Why do my cats stare out of the catflap at night?

[YummyDarkChocolate]

Are they scared of something outside, do you think? Or is this normal cat behaviour? They're shut in the kitchen area (which is big), with a catflap into the garden at night, while the dog (who they're none-too-fond-of) sleeps in the family room.

Everyone else has gone to bed, I'm MNing with them in the kitchen. The cats are just sat with me, and it's like they're on edge. One is just staring at the catflap. As far as I know, nothing else comes in at night (but I can't be sure I suppose). There is a fox that comes into our garden occasionally, we've seen him.

I don't want them to be feeling unsafe at night

I have a cat flap which is only opened by his microchip so nothing else can get in and my cat frequently stares through his cat flap. Some times he even puts his head a small way through and looks out despite having lots of windows to look through.

Cats are odd animals.

I'd bet it's the fox that's putting them on edge. Cats' eyesight is far superior to us mere mortals, so they may be able to see Mr. Fox even if you can't.

What sort of flap do you have - is it a microchip operated one? If not, do you lock it at night?

One of mine often sits outside, making sad eyes through the (unlocked) flap until I open the door for him, or open a can of food. The neighbours must think I'm a heartless bitch who locks their cat out all day.

Cat flap is just open to all at the moment - although we can set it to microchip-operated if we want. Sometimes the cats want a quick-fire escape from the dog - so we've never set it up, because there's a delay while it reads the microchip (I've heard). The dog's stupid and will Bark at them, but won't hurt them - but they just will not tolerate him. They live separate lives - the cats sneak by him, the dog can't go upstairs - so the cats just sneak between upstairs and out the catflap in the day, and have the run of the kitchen area and the garden at night, while the dog's in bed. One cat spends the day upstairs, and is babied by my DS1, the other regularly goes next door (no dog, no children there!)

They're currently playing cat chess with each other. And one's just gone out into the garden, and one's still staring at the catflap.

Might set up the camera to see what goes on at night

They're probably pissed off that you're still up and you're cramping their style.

😸

Mine stares at the patterned voile in front of the patio door
I move it so he can look through the glass but no. And he doesn't want to go out either
And if a "dawg" is heard coming he pegs it to the window to chase it off as "no dawgs allowed near hooman"
Apologies to the Doberman, GSD and Rottweiler he has made cower so far this month

Don't encourage him. The Doberman was like something out of hound of the baskervilles with bared teeth and owner dragging it off
The cat strolled down the garden and unleashed a torrent of spit and claw threats and dog whimpered and hid behind owner. "My money is on that cat" as he took his cowering dog down the road
Cat flounced back with his "NO dawgs and don't come BACK"