I think my cat has become a delinquent: stays out all night

[WixingMords]

How can I prevent his heading off and not coming home until the morning? is that possible? In fact so far I haven't seen him today, usually he comes in late and I find him at the end of my bed, or he strolls in at 6.30ish.

This has been going on for about a month or so.

He's one, neutered, micro-chipped and not here.

[lljkk]

I barely feed mine all day & they know to be around 7-8pmish for food. After that I try to not let them out again.

[WixingMords]

Up to last week it was work like this, he is sleeping when I come in (before 6pm), he goes out then is back late but before morning. Last three days he hasn't been here wheniI'm home from work, and turned in the morning.

Haven't seen him since 6 yesterday evening. He came in, looked at his food but didn't eat, then, snunk out when door was open. Getting concerned now.

[RubbishMantra]

Is it possible someone else is feeding him? You could put a paper collar on him with your contact details.

Is your cat-flap lockable?

[CMOTDibbler]

When its hot, mine are like this. It appears they sleep in a nice hedge all day, and then wander at night. They appear only to be fed morning and evening - but always have constant access outside due to cat1 having massive issues around being confined

[WixingMords]

It's possible he's being fed elsewhere. Paper collar is an idea. Not seen that before.

I'm not in the UK, in Dublin, so it's not been mad hot, though it has been warm, and I can't be sure of his behaviour in warm weather with him only just barely being a year old.

Cat flap is set to in only.

I'm going out for a walk now to search for him (I've been calling but not done a search)

[Lovethesea]

Does he hunt a lot? I hardly see my hunting cat in summer. He loves being outside snoozing under hedges and spends a lot of the night in the fields behind us eating small mammals.

He comes in to snooze sometimes, top up on cat food and occasionally to show off a kill. We see a lot more of him on rainy cold days and he sleeps on my bed for hours ... a sprawling fluffy tabby killing machine (who is lovely and patient with my kids).

[WixingMords]

He certainly is on the look out for things to hunt, frequently see (when he's about!) him looking into bushes/plants on the crouch position.

It was raining on Sunday and he was in all day!!

(He was found on Sat night, went out looking for him, no joy, but as I returned home he was running towards me across the green meowing loudly.

Was like one of the romantic scenes where lovers run towards each other with open arms. Twas emotional..

[Archfarchnad]

Could you try Dreamies-training him? Get him used to the idea that if he comes running when you call he gets a few Dreamies - and only then. Archcat knows that when we call him now just as it goes dark, he'll get a handful few Dreamies. DD1 has even trained him that he has to sit down nicely before he gets them.

[WixingMords]

Yes I did - though it's more than likely worth re visiting it!!

He's in right now (it's raining)

[paxtecum]

But they like being out at night so why spoil their fun?

[Fluffycloudland77]

Our cat has a talent for coming in the cat flap as dh goes out the front door looking for him so I'm not surprised he came running as you got back.

[WixingMords]

He'd be AWOL for over 24 hours at that point Fluffy.

pax it's just there's loose dogs and many foxes around where I live (admittedly the loose dogs are about in the day too)