Brought in a stray/feral cat who seems… bored? Advice?

Hi everyone,

My partner and I have/have had kitties from exclusively off-the-streets. It’s gone pretty well every time and we’ve even rehomed kittens/their mamas/etc. Most of the cats we’ve taken in have been adults, though, ranging from around a year old all the way to 12 years.

Anyway, we have 2 outside stray/ferals we feed. One is definitely feral - doesn’t really want to be pet and definitely isn’t interested in coming inside. The other loves to be pet, wants to be around you, and has tried to come inside many times. We never let him because we weren’t in a place to take in another cat fully like that.

Well we are moving 6 hours away and it’s a whole situation that’s sort of convoluted (but a good thing!) and the nicer/less feral cat went missing for 2 weeks. He shows back up, super skinny, and we take him in. I take him to the new house 6 hours away 2 days later. The trip was on Friday.

He’s adjusting slowly, using the litter box well now and still loves to get pets and love. He’s scared though for sure, but it’s getting better and he’s been moving around my room more (sleeping in different spots or I’ll wake up in th middle of the night to him creeping around). But he mostly just sleeps. I feel bad. I can’t get him to play with any toys (I don’t think he ‘gets’ it). I’m worried he’s bored and he won’t ever adjust fully to living inside. Honestly, he’s not made for the outside life - the amount of cars I saw him run in front of is sickening. I just want him to be happy, though.

My mom came to see him on his second day here, and he was so excited to see her (he loves people I’m telling you, he had never met her before) and he got under her feet and she stepped on his paw, which scared the shit out of him. I feel like this was a major set back in him becoming comfortable inside. It was a total accident and he’s not hurt (I’ve touched his paws and stuff since then) but I feel like it certainly didn’t help.

I know it hasn’t been many days, and the drive was definitely rough on him and I wished we could have waited longer before subjecting him to that.

Any idea how I can help him get more accustomed to life inside? He likes people, I just don’t think he’s so sure about the living inside part.

Thanks!