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Thank you. We will have to look into the pen sensor.
I believe I will lock out shy cat inside, and the other one who stays outside most of the time because she prefers it I can put outside, and the pet sitter can let her in, and if she wants to stay in let her. she is seldom in the house anyway. comes in to eat, get petted and leaves. She was a feral cat when saw her years ago, and I just tamed her and got her somewhat used to the house.
then if the other cat gets out the sitter would have to open the cat door so she could come back inside, and while she is wise to that new feral cat, I think she would have to be on her own until we return. I just wish that there were a better solution. I will look for that sensor.
That sounds like the best solution to me, because of one important thing... you do not want to leave your cat door open for 2 weeks while you're away. Any number of critters can & will come in through it foraging for food ( I know from personal experience ), especially if no humans are around. As for the one 'feral' that will be outside, can you set up some kind of protective shelter for her to get away from any other cats/critters? If she's as feral as you say, maybe she can take care of herself well enough. Not ideal IMO, but maybe the best you can do under the circumstances.
Good luck.
We have a new feral that just showed up. We had tried trapping it, but it broke the live trap. it never tried to come into the cat door, but the other day it did. it saw me and left. what he does is attack my cats if they are outside the house. We have tried live trapping him again by making the trap look like it isn't a trap, but he ignored it. I have talked to the pound and the humane society with no luck.
I have thought to trap him in our house and call the pound for him to get him, but so far that is only a though as he hasn't come inside the house again.
I am worried sick about my cats. if I am around I can stop fights, but if I am gone I can't.
we are mainly trying to find out if my cat would be more traumatized in the kennel for two weeks or if it is best to chance her being locked in the house and the other locked out unless she wants to stay in when the sitter comes. I am not sure if it is more traumatizing to be locked in house or at kennel.
We have trapped two feral cats in the past that were trouble makers, and last time we we on a trip my cat was fine, but now a new troublemaker has shown up. just to make this more clear.
kennel the cats. Their safety is number 1 priority
IMHO, pet cats should NEVER be let outside. I know they all want to be outside roaming, etc., but there are too many dangers for them. One of my cats, who has always lived inside, tries to sneak out. If he manages to do it, he has no idea what to do and ends up crying in the window to get back in.
If your cats are well fed, played with, and healthy, there is no reason for them to go outside. I see lots of cats wandering around our rural neighborhood, and we have coyotes, foxes, owls, etc. No matter how "street smart" a cat may be, it won't be able to defend itself against a coyote or a vehicle speeding down the road.
If you love your kitties, which it sounds like you do, please keep them inside where they are safe.
If the one cat freaks out from being locked in the house, she will certainly freak out in a kennel. Probably the house is better because at least that's familiar to her.
I think the only solution is to have someone stay at your house and loosely stick to the routine the cats are accustomed to.
I wouldn't take that cat to the kennel. I would take the other cat. Thank you for your post.
IMHO, pet cats should NEVER be let outside. I know they all want to be outside roaming, etc., but there are too many dangers for them. One of my cats, who has always lived inside, tries to sneak out. If he manages to do it, he has no idea what to do and ends up crying in the window to get back in.
If your cats are well fed, played with, and healthy, there is no reason for them to go outside. I see lots of cats wandering around our rural neighborhood, and we have coyotes, foxes, owls, etc. No matter how "street smart" a cat may be, it won't be able to defend itself against a coyote or a vehicle speeding down the road.
If you love your kitties, which it sounds like you do, please keep them inside where they are safe.
My cats have survived 10 years so far by being indoor/outdoor cats. I can't deprives them of the joy of being outside, which they do enjoy. It would be like being house bound for a human. It would be like telling a human that it is too dangerous to go outside. But I am glad that you care that much for your kitties. If a cat has never been outdoors, then perhaps it is okay to keep them inside.
Mattie, can you purchase two of the larger sized crates (they sell various sizes at Chewy) and have both cats placed in them separately while you are away? They are inexpensive and you can get them in a size that will also house a small
litter tray. That way both cats would have security while you are gone, and the cat sitter could easily fill their food and water trays (those are sold separately, and clip to the inside of the bars) while keeping the cats safe.
You could place the two cages in a quiet bedroom, and loosely throw a sheet over each to calm them down. The only time the sitter would have to open the doors to crates would be to clean the litter tray. If she/he closes the bedroom door first, it would be easy enough to catch said cat should it 'escape' during litter cleaning.
I like the Feliway diffuser idea too. A radio playing soft music or the TV turned on to a music channel would also help calm them while you're gone. What ever happens, I wish you the best of luck.
*The crates are collapsible, so easy to store under a bed or in a closet until the next time you use it.
*The cost of the cages and cat bowls would be considerably less than boarding them at the vet for two weeks.
Wish I could help you with catching the feral. If you make sure he can't get to food a week or so, and then feed him
something very rich in the live trap, he may go in again due to desperation.
*One last thing. Of course I don't know your housing situation, (HOA ,rental) but if you own perhaps you could consider a catio to allow your kitties to go outside? This would protect them from Mr. Nasty.
I couldn't do the crate idea. It would be no different than just locking the one cat in the house. They would be too stressed out to be confined that much, which makes me realize that the Kennel would be stressful too.
Never heard of a catio. Interesting.
Problem is we have 4 other cats, all ferals and all fixed that we feed, which drew the mean feral cat here. I will have to see it keeping food for them and not for the mean feral will cause the feral to try the cage again. It is a very good idea.
I think your problem is greater than just "what to do on vacation." If they are going to be attacked by a feral cat, that has to be taken care of first (if at all?). I get that they will freak if inside. Sure - but at a bare minimum when on vacation and you have this feral cat issue, just keep them inside.
I think your problem is greater than just "what to do on vacation." If they are going to be attacked by a feral cat, that has to be taken care of first (if at all?). I get that they will freak if inside. Sure - but at a bare minimum when on vacation and you have this feral cat issue, just keep them inside.
Thank you. I agree.
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), especially if no humans are around. As for the one 'feral' that will be outside, can you set up some kind of protective shelter for her to get away from any other cats/critters? If she's as feral as you say, maybe she can take care of herself well enough. Not ideal IMO, but maybe the best you can do under the circumstances. 
