Do you keep your cat in at night?

[BBQbeef]

Just curious how many keep their cats locked in at night and how many roam free?

Safety. What if they get injured in the night and I'm not awake to deal with it?

Always in at night. It was a condition when we adopted her that she was in at night. She is all black so more danger of being hit by a car as well.

Do you take him for a walk on his leash? Have thought of doing this but don't want to be the crazy-cat-lady...

No way, my cat would be miserable if he was kept in at night! He comes in about 10pm-ish, sleeps with me until 4/5/6 depending on when the sun starts to rise, and he's off out again.

Yep. We're out right now 😁.

I probably am known as the crazy cat lady, but I now know most of the people on this road and they know why I do it.

This was taken now

He's worth it 😁

Ours are generally in at night, (we do politely ask them to return home before we go to bed), but if any of them refuse to come back, then they are out until we get up in the morning.

They do like to go out after dark so tend to be in and out throughout the evening.

I've had several cats over the past 42 years, always kept them in at night. I've always made 10pm the last meal of the day (but dry food available 24/7). My old boy eats some of his then, then goes out for about 20 minutes and comes back in. He sleeps on my bed all night.

I leave cat flap open, because she chooses not to go out at night.

Ours was a stray and loves being outside so he comes and goes as he pleases. It does disturb me when he brings in a mouse at 2am though!

We never used to but now do as she keeps getting cuts and scratches. She is also pulling out her fur on her back so think something is stressing her out there at night

Previous cat was in at night as in rented accommodation and so couldn’t have a cat flap. Current cat can come and go as he pleases, but most often stays in till around three or four. In summer he’s out much earlier but in the colder months or if, heaven forbid, it’s raining he won’t go out.

I must admit I don’t know what I’d say to someone who told me my cat was being a nuisance. I mean I’d like to be helpful but I’m not keeping a farm cat indoors against his will.

One of mine is locked in over night, the other one can come and go as she pleases.

Our three are always called in before it gets proper dark but they are practically house cats nowadays by their own choice.

I’ll shout on him once or twice and if he doesn’t come within 10 minutes he’s out all night weather permitting.

Mine go out at night. Is there any evidence that cats are in more danger at night?

If anything I would have thought that they would be in LESS danger at night as there is far less traffic.

In the winter I tend to get them in and shut the windows they go in and out of. They are outdoor cats but know the joys of my heated blanket and dreamies.

In the spring/summer/autumn all bets are off and they do as they please. I hardly see them - day or night unless they want food. BUT I live rurally and I'm set well back from the road. All their territory is to the back and sideways.

My cat when I lived in a city was always in at night.

My cats are dopes who struggle to stand up to the neighbourhood feline bullies. So, they're only allowed out when I'm awake and in the vicinity to rescue them as necessary.
Even if they were tougher I'd worry too much to leave them out at night...too many accidents can happen in the dark!

Ha - my neighbours cat does this. Little monkey. I don't mind, he's lovely. Though he will probably be giving us a wide berth for a bit as my foster dog cornered him last night on one of his break-ins. Dog is a softy and loves my cats so thought he'd found a new friend.

Neighbour's cat didn't get the memo and scratched me to bits as I realised him at 4am.

Is it better to imprison a cat indoors for 20 years or let them live the life they want for 8 or 10?
Not all cats want to be out at night but ours would be utterly miserable if he wasn’t.

Yes - mainly because there's quite a few large foxes around after dusk that have previously gone for them.

Mine goes in and out as he pleases. Cat flap. It depends on the weather but in summer he often chooses to sleep in the garden and loves being outside. In winter he's mostly inside in the warm.

Better a short happy self directed life than a long unhappy one. He's 13 now and the one time he did get hit by a car was in the daytime, not at night.

He is a different creature outside. Inside he is relaxed and content and asleep a lot. Outside he is alert and utterly interactive with his senses and much wilder. I like him to have both sides of his existence.

In and out as they please. I personally think it's safer for them to be out at night as the roads are quieter and less people around!

I would if I could, but my cat is not only an arsehole ,he's a smart arsehole. So if we ignore his meows,scratching,climbing on top of us,sitting on our heads, head butting us etc. he simply starts throwing things on the floor off every single surface. As soon as we stir he heads for the back door.

He only stays in if he's knackered,poorly or the weather is too bad(and even then he might demand a few mins of sitting on the balcony and watching the world go by).

Atm is not too bad, out at 3/4 and back in at 6.

He's in and out through the bedroom window all summer, sometimes managing to bring a half alive bird with him. No idea how?!??

Mine are now kept in at night. One was killed by a car (on a very quiet street) and one was attacked & killed by a fox.

Yes - we try and get them in before dusk as they are harder to get in after.
If we don't we are almost guaranteed a special present. Last time it was a live rat at 3am!