Night owler

[Papergirl1968]

Twice in the last few days my naughty cat hasn't come home till 1.45am. Like an idiot, I've sat up waiting for him, worried sick, quietly calling him and shaking treats at both front and back door every few minutes, and scuttling round the corner in my nightclothes.
It's obviously the good weather that is making him want to stay out, as on a cold winter night he will be in for 5pm or 6pm. Usually in the summer it will be 9pm to 10pm, and that's fine. Even 11pm is ok but 1.45 is not!
I throw him out early evening if he's had a lot of sleep in the day, and don't give him too much to eat. What else can I do!?
He is neutered and just over two years old, by the way. Is this cat adolescence? Pushing the boundaries and ignoring curfews...?

[Fluffycloudland77]

I hold back on the last feed and grab him anytime after 9pm. He's not happy about it but he's living the lifestyle quite frankly, it's a small price to pay.

[Papergirl1968]

Thanks, fluffy, that worked, at least tonight. Gave him a very tiny snack to stop him keep pestering at about 6.30 and he was back in at 9! It was starting to rain though which probably helped!

[Papergirl1968]

Bad boy has learned that he can get in and out via a first floor window in our new extension. Left open by the decorator and he escaped after having his supper tonight but luckily was tempted in with treats at 11pm so no wandering the streets in the early hours for either of us!

[RubbishMantra]

I do the same as Fluffy with my boys. They now know the routine, so are back indoors by 8/9pm in the summer, much earlier in the winter.

If you want to keep windows open, have you tried Flat Cats? And does he have a lockable cat-flap?

[Papergirl1968]

No, we haven't got a cat flap. And I'd not heard of flat cats but just had a look and it seems like a great idea - not only to keep the cat in but the kids too. They are 12 and 14 but rather challenging, not to mention adventurous, which is why we all roast every summer with the main Windows upstairs having to remain closed and locked. Flat cats might just be a solution...

[Fluffycloudland77]

If you take the door off the loft hatch in summer it helps the house stay cool.

I do it every May and it's off until September.

You can get cat flaps with programmable curfews.