I have a (socialized) feral cat that I had to move to my parent's new property, on the other side of the state. (Eastern WA) He has been in a rabbit hutch for a month and a half. This is how you have to acclimate outdoor cats (especially feral ones) to a new environment, but everywhere I've read says 2-4 weeks. He seems to be doing well (From what my father says). He is fed canned food every day at the same time and has dry in a feeder dish, he has a heating pad under his bedding, his litter-box is cleaned regularly and he has a large heated water dish.. I'm nervous to release him in winter, but will do so soon, if I need to. What is the absolute maximum amount of time he should stay in the hutch?

Also, what should I do for housing, after he is released? Will he go back to his bed in the hutch, if I left the door open? Or should I have a house built for him? Should it be near the hutch, or somewhere else? It gets dangerously cold where my parent's are and I worry my cat won't be warm enough, if he doesn't take shelter where he will have a heating pad. (Although he does have a nice, heavy coat)

I suppose my first real question is are you trying to adjust him to be outdoors over this way? Or as a cat moving from outdoors to living indoors? I say over this way because I too live in eastern wa

He is an outdoor cat and will remain so. He has been moved from western WA to the east. I am acclimating him to the property he has moved to, so he doesn't run away and try to get back to his previous home. He is currently outside (By the house) in a rabbit hutch.

Ok is it in city limits or out in the country?

Country. North of Spokane in the mountains. I worry about predatory animals..

Haha I live in Spokane! So yes those are well founded concerns. We get some in the city at times. If you can I'd say build something for the cat to live on the property and move in. Building a free standing home may not work since other animals may occupy it. I can't tell you how many times someone built a shelter for cats but found skunks or raccoons instead. Its tough but many cats do make it out here for years. An ex had like 6 cats at his families place and they lived to an average age of 8. Obviously one for cats have less predators and therefore live longer. I'm guessing allowing this cat inside isn't much option?

No, he can't be inside. For starters, he would spray everywhere and also my stepmother is highly allergic. Plus they have two Basenjis that will chase cats.

What do you think about keeping him in the hutch until spring? My father said he was going to expand the pen, so he has more room to move around. He also said that he escaped recently and then returned to his bed in the hutch, a while later.. Which I would think is a good sign.

When the shelter is built, it will be raised off the ground, just low enough for him to jump onto it. It will also be close to the house and by the door, where the chickens/ducks are in winter. (They have never been bothered)

He is a really cautious cat, so I really shouldn't be too worried. He can be gone in an instant, despite being polydactyl and he's good at hiding.

(late reply, oops) it would be nice if you could make him spray around the property, so he would know where his territory is. Perhaps, have some cloth (more pieces) in his litter, on which some of his pee would get - maybe use less litter(?)- and then spread the cloth around the property? I don't know if this would work, as i havent tried this myself. What i do know is that if a cat pees in a spot that isnt the litter, the smell could be there years after the cat is gone, and a new cat could think that specific spot is for peeing, even if said spot was washed countless times.

worth to think about. but, yes, have your father make a larger pen for him to move around more. good luck!

Sorry I kinda dropped off there. It sounds like a solid idea what you're planning. Get him through winter amd used to the land then come spting expand and make a home base for him. I just worry with all our on and off snow that he's covered enough.

He seems to be doing pretty well. It appears he likes it in his rabbit hutch, since he escaped once and returned on his own. He has gotten a bit fat and has an amazingly thick coat, so I think he's okay in the cold, despite it getting to single digit temperatures at night and remaining below freezing in the day. But, yeah, I'll wait until spring to release him. I'm thinking I will visit so I can be there to monitor him and acclimate him gradually. (as opposed to just releasing him from the hutch at once and hoping for the best)

I also have some (artificial) pheromone spray, that tells a cat the place is safe. I sprayed that on the hutch before I put him in, and he actually went in on his own, before he was moved to the new property. I could spray that around, near the house..

im not familiar with that spray -i dont know if we have them in romania o.o but using it around the property sounds like a really good idea.

Also take him out on a leash? that way you know he won't just run and hide hell knows where. i dont know why i didnt say this too, in my previous post. -.-

but does he have some sort of a shelter on top of him and around him? like, is that hutch inside somewhere?

You could probably find it at a pet store and they sell it online. I do have a leash and a harness I could use for him, but I don't know if he would like that. I could try, though.

No, he's outside, right next to the house, by the door. There's a blanket over the hutch and he has a heating pad under his wool bedding.