Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To put my cats outside for the night?

45 replies

oldbeforetime · 22/01/2011 23:31

I've always had my cats in at night they are only 9 months old.

I'm tired and want to go to bed, one cat came in an hour ago then went back out, half an hour ago the other one came back in.

He's currently stuck inside meowing and scratching the door and wanting to go out, and the other one despite calling hasn't returned.

Unfortunately we don't have a cat flap.

So I'm now thinking of letting the other one out, shutting the back door and going to bed, would this be foolish to do?

OP posts:
cantspel · 22/01/2011 23:34

I have had cats all my life and the only time they have ever wanted to or stayed in at night is when they were getting old.

bubblewrapped · 22/01/2011 23:35

If you have foxes around then no, I wouldnt do it to be honest.

Original poster
oldbeforetime · 22/01/2011 23:35

Ah dilema over for tonight - other one has come back in and the one that's meowing is busy attacking playing with him, so I'm off to bed, but interested in people's thoughts for tomorrow night next time it happens!

OP posts:
jaggythistle · 22/01/2011 23:38

YANBU if you can confirm they are not shitting in anyone's garden but your own.

otherwise YABU

Vallhala · 22/01/2011 23:39

It's far too cold. Would you like to be outside all tonight?

HecateQueenOfWitches · 22/01/2011 23:52

long term might be best to get a cat flap!

short term what about getting them some toys, incl one of those climbing scratching post thingies? they might spend the night playing.

2rebecca · 22/01/2011 23:54

Never had cats but I thought they all got put outside at night. I thought they prowled around and tried to get each other pregnant.

SecretNutellaFix · 22/01/2011 23:56

it's way too cold. get a litter tray for night time use.

FlorenceDaphne · 22/01/2011 23:56

Don't think you should, really. Get a cat flap, and let them come and go as they please.

And he's only nine months old- still a kitten, really. He should be able to be warm and cosy when he wants it. And it's not even summer- it's absolutely freezing outside.

NB. I got my cats from the cat and dogs' home and they made me sign a promise that I would keep them in at night.

Mssoul · 22/01/2011 23:58

My boys (neutered) go out most nights. We have a cosy blanket/sleeping bag arrangement in the shed and they are let in in the morning. No cat flap. Mind you, I think they have a few homes on this street even though they officially belong to us.

mumeeee · 23/01/2011 00:00

We always used to put our cat out at night as we didn't have a cat flap. She had a special cat Kennel that she used if she wanted to slep or to get out of the rain. She was fine.

CailinBainne · 23/01/2011 00:01

my neutered tom is purely an outdoors cat - we have an outbuilding with a cat flap in which he appears to sleep all day, then goes out all night, in all weathers. They're tougher than you think and would find somewhere to shelter if they were really cold/wet.

PatPending · 23/01/2011 00:04

At the risk of general outrage, we put our cats out every night.
They have lots of hidey-holes around the shed and garage that they curl up in (next to each other I suspect) and they were rescued feral cats that lived outside permanently.
Cats are active at night and mine love going out, even when it was really cold.

GrimbleFreud · 23/01/2011 00:14

I think it'd be fine if, as others have suggested, there is somewhere sheltered they can go if they want to. Maybe with some straw and/or blankets?

WetAugust · 23/01/2011 00:31

Get a cat flap - that way they can chose.

frgr · 23/01/2011 00:32

i wouldn't with our old tom

he's too old, it's absolutely freezing outside tonight (thick frost still not gone from last night), we live in the middle of nowhere so there's chance of late dog walkers in the park catching him unaware at the back of the garden, foxes... to many risks here

besides, short of going under the car we don't have a shed or anything for him to go in if he's cold/frightened by something. next door does have one but there's no cat flap and it's probably locked.

so it really dpeneds on your area :)

no wya would i risk it with ours now, in this house. having said that i did used to leave him out every night at our old place when he was much younger, and he loved it.

Mumwithadragontattoo · 23/01/2011 01:02

I wouldn't when it's so cold, especially with young cats not used to going out at night. I think the rescued feral cats that someone mentioned are a totally different matter. They would hate to be trapped indoors overnight and are used to being outside /sheltering in outbuildings.

I think you know what you need to do - get a cat flat!

Mssoul · 23/01/2011 01:09

Mumwithadragontattoo - a 'cat flat' Grin Surely that's a little indulgent?

manicbmc · 23/01/2011 01:10

Meow meow meow scratch scratch

Ninjacat · 23/01/2011 01:20

Do they have a wheelie bin to shelter in? Wink

pinkstarlight · 23/01/2011 02:54

your cats are still very young i would be very wary because of foxes, an older fully grown cat can fend for itself but i think your cats would be vulnable.

i do know what you mean about being tired and waiting for your cats to come home, i cant settle unless my cats in.

midsummerfairycichlid · 23/01/2011 09:15

One of ours got run over about a year ago at about 9 in the evening. We were totally bereft and heartbroken. Now we make sure they're in by tea time and keep them in for the night.

Yep they can be a pain in the back side being disruptive in the night, especially when the kitten was younger, but the other consequences don't bear thinking about. I'd hate for someone else to suffer our heartbreak if it can be avoided. :(

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 23/01/2011 09:24

No, they need to be inside.

  • They are still babies

Even when they are a bit bigger...

  • It's too cold
  • Foxes
  • Bigger/more agressive cats
  • Dogs

At the very least they need a space they can get into that a dog or fox can't.

Midsummer - sorry about your cat :(

lazylula · 23/01/2011 09:25

Mine both go out at night, have done for about 3 years now. We did keep them in a few nights when it snowed, but they are very good at finding somewhere to sleep. I have had cats all my life and all of them have been left out at night once they have been 'done'.

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 23/01/2011 09:26

Yes, cause they shit and piss in my garden. Keep them indoors.