You would like my area. It's just rolling hills, and the closest grocery store of any size is 22 miles away.
After 36 yrs in the military and 5 yrs in the FAA, I'd recommend somewhere between Chattanooga and Asheville NC, on Highways 64 or 74.
But that's just me and I like the mountains. Catching a feral cat isn't difficult if you feed them regularly.
First feed them only in a large cage, with the door open, and feed them every day at the same time.
Pets love habits.
Then after a few days, after they get use to the habit, just close the door.
The cage needs to be large enough to have a small litter box and room enough to have a water dish and feed bowl in it, with enough room left for the cat to lay down, too.
Second, for wild animals you want to "move",
Tractor Supply usually has a sale on some catch cages, 3 for $29.95 plus tax, that works well, and has enough room for a possum, raccoon, or armadillo, but Lord help you if you catch a skunk.
I normally shoot the skunks, but I have been lucky enough to slowly, VERY SLOWLY, move the caught skunk in the cage with an 8 foot gripping pole away from the house and then dispatch the skunk.
Tomato juice or lemon juice will cut the smell of the skunk, but you usually have to wash with it about three times.
If you catch a raccoon or a possum, you have to haul them off MORE THAN 5 MILES before you release them, or they WILL return.
If you catch a bobcat, don't even try to move the cage.
Bobcat will tear you to pieces.
Just call the game warden to remove it, or "shoot, shovel and shut up".
If you really want to take a good look for a place to live in Mississippi, I recommend between Natchez and Clinton MS, west of Jackson, along the Natchez Trace-way.
It beautiful and fairly cheap, but not too far from a large town, Jackson.
But beware, Mississippi grows a healthy crop of mosquitoes and fleas, and the ticks do pretty good, also (hehehe).
5 miles for possums and raccoons? I didn’t know they could move that fast - or had such a great sense of direction. Why don’t you relocate the skunks too?
I think I’ll be able to catch Max, if it’s a good day. He can be friendly one week, letting me pet him. And then run off every time I open the door the next. Pretty odd. I hear ya on the routine thing. My indoor cats’ dinner time clock is more accurate than anything else in the house, LOL! I can quit free-feeding Max and just put food out at 6 or so, in order to be able to catch him. Good idea, thanks.