Cat out all night (is ok) now wondering what to do lock in or let out?

[SuperFlyHigh]

my cat has been out since yesterday lunchtime and overnight (he's usually locked in every night) but the doors to the kitchen area are shut and he's managed to open them too (in past week has opened them more than once) and then push past boards that keep cat flap shut and lead into garden.

Yesterday wasn't a good day for him as both sets of neighbours had kids over (one huge party other BBQ), he's not good with children generally and watches them from a distance when out (he hates being picked up and cuddled).

Anyway he sauntered in this morning about 8am and is now flat out sleeping on a spare bed having of course eaten some breakfast.

As i'd heard amazing screeches (it's always him, fighting and screeching the neighbours hear him miles away) at 9pm yesterday I was a bit concerned re a fight but he's fine. Fighting and being out all day is his "thing" though, he loves both. I think also as a 2 year old neutered Tom cat he's probably doing exactly what comes naturally to him.

What do I do now though? Should I still lock him in at night or is it safer just to let him out? He Rarely catches anything bar the odd frog and bird.

As I got no sleep last night (I live in the area where Croydon Cat Killer operates which worried me and they've struck near my maisonette too) last night I've rang into work feigning illness.

[redhat]

You've not gone to work and have pretended to be ill because your cat stayed out at night?

Get a grip.

[SuperFlyHigh]

I actually feel sick as an aside about something else redhat.

Which is also to do with work. Not that that's any of your business.

[SuperFlyHigh]

PS I'm now hiding this thread as I don't want any more nasty comments.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Please try and keep him in at night, especially in your area. My cat is always in at night (the M25 cat killer has struck near me as well) even though he couldn't catch anything if he was starving!

[SuperFlyHigh]

Thanks PinkSparklyPussyCat. They still haven't caught that Cat Killer yet.

I don't often take time off work (have got period pains and back pains too) but have been up half the night looking for my cat. And therefore got very little sleep. What with work problems I don't feel guilty about taking a day off. I also don't know and have found out since my OP that my cat has a fresh wound/cut on his back leg (not bad) which I've bathed and was very sick after eating his breakfast. I'm keeping him in now just to keep an eye on him.

My previous cat (Snowy) used to have such bad fights that he had gaping and bleeding wounds in his side which required a drip at some times and a cat medical collar. So naturally I'm a bit concerned about how vicious some cat fights can be.

And for anyone else's info the Cat Killer actually struck about a 10 minute walk from where I live, they killed 2 cats and I think decapitated a fox, so yes I was also very worried about that.

I will be keeping him in at night and making it harder for him to get out.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I would always keep a cat in at night no matter what. Staywell flaps aren't very secure. I think ours is pet or cat start or something like that.

[SuperFlyHigh]

Thanks Fluffy after discussion with another poster i am going to get one of those timed cat microchip cat flaps.

Felix is now flat out upstairs sleeping, will have to feed him chicken and rice for stomach if not better.

The worrying thing for me and others in SE England area is the Cat Killer still hasn't been caught yet. He also seems to have gone to other areas not just Croydon.

[RubbishMantra]

Oh, what a worry living so close to that sicko. I'd have been up all night with worry too.

I keep mine in at night. One of mine would probably claw the killer to pieces, but the other one is like a trusting child.

Glad your boy's back safe.

[UmbongoUnchained]

If you love next to a cat killer then yea keep it in. But otherwise my cats have always been chucked out at night.

[RubbishMantra]

Why do you chuck them out at night Umbongo? That's when cats are most at risk of being run over, fighting, fox attacks, random drunks - and the cat killer is active from Manchester to the south coast.

Also, it's a myth that cats are most active at night, they're crepuscular - most active at dusk then dawn. So your poor little cat will just find a bush to hide under until dawn.

Please don't tell me you "chuck them out at night" during the winter months?

[SuperFlyHigh]

RubbishMantra I had no idea the cat killer had moved boundaries, for a while as you said he was most prevalent in South East UK. Ps thanks for concern over my cat being back safe. He screeches (half Siamese) and half the neighbours already hear that charming noise on a regular basis (how embarrassing!) but had heard it and so had I at 9pm last night.

When he was in my area I rang the police for advice. They told me to keep my cat in at night and were speculating it was the work of 2 people as well as maybe just 1, they also said he struck around 1am and mentioned a white van. I'm going to check for more updates on the killer soon.

Interesting to know cats are crepuscular, the past few nights Felix has got out he's arrived back at 4.30am and 8am respectively so that fits in.

[UmbongoUnchained]

Because they are cats. They don't like being indoors anyway.

[SuperFlyHigh]

Umbongo you are speaking about your own cats not liking being indoors. Not all cats are the same.

From my experience if it's cold eg snowing/thunderstorms etc generally most cats prefer to be inside away from it rather than shoved outside scared.

[UmbongoUnchained]

If course I'm talking about my own cats. You asked for opinions on what to do, I shared mine.

[Onesieisthequeensselfie]

I don't blame you for being worried about the cat killer OP, I would absolutely be too.

Keep him in at night if you can, you'll have peace of mind that way at least.

[SuperFlyHigh]

onesie last victim was in June in Morden which though not near me is a 20 minute drive away, the poor cat was the 100th victim of this nutter.

umbongo no, thanks for your opinion.

[RubbishMantra]

Umbongo, do you think your cats enjoy being locked out of their core territory?

Do you at least grant them a cat-flap to come in out of the rain/snow/scary Alpha cats?

[RubbishMantra]

I wouldn't be able to sleep if either of my boys weren't safe indoors.

I'd be scared a troll might get them.

[UmbongoUnchained]

No they are fine. They have a shed that go in if they want to.

[IfNotNowThenWhenever]

I thought cats were supposed to go out at night...and ( cat serial killers aside) I can't think what dangers " random drunks" might pose..?!
We always has cats growing up, and all were generally put out at night. None had a litter tray, unless poorly.
All lived to be really old, we're extremely healthy, not at all mangy or doolally, and none got runover. Tons of foxes where we lived too.
My cat now likes his sofa, but sometimes is nowhere to be seen at bedtime, so he stays out. Plenty of nice big bushes out back., he's fine, just pops up in the morning hungry and sleeps most of the day. Let cats be cats!

[UmbongoUnchained]

Yeah I've never met anyone who keeps their cats indoors. I think it's quite cruel really. They're outdoor animals.

[WeirdAndPissedOff]

I've always kept mine in overnight - they just sleep most of the night anyway.
Our eldest is the only one who sometimes stays out, and I usually end up being woken up about 3am by her screaming outside my window.

[RubbishMantra]

I neither keep my cats indoors, or "chuck them out" at night.

Mine are free rangers from dusk til dawn.

I don't really understand why somebody would acquire a pet to "chuck it out" at the most dangerous time.

umbongo, would you treat a dog in the same manner?

[RubbishMantra]

• Dawn til dusk. Oops.

[UmbongoUnchained]

We had farm digs when j was younger and yes they weren't allowed in the house. They had a barn. They are animals.