Rescued Stray not coming home

[Naughtykitty]

Hi everyone,

I've posted a few times about our new boy. We've seemed to have one problem after another (I worry too much about him is one problem).

He usually goes out through the cat flap and stays out for a few hours and then comes home for food/cuddles/sleep before going back out.

The other day he went out in the early morning and didn't come back till midnight.

Last night he went out about 11 and hasn't come back at all. I usually lock the cat flap so he can only come in at night so he's there to have his breakfast before going back out again.

I just worry that eventually he's going to wander off and not come back at all!

Is locking the cat flap confusing him? Could he be clever enough to know it's locked so avoids coming in at night? Am I worrying over nothing?

Thanks

Sorry I should also add that we know he's a young adult (about 2 years) and that when we rescued him from the RSPCA they thought he'd been a stray for most of his life x

Would you consider cat proofing your garden or installing a catio? His instinct may be to stray but obviously he doesn’t realise that it’s not in his best interests. He’d lose out on regular meals and healthcare if he just disappeared one day. Not to mention the upset to you.

My most timid cats have also become more friendly since becoming house cats.

The problem is if we try to keep him in, he becomes so visibly distressed. He will continuously cry and pace the house. So it wouldn't be fair to keep him in. I'm home from work now and I don't know if he's been back at all today. Both bowls of food have been eaten but that could have easily been out other cat as hes so greedy!