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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask if you let your older cats out at night ?

59 replies

PandaWorld · 04/10/2024 13:20

As in if they are 14 or over ? Obviously talking about cats who are actually allowed out and not just indoor cats.

OP posts:
FunnysInLaJardin · 04/10/2024 13:42

our cat is 17 and goes out at night. She has a cat flap and comes and goes as she pleases.

However we live in a very quiet rural area with few cars and don't have any foxes at all as we are in Jersey

FoxtrotOscarKindaDay · 04/10/2024 13:37

PandaWorld · 04/10/2024 13:30

That made me laugh @Doyouthinktheyknow . A whole AIBU forum of the ramblings of various cats. Would be filled with indignation !

Can you imagine the Tortitude?

With regard to older cats out at night, strong no. Their hearing won't be as sharp as it used to be, probably not even noticeable in normal circumstances but vital for them.

They won't be able to regulate their body temperature as well (just like kittens) and at increased risk of hypothermia.

They might not appreciate it, but there's a reason outdoor cats have a much shorter life expectancy than indoor cats.

ilovesooty · 04/10/2024 13:37

Mine are nearly 7 and 18 months. They go out in the morning and after they come in at teatime to be fed they stay in. I've never allowed them out after dark.

LoobyDoop2 · 04/10/2024 13:34

I don’t let my younger cat out at night! I’m of the opinion that the risk from cars and foxes is much higher after dark, and I also don’t like the idea of her wanting to come home and not being able to. More selfishly, I can relax properly if I know she’s home safe, so we bring her in and don’t let her out again about an hour before dark. Unless we’re out in the garden on summer evenings, and then we let her stay out. She just sits with us then anyway.

SnapdragonToadflax · 04/10/2024 13:32

No, I shut them in at 9pm-ish. One had an encounter with a fox last summer and wouldn't come in till 2am, and since then I've been cautious. Never anything like that when younger, he was a bruiser!

They're nearly 17 though and mostly sleep, just got out for a morning and evening look around unless it's very warm.

Original poster
PandaWorld · 04/10/2024 13:30

That made me laugh @Doyouthinktheyknow . A whole AIBU forum of the ramblings of various cats. Would be filled with indignation !

OP posts:
Doyouthinktheyknow · 04/10/2024 13:28

Mine is younger but we stopped letting her out at night when she came home with a bite to her front paw😢

She only wants to go out late evening but she’s shut in from 9pm now😻

If cats had MN she’d be complaining like mad!!

Blusterydaytodaypoohbear · 04/10/2024 13:25

Ours is 12...in at 9 pm ish for food and straight up to bed... Never been out all night. Not sure I would sleep!

Scrabblerabble89 · 04/10/2024 13:23

Yeees, but will admit i'm having a bit of a crises about it at the moment.
I've 5 in total, 2 who are well on to elderly. They both love being outside, and have always had free roam, but they're slower now, sleep more deeply, i recently spotted a large local fox etc.
I'm honestly tempted to start keeping them in with one of those smart cat flap things. Let them out when i can at least shake the dreamies tin if i get worried.

Sorry, bit of a rambling answer!

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