Letting kitten out at night?

[ArcticRoll]

My kitten is almost six months and has been chipped and will be neutered shortly. He's been going our during day for past couple of weeks. There are a lot,of cats in our area. We have another cat who is free to go night and day and just wondered whether I should allow kitten too also or is it too early?

Personally, I'd keep all cats in at night. (From dusk to dawn, say.) Night is the most dangerous time for them (cars, other predators and so on) so I wouldn't risk it.

They don't mind anyway. Even The Lodger (an ex street cat) rather liked a safe snooze.

One kitten I had disappeared one night at the age of 6 months and I didn't sleep a wink (the one an only time he was out a night).
He climbed out from under a bush in my garden the following morning. I could see something was wrong with him as he wasn't his usual bouncy self. After 9 days of vets visits and tremendous worry it was found that he had swallowed something he shouldn't have and had a blockage in his stomach. We sadly had to have him put to sleep as it was unlikely he would pull through the anaesthetic as his heart was failing.
I regret that night so much.

We also have an older cat who accidently got left out one night at our old house at 1 year old. He came home without the fur and skin on his tail and all that was left was the bone. He got attacked by a neighbours Alsatian, that resulted in the tail being amputated.

I am not trying to scare you but as cosy has already said there are too many dangers at night, so would keep him in if you can. If you do start letting out at night, wait until he is much older than kitten age and a lot more streetwise.

I have an 11 month old kitten at the moment and I am paranoid letting her out during the day so wouldn't even contemplate overnight

I prefer mine in at night. One puts herself to bed, one comes when called and the other futters about on the patio just out of arm's reach, buggers off when you try to grab him, looks at you like he's really enjoying this game from across the garden and then miaows pitiously at the door when you give up, lock up, switch off, put the alarm on and go to bed...grr!

If you have a cat who goes outside, they're generally (in my experience) happy to stay in overnight as long as they know they'll get out in the morning. Remember - cats love routine.

Thank you for all replies-didn't realise I should be keeping my older cat in at night too, will also keep kitten in. Bit worried about keeping older cat in at night as she doesn't like the kitten and will have nowhere to escape to!

Also agree with cosy about routine. Our kitten had her own room for the first six months and she used to get put to bed overnight so as not to harass my oldest cat (not in good health) as he needs a lot of sleep.

As soon as she saw me putting out the lights she would follow me to the kitchen whilst I put her supper out (to take upstairs) and happily trot in front of me straight to her room would eat her food and climb straight into bed.
She now knows not to jump on the old man when he is sleeping!!!!

Have you got somewhere you could confine kitten to overnight with bed litter tray and toys? Then let older cat have the run of the house.