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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Advice on letting my kittie out at night

28 replies

Estelle74uk · 01/08/2023 19:07

My little girl is almost 11 months old! She has been out now during the day since April and loves being outside. She is in at night from 9pm until morning, just in one room though as the 2 boys go outside.

She is getting to that age where I think she should be out all night, be able to be with us, and out if she wishes.

Our back is secure, hard to get to the road, she never goes there. She had met and had fights with resident cats, and also seen foxes.

Am I being a wuss, I love her so much already. All our boys, 4 of them in all, have been perfect out there. I think cause she small and a girl am worrying.

Any advice?

Here is a pic of Voilet!

Advice on letting my kittie out at night
OP posts:
CatsOnTheChair · 01/08/2023 19:39

Keep her in overnight.
DC gets called in on my way to bed. Released by whoever gets up first. In summer she is insistent she is let out pretty promptly. Winter she isnt so bothered.
I'd keep the boys in too, tho.

CatsOnTheChair · 01/08/2023 19:39

Keep her in overnight.
DC gets called in on my way to bed. Released by whoever gets up first. In summer she is insistent she is let out pretty promptly. Winter she isnt so bothered.
I'd keep the boys in too, tho.

ClaraThePigeon · 01/08/2023 19:41

Cats should really be kept in at night. It's the most dangerous time for them.

ClaraThePigeon · 01/08/2023 19:41

Also she's beautiful.

Annaishere · 01/08/2023 19:46

I wouldn’t worry about foxes

Original poster
Estelle74uk · 01/08/2023 19:51

Thanks for all messages.

I get it about keeping her in at night, but as I have said, all 4 boys since 20 years ago have been out there with no probs.

OP posts:
TequilaNights · 01/08/2023 19:55

All my cats are in and sleeping overnight and out all day.

Very very rarely do I not see them inside, apart from one, who sleeps on the rattan furniture all summer unless it's raining.
They all have full access to come and go as they please but stay indoors.

QuestionableMouse · 01/08/2023 19:56

Keep her in. It's not safe for them to roam.

TomatoSandwiches · 01/08/2023 19:57

I would keep her in.

Original poster
Estelle74uk · 01/08/2023 19:58

I think I am just worrying.

She is fast and have said that she has had fights. We have just never kept a cat in at night before.

We did have a girl rescue cat, but she was older and didn't bother with outside at night, she knew her comfort on my bed. But bless her We had to let her go, hence Voilet is now here.

With her brothers ❤️

Advice on letting my kittie out at night
OP posts:
popgoesthecat2 · 01/08/2023 20:23

I wouldn't let my cats roam the streets at night. Keep her In.

Original poster
Estelle74uk · 01/08/2023 20:43

OK. Thanks everyone.

Will keep her in for the foreseeable. She is far too precious to lose. 🐈‍⬛

OP posts:
Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 01/08/2023 20:51

We do call ours in at night, but if they decide to ignore us and to be dirty stop outs then that's up to them. Doesn't worry us - our cats seem pretty competent at looking after themselves.

Original poster
Estelle74uk · 01/08/2023 20:56

Yes I agree, the boys are totally fine and have been. I think she is just too young and fiesty at the mo.

Will wait until she is older and can't b bothered!

OP posts:
Cheekyfuckerseverywhere · 01/08/2023 21:10

My cats always went out at night, Bengal boy was in at night but got run over before curfew.

It changes you.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 01/08/2023 21:13

Harry was only allowed out at night once the garden was cat proofed. Before that he'd try to ignore me when I called him in and it became a battle of wills! Needless to say I rarely won!

Pancakebatter · 01/08/2023 21:35

My cat hates being kept in at night. She starts screeching outside my window at 6.30 am every morning. 😬

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 01/08/2023 22:13

I've only ever heard of keeping cats in at night on MN.

All the outdoor cats I know are free to come and go as they please, no matter what time of day.

I'm not convinced that roaming at night is automatically more dangerous than during the day either.

Yusay · 01/08/2023 22:26

I’ve always had cats that have free access to outside 24/7.

Boy cat roams far but girl cat stays in our garden.

Imo it is much safer for them at night when our quiet cul de sac has no traffic than during the day when there are cars and dogs about but 🤷‍♀️

Foxes and cats ignore each other. Cats have 20 claws that will go for the eyes and foxes know this.

The only time I’d say keep her in at night is if you live in a city and she is likely to encounter animal harming humans.

Annaishere · 02/08/2023 04:51

I’ve seen my cat and a fox a few metres from each other completely ignoring each other

BicOrange · 02/08/2023 04:56

Let her out. Do you have a cat flap?

popgoesthecat2 · 02/08/2023 07:19

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 01/08/2023 22:13

I've only ever heard of keeping cats in at night on MN.

All the outdoor cats I know are free to come and go as they please, no matter what time of day.

I'm not convinced that roaming at night is automatically more dangerous than during the day either.

The cat rescue near me all has rules that say if you adopt a cat, you keep them in at night. This rule isn't just for sick, old and injured cats, it's for all.

Original poster
Estelle74uk · 02/08/2023 10:36

Yea there is a catflap. She is pretty clued up how to use it.

Thanks for Different replies. I really don't want her shut in all nite as others haven't been.

Our back is just so closed and she stays inside the area. Gardens and alley is all she knows.

OP posts:
LouisCatorze · 02/08/2023 13:54

I would have said give cats the freedom to roam. However, after 25 years of having cats without any problems with them being allowed to come and go at night, very recently our beautiful girl was savagely mauled (and subsequently died from her injuries) when out of an evening. It has made me seriously rethink our approach.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 02/08/2023 14:54

The cat rescue near me all has rules that say if you adopt a cat, you keep them in at night. This rule isn't just for sick, old and injured cats, it's for all.

In the nicest way, rescues can say whatever they want. It's nothing to do with them once the cat has been adopted.