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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let my cat out in -2 degrees overnight?

141 replies

susiesuelou · 09/12/2022 19:07

My cat hates staying in overnight - he sleeps during the day and cries to go out overnight. If I don't let him out around 8/9pm he will wake me up meowing in the early hours to be let out, which is obviously a pain in the arse.

But - it's set to be minus 2 overnight where I am! Will he be OK if I let him out? Just a bit worried about finding a frozen cat in my garden tomorrow! 🙁🥶

OP posts:
Orangesare · 09/12/2022 19:09

I don’t think he’ll freeze but do you have a shed or garage he can go in. Our cat has a cat flap into the garage so she can go in and she has a bed in there.

ColdHandsHotHead · 09/12/2022 19:09

I wouldn't, to be honest. I'm not happy with mine being out for more than ten minutes when it's this cold. Is there any way you can leave a window open for him to get back in? Or give him a heated pad somewhere?

ParannoyedPenguin · 09/12/2022 19:10

Seriously 😆🙄....If they have a cat flap to come back in should be fine, otherwise put out a comfy cardboard box on it's side with lots of blankets, maybe a blanket over the too to keep it insulated.

Original poster
susiesuelou · 09/12/2022 19:10

We have a shed yes - good thinking! I'll leave the door ajar for him and some blankets in there. No cat flap unfortunately.

OP posts:
EmmaC78 · 09/12/2022 19:10

Would he come home after a few hours if you let him out now and called him back for food at 10/11?

Original poster
susiesuelou · 09/12/2022 19:11

@ParannoyedPenguin

Yes seriously, why the rolling eyes?

OP posts:
snowflakeinastorm · 09/12/2022 19:11

I wouldn’t. The RSPCA warn cats paws can stick to frozen ground.

FuzzyPuffling · 09/12/2022 19:11

Not blankets in an outside box. They aren't recommended as they can freeze and offer less than no comfort or warmth.

helpfulperson · 09/12/2022 19:11

Does he have anywhere to go outside like a shelter or box? Can he get in if he wants?

If the answer to these is no then I wouldn't let him out tonight bur would arrange a shelter for future nights. A box under a bush with blankets and newspaper is fine. Even better is a polystyrene box. Other option is to leave a shed with a box in it open.

MrNook · 09/12/2022 19:12

I wouldn't. Mine really want to be let out but it's just too cold

ParannoyedPenguin · 09/12/2022 19:12

Because -2 is nothing for a mammal that technically is an outdoor species

Original poster
susiesuelou · 09/12/2022 19:12

@EmmaC78

No he won't.. we live quite rurally and he goes into the nearby fields to hunt (often brings me back lovely half dead presents🤢). He wouldn't hear if I shouted of him. He comes back in the morning

OP posts:
Original poster
susiesuelou · 09/12/2022 19:13

snowflakeinastorm · 09/12/2022 19:11

I wouldn’t. The RSPCA warn cats paws can stick to frozen ground.

Oh god 🙁

OP posts:
KarmaStar · 09/12/2022 19:13

I doubt he will want to be out long ,you can try calling him before you go to bed,if he doesn't return then I would make up a very warm bed in the shed or something similar as this could be a long winter so you need to be thinking long term.get a cat flap if possible.hopefully he will return.you might find a on dog kennel or large rabbit hutch on Gumtree you can use?
Good luck.My cats hate being indoors but stay in on these frosty nights.

Lilyhatesjaz · 09/12/2022 19:13

My Dad made a sort of wooden kennel for our cat it was filled with straw and was a warm safety space for him to sleep in.
It was needed as sometimes he would go out in the day time and not come back at night.

BoxOfCats · 09/12/2022 19:14

I wouldn't let him out. If he's going to wake you up, then I'd shut him in a room overnight with a warm comfy bed and a litter tray.

ParannoyedPenguin · 09/12/2022 19:15

Ours are free to do whatever they want... microchipped cat flap... no idea what they get up to or where they go....probably around the church and primary school....

Original poster
susiesuelou · 09/12/2022 19:16

ParannoyedPenguin · 09/12/2022 19:12

Because -2 is nothing for a mammal that technically is an outdoor species

Ok but... Why would the RSPCA warn about paws sticking to the ground if this were true?

OP posts:
thelobsterquadrille · 09/12/2022 19:17

Not unless he has some kind of outside shelter, or way to get back inside if he's too cold.

It's bitter out there overnight and the ice can be really dangerous for their paws. There's also the added danger that he'll get into something like anti-freeze which is poisonous, and be stuck outside on his own.

Please keep him inside.

SulkySam · 09/12/2022 19:18

We put a cat flap on our detached garage door just for this purpose (won’t have one into house as don’t want chewed up ‘presents’) as I was worried about our ungrateful Puss getting too cold out at night in winter. Put hot water bottles in an igloo bed in there for a few nights and everything. Damn thing refused to go in. Now I’ve just made a large fully enclosed plastic (so waterproof) cat litter box into an outdoor shelter with a fluffy cat sleeping bag inside it underneath our pergola. She’s quite happy in that.

She sleeps indoors in the day in the winter but likes to go out at night. In summer she’s never in!

thelobsterquadrille · 09/12/2022 19:19

ParannoyedPenguin · 09/12/2022 19:12

Because -2 is nothing for a mammal that technically is an outdoor species

Domestic cats aren't bred to live outdoors with no shelter in the middle of winter, though. Even barn cats have shelter and access to a roof over the heads, and hay to bury themselves.

Feral cats can (and do) freeze to death in the winter months.

Original poster
susiesuelou · 09/12/2022 19:20

A hot water bottle is a good idea too. How about a hot water bottle with blankets in the shed? Then the blankets will be less likely to freeze hopefully. I know the water bottle won't stay hot all night but it might be warm at least for him.

OP posts:
Original poster
susiesuelou · 09/12/2022 19:21

Ideally I'd keep him in but he's definitely going to wake me in the early hours 🙈 if I close my bedroom door he cries outside it and scratches at the carpet until I acknowledge him and let him out. He's done that a few times.

OP posts:
Tootsey11 · 09/12/2022 19:22

Op, I've 10 cats. 4 or more can be out all night. They have multiple outbuildings to go in if they please, with duvets, beds and blankets. They hate being in at night. I live in the middle of nowhere and far from the road so know they are OK. It was - 6 here last night and they are totally fine. The rest stay in. If the cat wants out let it.

thelobsterquadrille · 09/12/2022 19:23

susiesuelou · 09/12/2022 19:21

Ideally I'd keep him in but he's definitely going to wake me in the early hours 🙈 if I close my bedroom door he cries outside it and scratches at the carpet until I acknowledge him and let him out. He's done that a few times.

Can you not leave a window ajar for him to get in/out if he wants?

Being out isn't the issue, it's the fact that he has no choice but to stay out iyswim.

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