Do you keep your cats in overnight?

[SuckingEggs]

Should they be allowed to go in and out? Say, after 9pm? We are getting a microchip flap.

Ta

[pabstblueribbon]

I don't keep mine in but now it's getting colder they tend to stay inside anyway!

[DesolateWaist]

I keep mine in. Once it's dark she stays in.
She's never known any different though so after she's had dinner she goes straight to bed.

[cozietoesie]

The outside going cats are kept in after dusk and allowed out after breakfast.

[Wolfiefan]

In when it is dark. The chances of a fight or car hitting them or encountering a fox etc go up hugely when it's dark.

[lljkk]

try to keep in, yes. hours of darkness

[Nandocushion]

Yes - coyotes, foxes and cars nearby

[whitehandledkitchenknife]

Yes. We lost 2 much loved cats to speeding cars at night down our country road. I can't go through that again. Ours gets called in at dusk and stays in until dawn.

[CurtainsforRonnie]

Yes definately. We can all relax then, knowing shes all snuggly & warm.

DCat goes up to our bed, the same time as us

[6cats3gingerkittens]

Yes. The downside being that they all want to sleep on my bed. By the morning they are scattered around the house hopeful for breakfast soon.

[CatsGoPurrrr]

Yep.

It was a condition when I adopted her.

After losing my lovely boycat in an rta after dark, i'd've kept her in after dark anyway.

[Vinorosso74]

Yes it's known as kitty curfew in our house. We've always kept her in overnight from when we adopted her-safer for her and stops me worrying. She's always desperate to be out in the morning but not until she's had food and insulin.

[cozietoesie]

But they come in quite the thing the night before, don't they?

[RubbishMantra]

I don't let mine out after dark. Even if I did let them out at night, I'd keep them in this time of year when any idiot can get their hands on fire-works.

Just last night I had a bunch of drunken fools calling "Come on cat! Jump, jump!" to my cat sitting on the 2nd floor windowsill. (I wrote about it on another thread. The window was open, but I have mesh screens on my upstairs windows. He just stared down at them with disdain.

Then if you've got a friendly/greedy cat they might follow a bunch of tipsy people (and their kebabs) to the next pub/club and not find their way home. And most RTAs happen at night.

[previously1474907171]

Mine were always in before dark and kept in.

If you are anywhere near London I wouldn't let them out, the M25 cat killer is still killing regularly around London, Kent and Surrey, and in other areas too.

Facebook link to SNARL for details www.facebook.com/South-Norwood-Animal-Rescue-and-Liberty-SNARL-624100301029007/

[JessicaEccles]

I really really try to keep mine in at night but last night Omar woke my by standing on my head at 12.40 to look out the window. And then again at 4 because he heard a bird sing. The fat fker.

Boo will happily stay in and is terrified of fireworks. We are lucky to have enclosed back gardens - and there is a fox that visits, but Boo beat him up last week.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Cat stays in but we don't shut the cat flap.

[Oldraver]

We bring Ernie in about an hour before we go to bed, so he is out in the dark now.

He hasn't yet learnt to climb out the garden, its not been catproofed...not sure if we would.

We've also lost a cat to RTA, and it does make you more wary so we are glad he is confined to the garden for the time being

[BorpBorpBorp]

Yes, the flap is locked at dusk or when we get home from work if it's already dark, for the cat's safety and to minimise 'gifts'. BorpCat1 is called in if she's not home already, but she doesn't roam far. Flap is opened again after breakfast - that started when BorpCat2 (RIP) used to go out before breakfast and sit by the neighbour's pond looking suspicious. If I forgot to unlock the flap he would go back to his bowl and eat a bit more and try again

[Celen]

Yes I wouldn't be able to relax knowing they're out.

[ClubTropicanaDrinks]

Ours used to come and go during the night through the cat flap but he wasn't a vast wanderer - would just knock about in the garden. Now he's old we keep him in as he gets lost! Also, we're in the cat killer zone :0(

My FIL's cat sometimes gets left out all night, if she happens to be out when he locks up, but she has a bed and some water in a shed in the garden so she's got shelter and a place to sleep.

[Itisnotwhatyouknow]

Yes they are locked in at night.

They start meowing to go out when the sun comes up, though, which is a nightmare in summer.

[doobyboobydo]

When I lived in London they'd be in at night but the cats I have in the States now are tough little bastards.

They sleep most of the day in the basement (not allowed in the house until the ground freezes over and there's no more ticks) and go out at night.

We come down every morning to at least three dead mice/voles and assorted squirrels. One of the cars recently had all his teeth out but it's not slowed him down!

I can only imagine the rodent problem we'd have if the mogs weren't such murderous shits.

[IcaMorgan]

Mine are all kept in overnight and especially now with the cat killer killing in my area

[doobyboobydo]

There's a cat killer?!