Cat out all night (is ok) now wondering what to do lock in or let out?

[SuperFlyHigh]

my cat has been out since yesterday lunchtime and overnight (he's usually locked in every night) but the doors to the kitchen area are shut and he's managed to open them too (in past week has opened them more than once) and then push past boards that keep cat flap shut and lead into garden.

Yesterday wasn't a good day for him as both sets of neighbours had kids over (one huge party other BBQ), he's not good with children generally and watches them from a distance when out (he hates being picked up and cuddled).

Anyway he sauntered in this morning about 8am and is now flat out sleeping on a spare bed having of course eaten some breakfast.

As i'd heard amazing screeches (it's always him, fighting and screeching the neighbours hear him miles away) at 9pm yesterday I was a bit concerned re a fight but he's fine. Fighting and being out all day is his "thing" though, he loves both. I think also as a 2 year old neutered Tom cat he's probably doing exactly what comes naturally to him.

What do I do now though? Should I still lock him in at night or is it safer just to let him out? He Rarely catches anything bar the odd frog and bird.

As I got no sleep last night (I live in the area where Croydon Cat Killer operates which worried me and they've struck near my maisonette too) last night I've rang into work feigning illness.

They may be animals but they have feelings as well!

What's cruel about keeping a cat safe? Mine is safer indoors than roaming the streets at night running the risk of cars, other cats, idiot humans etc. He currently has a curfew but that will be relaxed once my garden has been cat proofed as he won't be able to get to the front of the house.

To anyone who 'chucks out' there cats at night, I presume they are neutered and chipped?

Yup, mine is. And I wouldn't put a dog out at night. Because dogs are different to cats. Dogs are attached to ther human, cats are primarily attached to their territory. Yes, they can be very loving and affectionate, and yes, they can get used to being moved etc, but they are not scared of the dark ffs!
A dog out at night would probably go running off and get lost somewhere. Cats will stay within their boundaries.

And as far as territory goes, a normal cats territory is his house AND a rough circle around his house. Outside.

We're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. My cat might not be scared of the dark but I'm not prepared to put him at risk by letting him out at night. He's happy to sleep on the sofa at night - why on earth would I disturb him and put him out?

Oh, I don't do that either (although my dad would have!) I just don't stress when he does stay out. I can't help but feel that the great age and health of all my childhood cats was a result of their lack of molly coddling though!

I get the impression that some people would! I have considered it when his snoring has drowned out the TV though!

When I was at home the cats were always mollycoddled and only one didn't make it to 18 or above and she would have been OK if it happened now. I stress about Harry being out as he's not streetwise and the cat killer has struck near us. I'll be so much more relaxed when he's confined to the garden!

Different people have different reasons for keeping pets in at night.

When I was a child we had a tabby cat who was a great ratter (we lived near an overground churchyard (not graveyard!) and round the corner from a dump, that cat constantly brought cats in dead and alive and didn't have boosters and lived until 19 - he went to the vet once for a rat bite.

When I had cats (brother and sister) in my 20s for some reason I chose to let them out at daytime but also keep in at night - partly due to lots of foxes about but also the boy cat who was very friendly got into fights and was attacked by other cats requiring vets, drips etc... I think if he hadn't got into lots of fights I'd have allowed him out more.

This one, he's always been kept in.

Strange to say my current and previous vets (have had different vets with the cats) actually recommend them staying in at night.

It does cut down on them catching birds, mice etc but the brother and sister caught mice (mostly mice) regardless of being kept in at night.

IfNot - there was an interesting BBC show about cats about a year or 2 ago which proved (due to trackers on their collars in an area) that cats have a far wider radius than we think... they can stray further than just round their house boundary etc. My current cat his boundary is about 10-15 houses either way front and back gardens (2 streets bordering each other parallel fashion). He actively avoids houses/gardens with dogs and children as he dislikes both! at one end of the street is a school (primary) and behind one road is a park so there his boundary ends. He associates cars with vet (which he also hates!) so avoids front of houses where cars go.

Very strange the other cats I had didn't mind the vet, quite liked the vets despite one practice not being pleasant to one of my cats but this one hates the vet and although he doesn't hiss is certainly not at all comfortable with them (probably scared) and doesn't purr or act nice to them like the other cats did!

I used to let mine do as they pleased by just leaving the cat flap open all hours, but after our blue boy disappeared for four days they are now shut in at night (from whenever we go to bed). They were annoyed the first couple of nights but now they don't seem to mind, happy sleeping in their tree nest. It's just not worth the risk for me, there's a busy road out front that they stay away from in the day but in the dark and silence they could easily cross the road and then not be able to come back when it gets busy in the morning.

One of my cats was hit by a car and killed after she got out of the house. If yours is coming back home covered in wounds you should keep him in.

My cat stays out at night, if she chooses. I think it's a personal choice obviously but I don't understand why you'd have a pet that enjoys being out doors very much and then lock it inside all the time.
My cat does as she pleases, in or out depending on how she feels.
She loves outside and I can't imagine keeping her in against her wishes.