I've messed up. Our cats only really go outside when we are around, with the door open, they haven't learned to use the cat flap at the age of 3. All previous cats have been able to come and go (and lived to ages 19 and 21 etc) but just didn't get these ones outside I can't explain why...
Last night I thought they were in and had gone upstairs, but clearly not. I shut the door. I locked them out.
They haven't come home, I've been out calling for them and the door has been open for 2 hours.
Live on the edge of a small town, so it feels villagey really, road isn't busy, next to a field that has goats in it so things to scare them off if they went a little further than usual.
It's too early to be really worried isn't it? They are DH's cats really and he is going to be gutted but is staying silent about it for now.