Poor guy, it sounds like he now associates you with that great big giant slab of door headed toward him. Something like post-traumatic stress. The more he sees you close to that door, the worse he gets. Spend a little time with him outdoors where he feels safe,maybe take him in and out from a side door. I wish both of you the best

I've had things scare a stray that I care for (she sleeps in our garage with additional heat day & night) but she always bounces back with attention and food. What was your reaction when the door nearly hit him? Is it possible something you did scared him more than the door itself? Also, has anything changed in the room he sleeps in that could be causing him to fear the room?

I would work on giving him more attention and also consider putting him in a different room at night to see how he reacts. Is he looking healthy otherwise, eating drinking, etc.? Is Scruffy acting any differently around him?

While they're out during the day, consider adding a heating pad for continual warmth. K & H makes several types of pads and I own 3 different ones. I find the ones with a hard surface work best with a thin padding on top. The one in the link above is my favorite since it's soft to start with and comes with a fleece covering.

Cats are weird. I think I'd just let him go hungry until he's ready to come in again--should take about a day. Perhaps you could also prop the door slightly open so he comes in on his own time? I would just try not to change your routine too much or you'll change it forever.

Every cat is different but I think for a ferel or a cat who's lived a harsher life it just takes longer to build that trust. I would try to put myself in a place where it can see you as much as possible but I wouldn't force it to do anything it's not willing to do, Bribing with food is good, but don't ask for anything in return. Just let it eat and exist around you and in time it will come around.

Years ago, I once rescued a pregnant female from a room mate who was moving. He was just going to euthanize her because he didn't "want" her anymore and the thought made me ill. When she had her kittens, the runt was scared and anxious about everything, even before it could see it would scream at the slightest touch. At 8 weeks all she did was run and hide. I knew her chances of finding a good home were very slim, so I ended up keeping her.

It took literally years of doing what I'm suggesting to get her to come to me and cuddle, but once she did she just blossomed and was the most amazing cat. She passed away 5 years ago at 19 and I still miss her every day.

It takes a lot of time and patients, but it will pay off.

BTW, that's the first time I've actually seen cats play with one of those toys, pretty funny and very cute!

You know I don't think cats are any more "weird" than any of us other mammals - you cant really know what all happened before he took up residence at your house... or during the days when they're out and about. Conflicts with other cats and other incidents outdoors could be playing into it. Cats on their own outside see humans at their worst sometimes - they are not all kind and he may be generalizing onto you. You just don't know - One of my cats got seriousl y freaked out and disappeared for 6 wks after getting chased thru several yards and yelled at by the bratty kid next door.... but I happened to see it,s o I knew. How is the relationship with Scruffy, notice any changes - any signs of tension, growling, tails twitching?

As others have said - try spending more time, probably not easy when its cold but still..... don't stand towering over him - sit quietly or lie down and let him approach you - does he have favorite treats? I don't know how possible this is, but if theres some way to make your porch/outdoor area more inviting for you, then this might come more naturally. If theres a room in the basement with a door that can be closed off from the rest of the house, you could put a cat flap on the window so they could go down there instead ... this would be more for you than the cats - so you can be comfortable being in their space and spending more time with them.

Try feliway plug in in the room(s) where the cats are - so they can start to have pleasant associations again. If you just leave him outside he may not stick around if he perceives some sort of threat in his environment and since he has a history of-having been lost, semi-feral or on his own

Best to you OP - I know how it is to feel like a big dumb klutzy human - I inadvertently stepped on Orange the other day and he screamed and avoided me for about a half a day. Oh one more thought- with Orange if I try to follow him and make nice after Ive inadvertently caused him pain or anxiety.... that seems to make it worse so I just leave him be for a while and then check in with him later.

I second the suggestion for heating pad - but it should be the type for pet beds - lower temps and safe to leave on all day and uses very little electricity You can hardly feel the heat with your hand, but for a cat lying on top it will warm them nicely. I got one for my elderly cat and she loved it - spent most of her waking hours on it. This will also help bond your guys to their space - lucky kitties!

Aww, that is a rough one. I agree with Current Resident about leaving him alone for awhile when getting him inside. When Rocket and I have had words, :) he doesn't appreciate my trying to make it up to him but he does come around after a day or two. Rocky will do it on his own terms. You know how cats are. LOL By the way, I have that same toy and should get it out again for Rocket. I love how Scruffy and Rocky played. It's a very good two cat toy. They play very well together. They are both beautiful!! I hope Rocky comes around relaxed and happy again soon. He will get there in time.

Thank you for all the thoughtful responses. I'll try to answer questions and update briefly.

