I had gotten a cat from someone on CL about 2 months ago, for a barn cat. I know that some people on here don't think it's right to keep a cat outdoors, but this cat was going to go to the pound the very next day, and we had been having a serious rodent problem-----they had discovered how delicious the chicken feed was! Anyway, the cat was formally an indoor/outdoor cat, and was going to live in our goat barn, which the chicken pen is part of. I had set up a X-LG vari-kennel with a litter-box and food and water, and the plan was to keep the cat in there until he felt comfortable with his surroundings. I kept him in the crate 24/7----except for taking him out and holding/stroking him a few times throughout the day----for the first week. The second week, I allowed him out of the crate for the whole day, and would put him back in when I did the evening chores. The third week, I felt he wasn't adjusting to the goats and chickens(he was spending his days hiding in a corner), and would do better if I set up a little house with hay for him in the garage----that is where I made my mistake! He hated it in the garage, and hid for about 3 days, I didn't even know for sure that he was the one eating the cat food. Well, I didn't see him for quite some time, and thought he had taken off, or worse----I felt just terrible, and really sick about it. Just last night, we returned home from a wedding reception, and I saw the cat in the neighbor's field across the road! I jumped out of the van and ran across the road---he was crouched down in the ditch, and took off as soon as I was within 2 feet of him---I was disappointed, but glad to see him alive (I had been setting out a live trap for about 2 weeks, but only caught a oppossum and a different cat). I went home, grabbed the live trap, baited it and set it in the neighbor's field. I watched it off and on last night, but nothing----and nothing this morning. Well, tonight after dinner, I saw the neighbor out on her property, and thought I should go explain the trap. We were talking for about half an hour, when I see the cat across the field inspecting the trap! The next thing I know, he's in the trap--------and CAUGHT! Yay!!!!! I am so, so relieved and happy! Needless to say, Kitty is back in the goat barn in his big comfy crate----I think he'll be fine in the barn now----I just didn't give him enough time before. All I know is, he is getting a big dish of cream in the morning!!
