Cat won't come back in the house

[RubixCubix]

He went out Friday morning for only the second time since we adopted him 2 months ago but won't now come back in the house. I've tried calling shaking dreamies but nothing has worked. Don't know what else to try

Did he go out through a cat flap? Is he hanging around just outside?

No he went out the back door when I was taking the bins out. He still hanging around in our garden mostly and will some times come close but runs when you try to touch him. He looks so cold and wet, I just don't know why he won't come back in the house.

Well put some food outside for him so he doesn't wander any further off. I know it's cold but could you leave the back door open for a couple of hours?

The back door has been open this whole time- my house is bloody freezing. I've been putting food in his bowl (just inside the back door) and he is eating it when no one is around.

What did he do the first time he went out?

First time he went out was only a week or so after we got him. I hadn't noticed he followed me out when I left for work. Only realised that evening, after check the house, I opened the back door and he appeared. Had to tempt him in with treats that time to but at least he did come in. This time he won't even let me get near.

Well it's certainly odd. But I'm sure he'll be wanting to come in again soon enough. Just keep feeding him outside.

If all else fails you could always borrow a trap from a rescue or vets (some have them), but it seems a bit OTT at the moment. And then what about the next time? I would keep that as a very last resort.

When he does come back in, to avoid it happening again, a cat flap would be ideal. If he learns to go out through a cat flap then he will also come back through it. And when a cat knows they can always get out if they want to they tend to be more relaxed about coming inside.

Its been 3 days and tonight will be the 3rd night of freezing cold temperatures. We have no idea where he is sheltering as it has also been raining. The door has been left open for him to come back inside if he wants to but he hasn't so I'm not sure he does want to come back.

And if he does then I'm tempted to keep him as an indoors only cat as this is heartbreaking.

I really think a cat flap would stop this happening again.

Any other advice apart from installing a cat flap, for a cat that won't walk through a wide open full sized door?

Can you make him a basic shelter near the door, e.g. a lidded plastic box with an entrance hole and some bedding? Obviously you can't leave the back door open all night.

The cat flap isn't to get him inside right now. It's to stop it happening again once you get him back in. Cats are often reluctant to come back inside if they feel they will then be trapped inside and i think that is probably the problem now. A cat flap makes them feel more relaxed about coming back in.