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Original poster

Is it cruel to put cats out for the night?

63 replies

Spidermama · 14/02/2008 20:56

I'm thinking of putting them out and locking the cat door overnight to stop the toms coming in and spraying.

The man in the pet shop said not but I'm not so sure. They have plenty of space and a great hunting ground, but they are only young and what if they get cold.

Please someone come along and tell me I'm being a city wuss and cats are fine outside.

OP posts:

southeastastra · 14/02/2008 21:17

they sit and the window and watch you, but don't seem that interested. they're fluffy so probably expensive. i'm not really a cat person, but miss the cat from next door who visisted alot.

ara · 14/02/2008 21:18

have you got a nice secure garden for them to curl up in? i've had a few cats and two have liked to be out at night (both toms) but shinned up onto the roof to claw at the velux windows when they wanted back in () - the others have been females and all of those have wanted to stay in and be nice and cosy - oh, apart from one who started life as a farm moggy - she was quite an independent little madam. think it really depends on your cats - if they are happier indoors and you start locking them out at night they might just move house!

random · 14/02/2008 21:21

Visited a lot? eh southeastastra so thats where my cat buggered off to lol

Original poster

Spidermama · 14/02/2008 21:23

Mine are sisters. One takes after her wild tom father but the other is more refined and sofa loving. I fear it'll hit her hardest.

The fact is I am sick of the stink of Tomcat wee. Maybe I will shut all doors. We don't have a utility room but they could hang out in the hallway and stairs area and I will put their bed there for them.

OP posts:

EsmeWeatherwax · 14/02/2008 21:23

My cat also gets to go in and out as he pleases all night, I would definitely second and third the magnetic catflap if you're plagued with local toms. I have to say its a pain to let him back in cos he brings all manner of beasties in with him, but feel completely heartless leaving him out all night.

Catkin08 · 14/02/2008 21:24

Well our two choose whether to go out and they know that if they are not back in by 10pm they stay out til 6am. This has always been the case since moving to our current house. In our old house we had a cat flap and just our little tabby. She had the choice and from about 7 months she spent every single night outside only venturing back in once we were up and about.

It's not cruel to put them out at night if they are healthy cats. They are incredibly clever at finding places to sleep if they so desire and you'll probably find they spend the whole night spooking about having fun and then will sleep all day once back in the house!

nooka · 14/02/2008 21:25

It's cars, foxes and unpleasant people who can get them at night. My cat is incredibly noisy at night (wanders around the house and caterwauls) and has had accidents too, so he lives in the utility room at night, which is where the cat flap is. Previous cats have come in and out the windows, so pretty much impossible to keep out if they wanted to come in! I think you need to provide somewhere safe for them in case they get in trouble (fights and stuff) maybe a kennel type affair? But they may go and live somewhere more cushy.

Catkin08 · 14/02/2008 21:27

Although I must add that my two are pretty independent and happy to be out so it may not work for a cat with a completely different personality!!

southeastastra · 14/02/2008 21:28

i'm tempted to get a mean cat to entice the ones next door out

WingsofanAngel · 14/02/2008 21:34

Cats are very independent. It might be cold outside but that's what their coats are for .
I'm sure they will let you know if they need to be indoors.
Unless there is a full proof way of not getting all the neighbourhood cats in marking their territory all over your house.

magHOOVERlia74 · 14/02/2008 21:35

I have 2 cats one is 15 years old and has preffered to go out at night his whole life

ara · 14/02/2008 21:39

they are independent, but i would never let my cat out at night in a town (....she is 20 and def as a post though so that has got a lot to do with it...!)
it depends on your cat. if you have a cuddly sofa loving one it will not like being shut out at night.

ara · 14/02/2008 21:40

oops deaf i mean!!

seeker · 14/02/2008 21:44

I think cats should be allowed to be in or out at will - I'd rather put collars on them than keep them in or lock them out.

evenhope · 14/02/2008 21:53

We kept all of ours in when we first had them. They were desperate to go out. Now if they get left in at night they wake us up at 5am, so out they go! Eldest is 11.

dittany · 14/02/2008 21:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CountryGirl2007 · 14/02/2008 21:59

Personally, I wouldn't, due to cars & the chance of foxes getting the cat, and it's not fair to put them out if they don't want to go out just because you don't like the tom cat smell, which you could solve yourself if you were a) willing to TNR the toms or b) have a chat to the owner(s) of the toms and persuade them to get them neutered.

themildmanneredjanitor · 14/02/2008 22:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RosaLuxOnTheBrightSideOfLife · 14/02/2008 23:59

I would really try not to do anything that involves putting a collar on a cat. My cat was badly hurt a few years ago when she managed to get her front paw through her collar. She disappeared for a couple of days so we don't know how long she had been like that, but when we found her she had a deep wound under her front leg where the collar had cut into her - she was in great distress, it cost us a couple of hundred quid in vets bills and the vet said if we hadn't found her within a day or two she would have died. He really discouraged people from putting collars on cats for this reason.

pedilia · 15/02/2008 00:16

One of ours is out all night if he chooses, we open the door before we go to bed and he makes his choice!
Mind you he has only just come back after he moved out for 4 months when we moved house, has now decided he is back!

Our other cat is a very expensive bengal breeding queen so in in at night in the conservatory.

Desiderata · 15/02/2008 00:19

It's cruel to keep them outside, yes. Cruel to all the countless small mammals they will exterminate in their thousands

For the sake of the pink-arsed-mole (a rare species indeed), I would lock the fuckers up in the spare room.

expatinscotland · 15/02/2008 00:25

i can't get my bitch cat in.

i need to get her in because she's all mental for the birdies and that out there just now.

Desiderata · 15/02/2008 00:29

Murderous bitch

4,000 small mammals every year. That's what the average household cunt cat destroys.

Has it ever occured to you that one of those slain mammals might be the cure for Athlete's Foot???????

expatinscotland · 15/02/2008 00:31

that little bitch cat.

i want her book ass in here before she wakes my drunk ass up miaowing at 3AM on the front porch cuz it's gotten old killing wildlife.

DH is getting the torch out.

she's getting the hell in here, the wee shite.

Desiderata · 15/02/2008 00:32

You know, sometimes expat, you sound like a Steven King novel .....

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