M25 cat killer

[MakeLemonade]

We have a kitten who is six months old and pretty keen to be going outside. The cat killer has recently killed two cats nearby, one this week and one a month or so ago.

I'm tempted to keep DKitten inside but is it cruel. Is anyone else doing something different due to this (granted, relatively small) risk?

Keeping her in overnight is definitely an option but I can't work out how to do this practically.

[Squeegle]

Have you got a cat flap? You can set them to lock if you need to keep her in at night

[MakeLemonade]

Not yet but planning to get a lockable microchip one.

My concern is more if she doesn't come in during the evening, if she's off adventuring then there's not much I can do.

[walruswhiskers]

We've always kept cats hungry until they are on for the night. It's v rare that they don't come back by 8pm if unfed.

[Scribblegirl]

Watching - we have the same problem. We'll let them out next month once they're chipped and neutered but I'm terrified - keep telling myself how low the odds are though, how they're much more likely to get in a fight or get hit by a car (not helpful I know!!)

[Wh0Kn0wsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Ours always come in too, they come and go frequently throughout the day and evening, we set the catflap to in only at dusk. They do slip out sometimes if we go out to the car or bins but always come back pretty quickly. They don't know any different as we've always done this. I agree with getting them in to feed and then locking them in.

[hazeydays14]

We feed the cat biscuits in the morning and wet food in the evening. She always comes runnin when she hears the sound of the wet food packet and then we lock the cat flap. Or a shake of the whiskers treat box brings her running. They seem to have supersonic hearin when it comes to food!

My cat was also desperate to get out so there's no way we could have kept her in.

[hazeydays14]

Those typos though! Pretend there are 'g's where necessary

[Poppychop]

I second what Wh0Kn0ws said. I've always kept my cats in at night and they are used to it. I'm more vigilant now because I also live in an area where he has killed, about 8.30pm is their current curfew. If I go away overnight they are locked in the whole time.
Good luck - I remember how nerve wracking it is letting a new kitten out even without this additional worry. As others have said use food. I used to shake the Dreamies bag.

[Wolfiefan]

You can cat proof gardens apparently. I would be tempted to do that.

[GingerWh1nger]

Our garden is cat-proofed - I feel it's absolutely worth it, it's less worry for me if our two to go out there on their own, and I also don't have to worry about them shitting in other people's gardens either. Ours is a rolling wooden pole system from Katzecure (?) - sits on top of our existing wood panel fence.

[Poppychop]

Forgot to mention, once both are in for the night and the catflap locked, I put something in front of it, currently a suitcase (!), so they understand. This might be useful as you'll be training yours to use the catflap. When I go away I tape a piece of cardboard over it to stop them scratching at it wondering why it isn't working. It's hard on the paintwork but I don't mind!

[Wh0Kn0wsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Ours are about 4 years old now and I'm glad I insisted on getting into this habit as the cat killer has been in action in our area too . DH thought at first that it was unfair to stop them hunting at night but changed his mind when I pointed out that shut in at night means no unwanted gifts in the morning.

[MakeLemonade]

Thanks everyone, some really great suggestions here that I'm going to think about and look into. Sure we can find a way to make it work.

I'll also be simultaneously hoping that the sick motherfucker gets caught or happens upon a really nasty accident.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Harry has always stayed in at night. We've cat proofed the garden with netting on the fence so he can stay out a bit later now but we still get him in. The cat killer has killed near me (we got home from holiday yesterday to find a leaflet had been put through the door about it) and I worry the cat proofing advertises we've got a cat, but I don't want to keep him in all the time so this seems to be the best compromise. It also keeps him away from the roads.

[dingit]

Dh has made a door with a magnet to shut the cat flap. She has a litter tray for night, but sometimes uses it in the day if it's rained. She doesn't seem to poo in it. She's 10 now and it doesn't seem to bother her being shut in. My old male cat would have hated it.