Yes! Go buy a havahart trap… or borrow from a shelter or vet office. They are about $40 at a pet store.. but it! Set it up and put really smelly food like tuna fish or better yet something like Kentucky fried chicken!!!! Cover it with a towel and put a towel inside of it and use paper plates nothing glass cause when it shuts it won’t break.. get treats and make a trail into the trap and put the trap up against the deck and don’t feed her but leave the food in the trap hungry enough she will go in and get caught.. or you might have to literally sit outside for hours and Lay down on the grass. If your standing cats usually won’t come near but if you are literally lying down they will come over close to you. Do that and f you have the will power to stay outside laying down and have food on you and pretend to eat it they will venture close enough you can snatch her. I pray you catch your kitty ! What a beautiful baby! Keep us posted I will be following the thread! I will says lots of prayers.

 

Also just a thought - since he’s hanging very close to the house- is the kitty a playful cat- get those laser lights and play with the cat and maybe let him follow the light into the house if possible .

 

I'm keeping the trap idea in mind and will elicit assistance from one of our local rescues if it comes to it.

We're on day 3 of Sock's outdoor escapades. Mom heard a brief cat scuffle this morning before I got up and wasn't sure where they went. I called Socks up to the porch from the garage which is probably 50-75 feet down the driveway. Our garage seems to be a popular hangout spot for stray/feral cats as evidenced by the cat paw prints that are left on the windows of my grandmother's car. Socks, too, has decided that's his hangout spot.
He seemed to be no worse for the wear as he casually strolled up the driveway, sitting down on the steps about 5 feet from me, so I'm guessing he emerged the victor in running the unwelcome visitor off (there was a smaller black cat seen wandering around last night, and I'm sure it's the same one I've seen roaming around before).
Socks just casually sat and wouldn't come up to me, so I left him a small amount of food. Grandmother came out and sat and talked to him for a couple of minutes, but he wouldn't approach her either, not quite forgiving her for last night's fiasco (which I received a nice size scratch on my foot from).

We're accepting the fact that this process is going to be on his terms and will involve regaining his trust in us. I'm just always saying a prayer every day that he continues to stay safe while he's outside.

 

Hi, definitely get the trap with something yummy he will venture in. Hope you get him before it turns cold. I caught all my strays in the havahart trap. All my 7 cats are ferals which now became couch potatoes. All girls but one male. The male always looks out the window but I will never let him out. Get the trap then your days will be peaceful after he’s caught. Keep us posted I will say prayers for you . I just don’t want to think he’ll be someone’s dinner. Where I live there’s tons of coyotes and foxes! Sometimes the foxes sit right in front of my front door! Keep trying don’t give up please!

 

We just had a friend drop off a trap earlier that she used to catch her cat with, so I'm hoping it's work for Socks. I don't intend to give up on him. 💙

 

Great SocksMama!! Can’t wait until you catch him! Cover the trap with a towel and put the cage up against the railing not in an open space. Put also a towel in the inside cats hate the feel of metal on their feet. I wish you lots of prayers and hope you catch him on the first time .🐾 I will be thinking of you !

 

He laid under the bush seemingly calm, but would come to me. This always concerned me since he’s always following my Grandmother around the house and stays too close to the back door for my comfort level.

 

With thee in heart and love.

 

Socks was waiting for his breakfast this morning. He even let Grandmother love on him some, so I think he's forgiven her for his indiscretions a couple of nights ago, so that's good. He's been eating next to the trap with it closed yesterday evening and this morning and didn't seem to perturbed by it thus far, so I'm going to start acclimating him to it without fully setting so he gets used to eating near it. I'm also going to find a calming supplement that will maybe help calm his nerves some, too. It's getting time for his vacation to come to an end.

 

Great job!!!!! Great momma! Put the food once it’s open tie the trap opening with a string so it doesn’t accidental shut for the time being when he gets used to it open.. then put the dish right in front of the cage. Then the next day move it 2 inches in. Then move it almost in the middle so his tail and rear sticks out so he knows nothing will happen when he enters.. then when you’re ready place it in the back! Whala! So glad he’s getting used to the cage cover the cage don’t forget. So proud of you!!! You will get the little guy! It’s funny when they’re outside it’s like they have soooo much room to run it’s so not fair! So happy you’re making headway! Great job socks momma!! Ps- I saw your pictures of your other kitties too. Soooo adorable!

