Why is my cat so agitated at night?

[crazycatgal]

I have a 12 year old cat who likes to go outside, during the day she can take it or leave it and if you tell her that she can't go out she's fine with it.

She especially likes to go out in the evening and is normally brought in at around 10.30 because we don't want her leaving outside when it's dark and late.

Recently she has started repeatedly meowing, crying and hitting the back door key when she's brought in at night. It's incredibly annoying and obviously not nice to hear her going on.

She lives with a couple of other cats and has done for years and is fine with them. I honestly don't know why she's started with this behaviour at night. Does anyone know why she's like this and how to stop it?

Can anyone help?

Is there a male cat out there, trying to get in?

You could try feeding her before bed, so she might sleep?

Nope, there's no male cat out there (that I know of) and she was spayed 11 years ago.

I will try and feed her when I bring her in and see if that settles her, thanks.