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Original poster

Cat people. Do you let your cat out at night?

116 replies

Spidermama · 24/08/2007 14:40

We're in the process of trying to get two rescue kittens but I'm finding it hard. Firstly they're not keen to home them with young children (understandable I guess) but then they (The Cats Protection League) adcise you to bring the cats in overnight and lock them indoors. When I was a kid my cats loved night time the best as they would hunt and enjoy themselves.

I'm not sure I'd want to keep a cat in at night. Surely the whole point with a cat is you put in cat door then they can come and go as they please.

OP posts:
yorkshirepudding · 24/08/2007 14:42

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sparklygothkat · 24/08/2007 14:43

If my cats aren't in by the time we shut the kitchen window at night (can't put in a catflap, HA won;t allow it as its a £600 door) they stay out. They are always waiting on the window still in the morning to come back in.

expatinscotland · 24/08/2007 14:44

NO. It's not really good for the cat to let it roam around at night.

In fact, I'm struck here at how people let their cats roam around - you'd get a HUGE fine for that in many places.

It's not good for the songbird population, either.

Or the cat. They get into fights, poison and rubbish that can kill or injure them, hit by cars, etc.

yorkshirepudding · 24/08/2007 14:45

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expatinscotland · 24/08/2007 14:46

In the US, yorkshire. Many places there. Some cities still have licensing for both cats and dogs.

Original poster
Spidermama · 24/08/2007 14:46

YorkshireP the Cats Protection League say they should be kept in and you should get them into a routine of being fed in the evening so you can keep them in at night.

They say its because of roads and bad people. Surely roads are busier during the day and I don't know about the latter.

I understand keeping them in for the first few months before their immunisations/speying or whatever you're going to have, but I was a bit shocked at this.

I also got the distinct impression she'd rather not give a kitten to a family with kids. I know we'd give a cat a good home here and it seems a shame. I was determined to rescue one rather than buying one, but if it's going to be too difficult I may as well buy one.

OP posts:
mrsmalumbas · 24/08/2007 14:47

Quite - in Australia it is a legal requirement that you keep your cat in at night. We want to get cats too but we are in a rented house so can't put in a catflap, will have to be indoor cats during the night (I don't like cat litter trays, but I guess needs must).

If the CPL are against you having kittens, would they allow you to adopt two slightly older cats? Not really old cats, just ones that have grown out of the really mad stage.

bohemianbint · 24/08/2007 14:47

Our cats come and go whenever they like. I don't think they'd be too impressed if they couldn't!

lailasmum · 24/08/2007 14:48

Our cat is out at night 90% of the time. Our past cats have been normally out at night. I had one cat that basically lived outside and just came in to eat.

I think it is different if you live in a city as there are so many more dangers for them like cars but round here they tend to meander around the fields at night (can often see them in the distance early in the morning)or they go to sleep for about 18hrs under a bush in the garden.

Original poster
Spidermama · 24/08/2007 14:50

What appeals to me about having a cat is the fact that they're pretty much like wild animals. They're not my prisoners, they know where the food is and the warm places to sleep, but otherwise they can roam wherever they like.

I think rural people would have a good belly laugh at the thought of us city folk all calling their cats in at night wouldn't they?

OP posts:
twinsetandpearls · 24/08/2007 14:50

We have a catflap, as far as I know they tend to stay in at night as they like to sleep with the dog, but if course they could creep out when we are all asleep. They tend to do their wandering during the day.

nutcracker · 24/08/2007 14:50

My cat stays out all night, almost every night and in all weathers, she prefers it, and then she likes to come in and sleep al day.

Cats protection would only give us a cat over 1, as ds was only 2 at the time.

yorkshirepudding · 24/08/2007 14:51

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MyTwopenceworth · 24/08/2007 14:51

Keeping a cat in the house all the time is like not taking a dog for a walk, or tying sparrows to the floor. It is cruel as it does not meet their needs.

A cat is a hunter, a roamer. To say that it is not permitted to be a cat because it is inconvenient to humans is out of order, selfish and arrogant.

That's the problem with humans, we want to make the world and all its creatures ours to control.

Original poster
Spidermama · 24/08/2007 14:53

Well said my2p.

OP posts:
nutcracker · 24/08/2007 14:55

Tbh I wouldn't dream of keeping my cat in if she wanted to go out.

Our cat loves being out, and when I recently had to keep her in as she was on meds, she hated it, and practically stuick her head through the blinds to get to a window that I had left ajar.

MrsMarvel · 24/08/2007 14:57

I agree, though the minute you start to feed a wild animal their behaviour and natural instinct changes. I used to have to put mine out during the day or they would sleep all day and all night. Nothing worse than a fat cat.

CarGirl · 24/08/2007 14:58

I agree with 2p our cat was previously a housecat who was shown etc then he came to us, about 6 months on he started to ask to be put to bed so he could go out for the night.

MellowMa · 24/08/2007 15:01

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fluffyanimal · 24/08/2007 15:04

I don't really see how letting your cat out at night is any worse for the songbird population than letting it out during the day, as the birds are in bed for most of the night!

I live in Yorkshire and nobody has ever fined me for letting my cat out at night. I agree with My2pw - cats like to be out at night, or at least at dawn.

I can understand keeping your cat in at night in countries where wild animals might attack your cat, but in the UK, there aren't really any - foxes / badgers and cats are more likely to run away from each other than get into a fight.

All the hazards expat mentions are just as likely during the day as at night.

expatinscotland · 24/08/2007 15:10

It's just a different point of view, fluffy.

As I said, I'm from a place where it's not permitted - or if you do you run the risk of fines - yet millions of cats live quite happily.

So to me, I don't see what the difference is by keeping your cat in at night.

I mean, people here often don't spay or neuter their pets and that strikes me as , too, but again it's a different point of view.

expatinscotland · 24/08/2007 15:12

Also people can't see your cat crossing the road as well at night.

Our good neighbour let hers out for years until her beloved tortie cat was smashed to death by a car just outside her home just before dawn last year.

Yes, it maybe could have happened during the day, but she doesn't let her other two roam at night now.

expatinscotland · 24/08/2007 15:13

Spider, before you buy a cat, why not check your local evening paper? A lot of people advertise 'Free to a Good Home' pets in there, ditto vet surgeries and pet shops.

fluffyanimal · 24/08/2007 15:17

Expat I realise now that I slightly misunderstood you. When you said, " In the US, yorkshire" - you were replying to Yorkshirepudding. I thought you meant you could be fined in Yorkshire!!

Anyway, I can understand it in the US because you have mountain lions and lynxes and animals that could predate on cats.

fluffyanimal · 24/08/2007 15:20

I think if people are worried about road safety etc, it should be up to the individual pet owner, but I don't think there should be any laws or fines. Personally I wouldn't consider owning a cat if I lived near a busy road or without sufficient garden / countryside for the cat to roam in, just as I wouldn't consider owning a dog if I had to leave it home on its own all day etc.