 

Today was day 5 of Sock's outdoor escapades. He's still coming around regularly for his meals (Same times as when our other indoor cats get fed), like clockwork and good at coming when called. His fur was a bit damp this morning due to the rain last night. I dipped my finger in his wet food and wanted to see if he would be willing to lick it off. He sniffed at my finger, but didn't want to lick the juice off. I zip tied the door to the trap open and he ate next to it. He didn't seem to be wigged out by it. He came back by later before I went to go feed our steer, and he let grandmother pet him for several minutes, thoroughly enjoying the attention. Grandmother said he was sniffing around the door, which I'm hoping is a good sign. When Mom came home from work yesterday evening, he was just a few feet away from her and peered inside when she held the door open and asked him if he was ready to come in yet. With him peering inside the open door and him sniffing around the door, I'm praying he's starting to consider coming back in.

I told grandmother My preference is for him to come back in on his own like he did before. I've told her to keep loving on him as much as he'll let her, and I'm sure he'll let us know when he's ready.
I've taken to hanging out at the back door to monitor the whereabouts of the other cats and keep them away whenever Grandmother goes outside and whenever someone's holding the door open. Makes me nervous.

Here's him chilling on the porch near the trap, and the trap itself. Now that I think about it more, I'd really rather not use the trap unless absolutely necessary and he'll make the decision on his own terms to come back inside. This trap was used by a friend to catch their cat and I'm not sure Socks would really fit his 10lb butt in it anyway, since it looks more kitten sized. Just keep good thoughts and prayers coming for his continued safety and that he'll start getting the desire to come back in soon.

 

Wow what a stinker! Cover the trap with a towel.. cats like going in tunnels. So glad he’s hanging around, and for your sake I pray he walks in your house - just a thought maybe leave a trail of tuna into your house with the door open at dinner time. Maybe some Kentucky fried chicken they go crazy for that smell! And he’ll walk right in your house. Or put that in the trap. He will fit in the trap for sure that’s about the size of mine when I caught all kitties outside. Thankyou so much for the update I was hoping he got caught but I know it takes time. It took me 3 days to catch my last cat and love the photos too!!!! I will continue to say prayers for him to come in by himself but I think you really may need the trap he looks just so cozy outside you may need unfortunately have to use it in the end. I am sooooo happy he is hanging around too. The other suggestion is if you decide to use the trap.. don’t feed him in the morning… so at night when you’re ready to feed him he will walk right into the trap! That’s what I did I got him a tad hungry in order to catch him and it worked. I will definitely keep saying prayers for his continued safety being outside. Your doing a great job! Your a wonderful fur baby mom!

 

Day 6 of Sock's escapades: He was waiting on the back porch this morning for breakfast according to grandmother (I slept all day as I work night shifts). She said he ate in increments and got pets and loving in between bites. She also said he put his front paws on the door sill of the open back door and looked inside when she snapped her fingers (his come here signal), and did that a couple of times, but got distracted by a squirrel. Grandmother said Mom wanted to grab him, but she told her no, as she didn't want to upset him. We're making progress in the right direction, though which is good. This makes me happy.

 

That’s great News! Maybe they can leave the door open and put the food two inches inside the door! That would be great! Keep up the good work I hope you catch him soon, you don’t want to get used to it being outside. Let me ask you - what if you left a window open and lock your other cats in a bedroom. Of course supervised you don’t want to lose your other cats.. but I wonder if he would jump through the window to come in?? But please if you try it make sure your other pets are locked up! I was hestitant to suggest this because god for bid you lost your other pets…. But since he stood on the door maybe curiosity the cat he may jump in? Just a thought. Thankyou sooooo much for the update I totally keep checking in and hoping that’s the day he’s caught. I will keep saying prayers bless you for keep trying!

 

Hi again just thinking… maybe instead if the window at dinner time when he comes — of course Supervised with All other pets locked up. Maybe leave the door open where he put his paws on …leave that door open for a length of time while he’s waiting for his dinner like at least 1/2 hour but you be there the entire time. And put the food in the house where he can see it… maybe he will just walk in and you can shut the door. Maybe having the door open will entice him to walk in if he’s hungry enough.. I would try that. Can’t wait until he’s caught. Great job for all your efforts! You’re a fantastic fur baby mom!

 

It's Day 8 of Sock's escapades. He fared the rain storm that we had come through earlier this afternoon. Here he is laying on top of a wood pile we have on our back porch. He needs to quit being a brat and come back in! Goofball!

