry, but there are people you can hire to retrieve him if it gets to it.

Good luck and may your furry friend return home soon!

 

[minniecarousel]

OP here: the update isn't good. We borrowed a live trap from the SPCA. So far, he hasn't been caught. He's reverted to feral, but since he has been an indoor-only cat for the past years, we think the humane thing to do is to trap him and return him to the SPCA. I am well aware of what will happen to him there.

On the advice of 3 doctors, I have started rabies shots. I have been worried sick - the chance is very slim that Tigger could have been in contact with a rabid animal, but none of these doctors were willing to tell me that it's not a concern. I am almost done with the course of antibiotics that I started last week, which is pretty much routine for bites like these.

I have mourned for the loss of Tigger, but he has never been a comfortable pet. He has spent every day for the past 5 years under a bed or behind the couch. He would come around in the evening with his brother. I could never pick him up. To say that there is something wrong with him would be correct.

 

[marmalade]

I am so sorry to hear that this is what it has to come to.

 

[1lostkitty]

My kitty escaped through and open window on Sept. 6 . I think I found her this morning, so I moved my humane trap next to the shed. It was about 0500 when I saw green eyes under the shed next door. I am hoping tonight I will be able to get her in the trap. and bring her home. I know she is scared. I will put tuna in it tonight

 

[canadianjovigirl]

OP here: the update isn't good. We borrowed a live trap from the SPCA. So far, he hasn't been caught. He's reverted to feral, but since he has been an indoor-only cat for the past years, we think the humane thing to do is to trap him and return him to the SPCA. I am well aware of what will happen to him there.

On the advice of 3 doctors, I have started rabies shots. I have been worried sick - the chance is very slim that Tigger could have been in contact with a rabid animal, but none of these doctors were willing to tell me that it's not a concern. I am almost done with the course of antibiotics that I started last week, which is pretty much routine for bites like these.

I have mourned for the loss of Tigger, but he has never been a comfortable pet. He has spent every day for the past 5 years under a bed or behind the couch. He would come around in the evening with his brother. I could never pick him up. To say that there is something wrong with him would be correct.

Really??? You have had this cat for 5 years and his behavior has been acceptable to you and he has been content to live in solitude in your house, but because of your mistake he is now outside and terrified so you are going to get rid of him and dump him at the spca??

 

[1lostkitty]

Please , don't take to the SPCA

 

[1lostkitty]

Really??? You have had this cat for 5 years and his behavior has been acceptable to you and he has been content to live in solitude in your house, but because of your mistake he is now outside and terrified so you are going to get rid of him and dump him at the spca??

That is so cruel

 

[skylizard]

Really??? You have had this cat for 5 years and his behavior has been acceptable to you and he has been content to live in solitude in your house, but because of your mistake he is now outside and terrified so you are going to get rid of him and dump him at the spca??

I have to agree with this. It's pretty sad that you'd be willing to give up on him after having him for 5 years.

 

[beavismom]

Guys, this thread has been bumped from summer 2012 so I whatever the op decided has long been done. Just wanted to point it out before everyone got too invested in it.

 

[1lostkitty]

I agree skylizard