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Original poster

Does your cat stay out at night?

29 replies

MegBusset · 08/05/2008 12:52

I really want to get another cat since our one died but DH doesn't. One of his arguments is that we would have to have a litter tray indoors, which we don't really have anywhere to put except the kitchen (not v nice). I'm arguing that it could go out at night so no need for a tray. We can't fit a cat flap as have all double-glazed doors but could get a flap put into our garden shed so it could shelter there in bad weather.

DH now arguing that it would be cruel to have a cat only to put it out at night. Just wondering what other people think?

OP posts:

LaComtesse · 08/05/2008 12:54

Cats have fur to keep them warm - having said that, my Mums cat isn't allowed out all night.

Iota · 08/05/2008 12:54

mine is in and out several times a night. I don't think it's cruel for a cat to be out at night as long as they have somewhere to shelter such as the shed.

Iota · 08/05/2008 12:55

I think people such as the RSPCA recommned that cats stay in at night for safety reasons, but all my cats have been desperate to get out and strut their stuff at night.

auntypurple · 08/05/2008 13:23

My cats go out all night, they sleep all day and go loopy if locked in by night.

Iota · 08/05/2008 13:25

I had one cat who one night, managed to move the bin and chair to get at the catflap, then forced it open (it was locked).

we gave up keeping them in after that

clayre · 08/05/2008 13:26

my cat is out day and night, she even comesin food at 10 at night then goes back out again, we dont have a litter tray cos it sat for 6 months unused

yorkshirepudding · 08/05/2008 13:29

Message withdrawn

LessThanImpressed · 08/05/2008 13:31

My cat is a 'house' cat and only goes out into our back garden which is enclosed. I half hoped she would start using a scruffy non-visible area of the garden to go for a wee, but she actually comes scampering back inside to use the tray!

But yes, agree with Iota - if they can get into a shed or the like to shelter then they should be ok. However you might get a few other creatures seeking shelter too!

LaComtesse · 08/05/2008 13:41

Do you live near a main road? Where my parents live there are lots of gardens for cats to roam in without needing to cross main roads, so the cats are reasonably safe at night. Unless a fox decided to cart one of them off, of course..

Listmaker · 08/05/2008 13:47

I am over protective of my two - only 9 months old! We keep them in at night because of foxes and traffic. And they just keep coming back in to use the litter tray - can't seem to understand that they are supposed to go outside!

As they've never been let out at night they don't seem bothered - they don't like the cold anyway!

I'm sure they get used to the way things are so your's would be OK outside but you'd need to maybe get a slightly older cat because we were told not to let ours out until they were neutered at 6 months as they may wander too far and not be able to find their way back etc.

Original poster

MegBusset · 08/05/2008 13:57

We are in a cul-de-sac and plenty of gardens for the cat to roam around in. There are foxes around (see my other thread about their obsession with DS's nappy bags) but I would hope the cat would be sensible enough to steer clear!

OP posts:

gabbyfemale · 08/05/2008 14:15

I had 2 cats who I always have kept in due to foxes, traffic etc, one didn't come in one sunny evening so I let her stay out and she didn't come back for a week - lost somewhere or locked up somewhere. She got leukemia the following year and died and I'm sure it was connected. The remaining cat still doesn't get out at night and is more than happy to cuddle up on the couch beside us and sleep - actually its the only time we see her all day as she either sleeps on my bed or sleeps in the greenhouse!!! She rarely uses her cat litter tray at night (which is in the kitchen but hey, worst things than that).

beaniesteve · 08/05/2008 14:18

I would say - yes it's cruel to lock a cat out all night, same as it's cruel to lock a cat in all the time. Get a cat flap.

Original poster

MegBusset · 08/05/2008 14:49

We can't get a cat flap as we have double-glazed doors. So it's either have a cat that stays out at night, or don't have a cat

OP posts:

FluffyMummy123 · 08/05/2008 14:53

Message withdrawn

yorkshirepudding · 08/05/2008 15:51

Message withdrawn

cyteen · 08/05/2008 15:57

Ours stay in at night and whenever we're both out of the house, as we live in rented accommodation. They've never lived anywhere with a catflap, so the only time they've had unfettered access to the outside world was in a temporary houseshare where the windows were left open all the time. They do get let out whenever one of us is in, and they both seem quite happy about the situation (they're 8).

It is very annoying though that they will come inside to lay a huge stinky turd in the litter tray, then saunter back out to sit in next door's garden

Original poster

MegBusset · 08/05/2008 16:03

OK, we could get a cat flap but it would mean replacing the sealed unit in our back door at a cost of several hundred pounds.

Cod, do yours then have access to indoors via the garage? Or do they just hang out in the garage at night?

OP posts:

LazyLinePainterJane · 08/05/2008 16:04

Ours go out at night. We have double glazing but have a wooden panel in the utility that we could put a cat flap into.

suzi2 · 08/05/2008 16:15

My mum used to work with the Cats Protection so I've always grown up with the "cat's should be kept inside" thing. I believe they're at more risk of being run over etc at night though I can't find any stats to back that up.

Anyway, our cat is so seriously annoying that he wakes us all during the night. I'm up several times with DD (sometimes DS) so I don't want to add a cat to that mix. So he's kicked out every night. If it's really miserable weather I let him stay downstairs but he tends not to use the litter tray.

Lovesdogsandcats · 08/05/2008 23:13

If you are going to get a cat, you can have a cat flap fitted to double glazing, just ring around.

Heathcliffscathy · 08/05/2008 23:15

ours goes outside whenever he wants. hasn't had a litter tray since he was 6 months old.

i really really don't agree with cats being locked in at any time tbh.

Heathcliffscathy · 08/05/2008 23:17

equally i think a cat needs to be able to get in, to access it's home whenever it needs to.

catflaps rule in this respect.

hatwoman · 08/05/2008 23:26

our cat got run over at night so her sister stays in at night. she's a very indoorsy cat and really doesn;t mind. another argument for keeping them in is the impact on wildlife - domestic cats are responsible for lots and lots of deaths - to the extent that they actually affect populations of native small animals. ours also uses a litter tray and I think cat owners should always provide one - otherwise they crap in other people's gardens - which really (and understandably imo) pisses people off.

meg - could you not keep a litter tray in the shed and just bring it into the kitchen at bedtime and take it back out again first thing?

BigBadMouse · 08/05/2008 23:37

I was just going to say what hatwoman has about the effect on wildlife - I also agree about the litter tray - although my cat refuses to use one at all...ever. I have a bell (two in fact) on my cat to help save the birds.

Our cat goes out at night after she started weeing on the carpet in preference to the litter tray (and I complained when she started using the bath as a toilet ). I felt really cruel chucking her out but tbh she will not come in at night now - whatever the weather and when I get up to go to bed she is up at the door ready to go out. We have just bought a catflap for the outhouse so she can come indoors if she wants to.

She plays with the local fox and I think that is the attraction to being out at night.

Catflaps in double glazing are expensive and if you want to sell your house you may find it puts some people off so I can understand you reluctance to get one.

In the end, I think there are lots of cats who are shut up in pens all day waiting for a new family, if you can offer that plus a warm place to sleep in the garage at night then I think thats fine.

I would make sure you give the cat a decent diet and be vigilent with the worming and vaccs if the cat is outdoors a lot too.

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