 

Hi! What a cutie! And a stinker!!! I have an idea…. A good one…. On a Dry day and night. LEAVE your car window open. And place smelly food on the dashboard… and a comfy towel in the seat.. you may have to do this a few days until he realizes he could jump in the car. My neighbor used to feed strays which then she adopted that’s how she caught hers. She saw him sleeping in the car. But I believe she left the door open and slammed it shut so he couldn’t run. It’s another idea. Outside cats love to sleep in cars…He’s soo cute that face looking at you as if he wants to come back in. Are you looking out a window taking this shot? If so can you leave that window open so he can wander in by himself? Thankyou so much for posting I am always thinking of this little character. The only other idea to catch him is tough love. Don’t feed him for one day just one day only… because cats can’t be starved more then 3 days or their liver gets starved.and damaged and then Use and put the food in the havahart trap to catch him. It’s too bad you can’t just grab the kitty by the scruff and carry it in the house quickly. So fast the cat won’t know what literally happened that’s what I did when there was a stray at my house that came very near like yours. Thankyou again for posting and try the car idea too. The cat might sleep in the car and in the Am you’ll be able to catch the baby that way..so good he made the rain- thanks again my friend! Your doing a super job!!!!!! I know you love this little one A lot!!! Keep me posted! Dee

 

I took this standing at our back storm door. He doesn't have much scruff. Grandmother tried to carry him in, but she was holding him under his arms, and he squirmed out of her hands. Mom said she was close to grabbing him and tossing him in the house over the weekend, but Grandmother thought that would make him more skittish, which I kind of agreed with, as I don't want to break his trust again. We'll get there. That's actually my mom's car he was laying on the roof of last night for a little while. The car idea is a good idea.

 

Just grab him! I have to do this with mine when they escape. Straight to the food dish! They don't bear grudges. That is easy. I once had to use a spring trap and that was fun! Food right at the back.. door spring set and as soon as he is in and touches the right floor panel... By feeding him outside you are giving him the wrong message..

 

We've tried grabbing him and carrying him in the house at least three times so far, but he's fought his way loose each time. Mom tried to last night, and got him to the open door, but he freaked out and kicked off of her with his back feet and twisted himself loose out of her arms. (At least he came back to her for pets, lol!) Looks like trap training will be the next course of action.

 

Hi Socksmomma,
Sorry you’re having such a hard time.. too bad the car idea didn’t work. There is a way to catch this little guy.. but you have to listen to what I am going to say. It will work but this requires your time and patience when doing this okay.. call your humane society near you if you don’t have one call the rescue groups okay. Borrow a Drop Trap… get a drop trap and you will indeed catch him and this worrying will go away. The drop trap requires you to hold a string from far away .. the trap stands up right on a diagnolly. It’s a very large cage… you put the food in the middle of the cage and when the kitty eats nicely you pull the string and the cage falls down and traps the cat.. you then throw a towel over the trap to calm the cat . Because the cat will be trying to get out. Then you take the havahart trap you have and put it in the space it connects to the drop trap the you take he will see light and run right into the havahart trap and whala he’s caught in your trap!!! I know seems hard but it’s really not at all. Maybe you can ask for the rescue people to help you after you catch him in the drop trap. That’s what I did. Once I caught the cat in the drop trap the nice lady came over and put the havahart trap up against the drop trap I could have done it myself but she insisted on helping me. It was two weeks of headaches worrying I would not catch her. But this was the only way and I think it’s good for those hard to catch cats.. google drop traps for cats and you could watch a you tube. I always keep checking your post praying you have caught him. It’s going on too long I think you need to get the drop trap. I will keep saying prayers and your such a good fur momma for keep trying!! Bless you!
Dee

 

I have spring traps... When they go in for the treats, and tread on the spring, the door closes behind them ... They double as crates as you can deactivate the springs. I got mine at a hunting shop as they use them to catch wild life.

 

How are you doing SocksMomma, any luck getting a drop trap? That little stinker he’s going to get used to it out there but I am so afraid of the night animals. Hope you catch him soon.

 

We have a meduim size box trap that a friend has loaned us and I think would work better. Our property is not really conducive for the drop trap, and my family is not as quick on the draw. I zip tied the door open and we have been feeding him close to it, but I haven't really had time to do much else with it due to work and school obligations. We're still doing what we can for this stinker, though.

 

Thanks for the update! Sorry you haven’t had much time. I do hope you catch him soon before winter sets in. Which is right around the corner. Keep up the good work and I hope he goes in your trap soon! Sorry your going through this it must be very stressful until he is safe at home.

 

I have a good update this afternoon! I just woke up to a Facebook update posted by my mom regarding our regarding our adventurer, Socks. He's been apprehended! He just walked inside through the door this morning and it got closed behind him. Evidently he complained vociferously, and he's now gone to ground in the basement, but there is great relief in our household this morning. His unapproved outing has finally come to an end.

 

Fantastic!! Let’s do a Happy Dance!!!!!!! Sooooo glad Socks adventure has ended!! Send us a picture of socks when you can he is such a cutie!!!! Love his face! So happy you and your family have relief! Such a load of everyone’s mind!! I wonder what made him walk in. Betcha he wanted yum yums!! Really happy for you and Thankyou sooooo much for this great updated post!!! You made my day!!