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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Do you let your cats out at night?

28 replies

MinkyWinky · 17/08/2012 14:09

We've finally got a cat flap fitted for the cats we adopted a couple of months ago. We now can't decide if we should leave it open all night so they can come and go as they want to.

I'm pretty sure the fluffy cat (see profile for photo) will stay at home as he lurves us won't risk going too far away from his food source, but our white one likes to hang out with the other cats in the area and I'm not sure if he will come home at night. I'm worried something might happen to him. So... do you let your cats out at night? Am I being PFCBlush?

OP posts:
lljkk · 17/08/2012 14:48

Not precious, sensible precaution if cat doesn't mind. I keep mine in. Solves a heap of problems. CPL asked us to keep them in at night. Highest risk of being run over after dark, and they get up to the most predation at night.

It has worked for us. I don't worry if they are out all night (happens occasionally). Just do my best.

babesdontlie · 17/08/2012 14:50

No, never have. Mine have a curfew of 8pm in summer and when it starts going dark in winter.

I've nothing against people who let their cats stay out, its just not for me, I like to know they are in, safe, and preferably snuggled up in bed with me (and DH)

Pascha · 17/08/2012 14:51

I let mine out. The Snowshoe goes to find his mates at the farm or goes mousing under the village hall or occasionally goes fishing in the canal. The Ginger tends to patrol the perimeters of the garden. Neither of them like to come in unless its raining.

Original poster
MinkyWinky · 17/08/2012 14:53

Thank you for reassuring me it's not me being PFC:) I would be devastated if anything happened to either of them.

We'll be setting the cat flap to in only come 7pm then!

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 17/08/2012 14:53

No mine has a curfew Grin he rarely leaves the garden but I still keep him in at night.

Fluffycloudland77 · 17/08/2012 15:55

No, mines in as soon as it starts to get dark.

I always let him out hungry so he comes running if I tap his dish.

Selks · 17/08/2012 16:01

Don't they get confused about the catflap - one minute they can go through it, the next it refuses to open? I can imagine my cat sitting there batting away at the catflap for hours totally confused.

stealthsquiggle · 17/08/2012 16:02

Ours have always been allowed out because I can't face dealing with litter trays but none of them have really been inclined to stray far from home, and nowadays we live somewhere with a low enough density of cats for them not to get into trouble. If we had a hunter/fighter I would be more hesitant.

Original poster
MinkyWinky · 17/08/2012 16:10

Selks - good point. We're still teaching them to go through it, so that could confuse them...

OP posts:
lurcherlover · 17/08/2012 16:13

It's much better for the wild bird population to keep them in at night. Most birds are killed in the early morning while they forage for food.

naturalbaby · 17/08/2012 16:57

No. My cat got run over during the night. She used to go slightly loopy when it got dark and wandered much further than she ever would during the day.
I also had to go out to chase off 2 enormous cats fighting the other night, a lot of them wander round at night and start arguments and fights.

Mikyahrose · 17/08/2012 16:57

We let our cat out. We have a catflap, so he just comes and goes as he pleases.

To our own detriment though - he's a big hunter and we get presents most nights. And sometimes in the day too.

Bossybritches22 · 17/08/2012 17:05

No catflap here, as no suitable door so we let them in & out as we come & go they demand.

We have a bedtime routine of chucking them out after a snack when the dog goes out for last wees, in the summer/warm dry weather.

In winter we harden our hearts evict them after their tea at 6pm & encourage them in at night, they get shut in the conservatory with access to the sitting room for warmth.

They have a litter tray, food & water on tap so we manage.

I'd love to have them sleep with us but the 4am alarm call known as Kitty Grand Prix in our house, scuppers that as I'm the only one who gets disturbed by the frantic scratching at whichever bedroom door BossyCats deem they are on the wrong side of. Grin

FunnysInLaJardin · 17/08/2012 17:08

Our cat flap is always open for our cat although she is chipped and only she can get in and out. She can go out but often prefers to sleep in the kitchen. We shut the kitchen door to stop her sleeping on our beds at night. And yes, we often get bits of mice as gifts in the morning

Abzs · 17/08/2012 17:21

Ours go out at night. We have a cat flap in the coal shed (but not the house) and they have beds and food in there. It's quite cosy in there when the boiler's running and they come and go as they please.

They were outdoor cats before they rehomed to us, now they're half and half. In cold/wet weather they ask to come in, have a sleep on the sofa spread hair everywhere then ask to go out again.

Sparklingbrook · 17/08/2012 17:28

Sparkling Cat (pic on profile Grin) has to come in at night. She sleeps on a chair in our bedroom, or on the bed. She gets up with DH in the morning-she knows the drill now.

BadgersRetreat · 17/08/2012 17:37

no

BadgerCat was an indoor cat when we got her but it was v clear when she jumped out the window that she fancied going out a bit.

so when we are at home and the weather is ok we open the back door and she comes and goes. We let her stay out in summer beyond dusk because she LOVES that time of night but she is always curled up on our bed by bedtime, back door firmly shut.

she will only 'go' in the litter tray - she will come in from playing for a wee and go right back out!

Tiago · 17/08/2012 17:41

We put a barrier in front of the cat flap at night, the cats now know that means they can't go out. It seems to work.

iklboo · 17/08/2012 17:42

Nope. 8:30 - 9pm curfew in summer, as soon as it starts going dark in winter.

floranora · 17/08/2012 17:44

i like to keep my cat in a night. We live on a boat and i am terified that he will fall in as he has done about 6 times, bloody stupid cat! and not have anywhere warm to dry off (we dont have a cat flap) He has other ideas and runs up and down the bloody boat until we let kick him out

floranora · 17/08/2012 17:44

ophs!.... at 4 am that is!

Astr0naut · 17/08/2012 17:47

No, unless they don't come in by bedtime and start fucking about.

Cats really are stupid though; they know what happens if they're not in when we call them, but they still do it on occasion - then sit under the windows all night.

Having them in means that we can shake our heads sorrwofully when the neighbours complain about cats yowling at night.

reluctanttownie · 17/08/2012 17:51

No, we have cat flap but ours stay in. About 7.30 curfew winter and 10pm or later in summer. We have insane number of foxes in our gardens, and they have chased the cats in the past. They also make such a racket all night I simply couldn't. Mostly I know it's just mating, but I still worry, and once or twice the noise has definitely been something (only pigeon, but still) being killed. It's bloody curdling and we'd never get a second of sleep if they weren't in. There's also been quite a few cases of foxes coming into people's houses - not something I want in the middle of the night.

The rescue charity advised it for safety too, so I don't feel precious.

One of ours is a real home body and would come up to bed with us anyway. The other we know would prefer to be out at night but she's very used to the routine and no longer seems to mind. We make sure she's allowed out until after dark as twilight is her favourite time outside.

They have to be fairly hungry tho or we never get them back in. So in winter they have two meals a day, dinner at around 7.30. In summer they have their dinner in two halves, half at around 7.30 and half at curfew time, to get them in.

DuffyMoon · 17/08/2012 18:06

am Grin at all the cat curfews

fudgesmummy · 17/08/2012 18:11

Our cats are never allowed out at night-I start getting twitchy as soon as it starts to get dark if they are out Blush