Night time cat flap

[Jetlaggedgirl]

We’re first time cat owners. