Leaving my semi feral cat to travel

[MJO]

I adopted a calico from a parking lot. I did TSN and the animal organization considered her unadoptable, so I took her. She spends most of her time in the back yard. Does not pay much attention to me. But will come in to ask for her dinner. Sometimes climbs on my lap and lets me pet her -- if she wants food. I have to travel for seven days. My SIL will come twice a day to feed and check on her. I am concerned about how to leave her.
I have a cat door that she uses to go in and out. Some raccoons come around regularly to look for food. She and the raccoons tolerate each other. I am afraid if I travel and leave the cat door open the raccoons will come in the house.
How hard would it be for this cat to stay in the house for seven days. No going outside for seven days. I will leave the shades up so she can look out the windows. She will be able to look out the patio door. Still, I don't want to stress her for seven days. I am considering not going on my trip.

 

[Kris107]

This probably won't help in this situation due to timing, but they do make RIFD/microchip activated pet doors. Something to consider. If sister is coming by twice a day, could cat be out all day and in at night with pet door locked? Raccoons are mostly active at night.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi and welcome to TCS. I presume you close the cat flap at night when you are home? How late does this cat show up beforehand? Perhaps your SIL can close it for her 2nd/last visit of the day, and if she is flexible enough she can make sure the cat has been there to eat before she does so.

I don't know your normal schedule, the layout of your home, what room the cat door enters into, where this cat normally eats, or how many times a day she normally shows up, and if there is a routine to her appearances. I'd block off access to other parts of the house as much as possible. If there is a neighbor that you could ask to check in during the day in addition to your SIL, just for added 'activity' in case that might help keeping the raccoons at bay a bit. Leaving some of your worn, unwashed clothing in the area where she goes to in your house will help her to deal with your physical absence.

You could also leave food outside of the house, in the hopes the raccoons will be more than happy to eat that instead of coming into your house. If this cat is accustomed to coming inside your house to eat, she will probably continue to do that and leave the outside food for the raccoons.

I honestly don't think it would be a good idea to lock her in your house while you are gone. There just won't be anyone there all day/night to help her settle down any, and make sure she wouldn't wreak havoc trying to find a way out.

I don't know how soon your trip is, or how accommodating your SIL is, but it would be helpful if this cat could see your SIL with you for a while before you leave. She may not be inclined to come near if she has no familiarity with your SIL and doesn't see you.

 

[Margot Lane]

I think it would be good to keep her inside if someone were there….only b/c we once had to amputate a cat’s tail that lost a fight with a raccoon. I don’t say that to worry you, but raccoons aren’t inclined to be chummy.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Is it possible to split the difference, and delay the trip long enough to get and install a chipped cat door?

 

[fluffpaws]

Is your sister in law friend's with your cat? Maybe she could stay at your house at least a few nights while you are away?