Do you let your cats out at night?

[RMarieClaire]

We have two gorgeous Siberian cats who are almost 2 years old. They love going outside, and we usually let them out from about 7am till about 7pm, locking them in after their evening feed.

However, we're having a baby in July and we want to make the cats as self sufficient as possible. That's not saying we won't care for them - we seriously love our cats - but not having to handle the litter tray or deal with letting them in or out for those first few weeks would be a real help.

We have a smallish garden and live on a residential street, which has gardens back to back along it. As far as we know, they've never gone onto the road (we keep our gate closed), but just hop between gardens. I do worry about the road - people drive too fast down it, despite speed bumps - and also about foxes. But we also see a lot of other cats out and about later (if we walk back from work late, etc). We live in a market town in Surrey, which is fairly safe and low on crime, so we don't really worry about them getting stolen - there are some seriously posh cats around.

I am quite an anxious person, and struggle to work out what of my behaviour is rational or what is overly anxious. Would love to know what people's opinions and routines are!

No. I don't like him being out when it's dark for a few reasons - traffic, teenagers that would harm him and also the cat killer is still very much going
He goes out in the day and that's it no matter how much he howls at me that he's a "big strong panther vampire cat"

Ours goes out at night and sleeps during day. Probably to avoid deranged neighbours cat.

I’ve always let my cats have free rein via the cat flap. I don’t have to deal with a litter tray, they like the freedom and it makes it easier when we’re away as we just get someone to pop into feed. That said, I’ve always had moggies and not posh cats that cost money. My friend who had pedigrees refuses to let hers out at all and they don’t seem very happy imho

Ours go out when I get up for work and I flick to cat flap to one way when the sun goes down. Live rurally but still don't trust them out at night. They've adapted fine to this routine.

@Minkies11 ah yes this is our routine at the moment. They don't seem to mind - though they do sometimes seem keen to go out, and in summer they will stay out later until we go to bed. Because of their breed and longish hair, they get very hot so prefer to be out in the evening when it's cooler.

But when the baby comes all that routine is going to change anyway. I just hate the idea that we'll struggle to keep on top of things for them.

God, had forgotten about the cat killer @YesQueen where are you based?

Mine are in at night but from around 10pm when I go to bed. I've trained them to expect some biscuits at this time so getting them in isn't usually a problem. They are too stupid to be trusted out on their own at night and I also worry about the cat killer. They usually hang on until I let them out at 6am but I do have 2 litter trays in case they need them. Mostly they've done their business outside during the day and the trays only need emptying a couple of times a week.

In general there are way more dangers out there at night - many already mentioned by others here. Cats are also more likely to hunt during the night so you'd be doing a big favour for the local wildlife keeping them in!

In regards to making them "self sufficient", why not consider a catflap? If you get the SureFlap Connect, it comes with an app and you can set a curfew so they can be in and out all day and in at night.

Thanks @viccat - sorry, should have said. We have a catflap. In fact, we have that exact catflap - well, petflap technically as our male is getting so big catflaps are a bit of a squeeze 

In the day, they come and go as they please, but they're in from when we lock up the catflap at night at the moment.

How would you feel if something happened to them overnight? I would base your decision on that. Personally I would keep them in, also it isn't as nice for neighbours if they are not using the litter tray.

I used to let mine out at night via a catflap - but I lost one when he was hit by a car in the early hours, and a second cat died after being slaughtered by a fox. Now they stay in between 8pm and 6am, and I sleep better.

I think you'll be fine letting them do their thing during the day and carrying on shutting the flap at night. I know cats like routine but it'll have to depend on demands on you when your baby comes. They'll adapt!

No, it’s too dangerous.

Never have. Mostly to give the wildlife a chance, but also because of traffic.

Yes, mine have always been free range cats. We don't live near busy roads & are fairly rural. I might do differently if we were in a more built up area.

Yes - always allowed the cats to make their own choices. Basil is out at night regularly - the others less frequently.
We also have a litter tray - which they often come inside to use.

@TreadingThePrimrosePath - we don't need to worry about wildlife much as ours are terrible hunters. Our girl cat has only ever successfully brought in leaves 😂

Ours are allowed out in the day but we flip the flap round just before it goes dark. We only let them out again when it’s light

Mine is out most of the day but i now keep him in at night. TBH I didn't appreciate the presents he brought back for me when he hunted at night. I’m also worried about copycat cat killers.

If yours are hunters would it not be more hassle to deal with birds, mice, rabbits, fish (the pressies I’ve had) being rescued/disposed of?

Yes our cat comes and goes as she pleases. She's a tortoiseshell and hard as nails our staffy is scared of her. We live on the edge of a Forrest and often come downstairs to little presents.

Ah, just seen your latest post

My cat came to me slowly over time. And then one day I realised he had moved in ( all fine with the owners ). So he has always come and gone when he wanted. We live in a village which is quiet and the traffic is very low. I don’t have a litter tray as he has never used one here so can’t really keep him in.

He is 11 though and very road savvy. It never crosses my mind to keep him in tbh. Cats are night time hunters. Some nights now though he sleeps all night on the end of the bed. He is getting old I think.

Our cat (part Turkish Mol) has free rein. We back onto a wood and live in a cul de sac so he’s pretty safe. He seems to prefer going out at night and likes his afternoon sleeps.

Unless they have had medical treatment, and we've been told to keep them in we've always given our Siamese free reign. The racket they made if we we locked the catflap (though it usually signified an impending visit to the vet so I can understand them complaining!). At the start of the nesting season they wouldn't always come home in the morning (stake out), but they would rarely disappear for more than a day.

We are in a terrace with high back walls and I can only think of one of our neighbours cats that ever ventured out onto paths and the road. Once in a while a cat might get locked in a garage/shed by accident but that was the only real risk.

Peek birding/mousing time seemed to be mid afternoon.