Sylviatexas, I'd thought of trying the back door, but couldn't get him to come to me there. He's so used to going out the back door in the morning. Yes, I think he connected me and the "big giant slab of door" big time. :-)

Annztoo, when the door hit him I stepped outside and called to him with soothing words. There's no problem with his room. Once I bring him in and deposit him at the threshold, he goes right in. In the morning, he's curled up in one of two beds. (Scruffy is usually in the other.) Incidentally, that's the only room downstairs that has a door. I have a very old house with an open floor plan that evolved over the years. Yes, Rocky is eating and drinking normally.

I don't have a way to plug in a heating pad on the porch, so for quite a few years I've been using these:

Snuggle Safe Microwave Heatpad

I have three, and I can't say enough good things about them.

Emory, good point about changing a routine forever. I thought of that the other day. Cats love their routines! Or are slaves to them. Either one. Propping the door would be an interesting--and possibly useful--experiment, but it would let single-digit air in. :-)

Lukkiirish, I've had experience with cats who were born "in the wild" (barns, etc.)--in fact, my present cat Peachy was one of the tiny kittens and mama we discovered in our ice house. Although these cats could be very affectionate, they were skittish when presented with sudden noises or movements. Come to think of it, so am I--and I was born in Manhattan General Hospital! :-)

But Rocky has never been like that. He was calm, curious, and affectionate from the start. I suspect he was dropped off here, possibly because of a persistent infection in his foot that eventually necessitated the amputation of one toe and ended up costing me over $500.

While recovering from that, and again from a later injury, Rocky slept with me. One sweet memory I have from those times is when I was petting him, and then stopped. He reached out one of his large paws and gently pulled my hand back over to him so I'd resume petting. Of course I did.

Current Resident, good point about how traumas possibly experienced by Rocky in the past might play into this event. I can't know what happened to him before he came here, but I observed something that happened last year. Before that, for his first two years here, Rocky was perfectly secure as "king of the mountain" on our property. He and Scruffy were best buds (still are--no problem there), and he had plenty to amuse himself all day. You could sense his serenity and ease. Then last year a stray cat showed up and attacked him. I saw it happen, the cat leaping in the air and landing on Rocky. He remained in the area for a few weeks, and I heard stories of other attacks. Then he disappeared, but Rocky's demeanor was changed slightly, and apparently for good. The change was subtle, but I noticed it.

Update: Yesterday was quite a bit better. Rocky didn't follow me to the mailbox like he used to, but he hung around me outside and got lots of petting. That morning, when I took him out of the bathroom I sat at my desk with him and gave him lots of petting and sweet talk. I received a lot of purring and paw-kneading in return.

So last night it went like this: At bedtime I dished up his canned food as usual, but this time I took the empty can with me and set it on the porch. Rocky came over to sniff it, and I petted him a couple of times. Then I picked him up and brought him inside. With Emory's caution about creating a new routine in mind, instead of carrying him to the bathroom I set him down inside the front door. He ran off into the living room, but only briefly. Then he walked past me to the back door, but that was okay because it gave me an opportunity to show him his dinner dish, let him sniff it, and let him see that I was putting it in the bathroom. Sure enough, he followed the dish into the bathroom. Whew!

This morning we sat at my desk again for more petting. I'm feeling more hopeful, even as I'm aware this will take more time and patience.

Thank you all again!

Murraysmom, I think we spoke too soon. Every evening is a challenge. During the daylight hours Rocky's fine. Normal. Approaches me to be petted, etc. Even when the sun first goes down he lets me pet him. But when bedtime arrives I become someone to be avoided. So far I've managed to lure him (with food) close enough to be able to pick him up and put him in the house. He hasn't made it into the bathroom under his own steam since the one time I described above.

Last night I tried calling him earlier than usual, but that didn't help. Tonight I'm extra tired and therefore tempted to leave Rocky and Scruffy outside. I'm sure they'd be comfortable in their dog house with warming disks. But I'm afraid it would set a precedent that would be difficult to reverse--and I'm having enough trouble with our routine as it is.

Tonight Rocky walked through the front door on his own (I held the door) for the first time since all this started. He didn't head straight for the bathroom like he used to, but instead ran nervously into the living room and then the kitchen first, but walking through the door was a big deal, and I'm delighted.

Yes, this has occurred on more than one occasion at my house as well with two outside/inside the cellar for the night cats. Sometimes you know what caused it, sometimes not. And yes, you'll worry and lay awake at night wondering if the cat(s) is ever going to come back. They do. And as if nothing had happened.

When the poster said "cats are weird", I know what he/she means. It's a "cat thing".

Wonderful news!

I hope this is the beginning of the end of his fear. It's hard on one's heart as well.

It really is hard on one's heart! So far so good. Very good, really. He was waiting by the door last night, and zipped directly to the bathroom. Just like old times. :-)

Yay! Keep up the praise for the good behaviour. Cats love praise.

Thanks, Kittymoonbeam! That was such a nice post! You're such a good girl!

Oh, wait . . . you're not a cat. LOL