Do cats mind being outside all night?

[AhBiscuits]

My neighbours don't have a catflap and their cat is out overnight. We got a door camera a few months ago and it always picks him up at about 11pm coming into our slightly covered porch area and sleeping on our doormat until about 5am, when he wanders off. He's not a young cat, they've had him since we moved here so he's at least 10.
It's starting to get pretty cold at night. I wondered about putting a folded blanket down for him or something so he's more off the cold floor. But I guess he's been OK up to now, before I knew about him visiting.

It is now considered best to keep cats in at night. They can get attacked by other animals that are nocturnal. A friends cat was once savaged by a badger. They didn’t even know there were badgers in the area, but the vet said the injuries were of that sort. Plus of course traffic is dangerous.

Please put a box or something out for the cat to shelter in. Anything would be a help. If he’s hunkering down on your doorstep he’s either trying to get some sleep or keep himself safe. A heat mat could be a life saver.

I personally, would try to check his weight, he will need to reasonable amount of body fat to keep warm. I’d also try to make friends with the cat, and would let him in if he wanted. 10 makes him an elderly cat.

Do you think it would work to have a word with the neighbour? 30 years ago a lot of people thought that cats should be left out at night, so they maybe don’t realise things have changed.

I had several cats, over many years. All stayed in at night (warmer and safer for them). Could you somehow create a little shelter like a kennel with a blanket inside? Poor thing.

Just to add, cats have a higher body temperature than us. (They originated from desert cats), so they feel the cold more.

Thats why you get all those cute pictures of cats sleeping on keyboards, big dogs or in a huge huddle of cats - they’re just trying to keep warm.

Our cats are sometimes out all night, but we have a house outside for them. I often wake in the night and let them in around 3am though.

Cats are most active at dusk and dawn so they do often ask to go out at night. We are quite rural and my cats usually go out all night in summertime. I just wouldn’t have a cat flap as they bring mice back given a chance - dead and alive. We have stables and car ports, so I know they have shelter if they need it, but I try to keep them in through winter because it gets quite wild weather and cold here. I’ve been keeping them in for about three weeks now. My male cat shouted at me for a few evenings, but seems to have settled into winter routine now.

A cardboard box on its side, out of the wind (in your porch) is a good option. Cats love boxes, they’re warm, and easily changed if they get wet/damaged. But will your porch still be open in snow etc?

Aahh poor little thing. My old cat used to like sleeping on the next door neighbours door mat too and on the husbands disability scooter lol 😂 but he could always come in as he had 24/7 access to our home

I'd say something to the neighbours and put out a box with straw

Depends on the cat but they usually don't

Have you spoken to your neighbours at all? They might have heard you should put cats out at night, but would probably change their minds if they knew where he was spending the night.

Cats are crepuscular so often they will like a little prowl at night followed by a snooze somewhere comfy. My nana looks after strays who won’t come into the house but really appreciate her leaving a soft basket in her shed (almost without exception). The memeified “if you’re cold, they’re cold” does actually apply to pets who are pretty much designed to live in a house.

The porch isn't a proper porch with a door, just an area in front of the front door with a roof and wall on one side. It's sheltered from the wind and rain. I'll mention to my neighbour when I see him that kitty sleeps there all night (and maybe start leaving a box of straw there.
I saw the cat chase a fox away on the camera once, so he's quite fiesty.

My cat likes to stay out all night (and all day) in summer. He comes in to eat and that's it.

Once it turns cold he only leaves the house to do his business and spends the rest of the time snuggled up somewhere cosy, or pesters for food.

Poor cat. I echo what others say. Straw is the best thing to help. I think I would be too tempted to say something myself.

Box with straw is a good idea. I would let him in but animals are treated like kings and queens at our house. Thank you for being kind and thinking of him.

Our cat is also out most nights. Although if I try to put her out before I go to bed she declines and likes to wait until I'm just about to fall asleep and then jumps on my head. If she wants in again she'll cry at the bedroom window until I open it.

*jyst

Poor thing. One of my cats loves the outdoors but even he draws the line in this weather.

If you don’t get anywhere with the neighbours and you’re feeling generous, these microwaveable heat pads are great. You nuke it in microwave and it stays warm all night. We bought one for the old feral/stray who frequented our garden.

Posted too soon. I've just realised that I'm the fool in this scenario and should just close doors so she's no option but to stay in.

I have a cat flap on my back door, and also on my shed, which l have turned into a nice garden room for them. I also have a couple of plastic cat kennels dotted around garden. My cats do stay in more during cold weather, we had one who would still go out.
I would try and make temporary shelter for the cat. They do feel the cold.

I won't ever let my cats stay out overnight. I just think it's too dangerous for them and they're likely to get into fights with other cats.

I had an indoor/outdoor cat many years ago, for 9 years, until he died due to complications from FIV. He was a fighter in his younger days unfortunately (and he usually came off worst!!) He was a devil to get into the house once it started to turn dusk, and we had many a stand off! There were only 3 times he was out overnight - once when we went to dinner at some friends' house and he was sitting there all sorry for himself on the doormat when we got home; second time, I set my alarm to check every hour and he was at the front door in the wee small hours wanting in, and 3rd time the little bugger still didn't want to come in at 7am!

Could you run to a little wooden cat kennel? Our last cat was a stray and wouldn't come in for a long time, so he had his kennel in the garden and he used it lots. We did have blankets and they didn't ever freeze. He eventually moved indoors, where he lived out his twilight years in the lap of luxury with his five willing slaves!

A friend had this arrangement (big porch though) for a little cat for years, who wouldn't ever come indoors until what turned out to be the last months of his life, when he and the dog who had previously hated each other suddenly became bezzies and snuggled up together!

We have four young cats. In the summer they will willingly stay out for days on end, they must be sleeping somewhere but god knows where! In the winter even the most adventurous one likes to stay in overnight (we have cat door so they come and go as they please). I can't imagine having them locked out.

I'm a softie when it comes to cats but I'd definitely be trying to make it more comfortable for the poor boy. Maybe a hot water bottle wrapped in a blanket?

Kat Mandu 😂

I think it depends on the cat. We put ours out last thing (to toilet) and then try get them back in. Sometimes they come, sometimes they don't. They're never far away though and I'm as sure as I can be that they can hear us calling them, they're just ignorant buggers at times.

Last cat I had, kept him in,he would come to the bedroom door, scraping at it demanding to be let out at between 1 and 3 am. Nope,goes out. Speak to the neighbour first. Everyone on here,is ", poor cat,let it in, give it a heated mat" etc. it's not your cat! I've had cats taken by neighbours,do has my DD,there was just her and the cat,it broke her heart, she moved and had to leave him behind (didn't know where he was) my own neighbour here,has helped herself to 3 peoples cats, got really annoyed when the last owner knocked on her door and said to stop letting the cat in and feeding it, they moved 200 miles away. The last one she took, became ill, she took it to a local vet,then when there was a bill to pay, said it was a stray and she found it!!! The cat was microchipped, poorly and elderly.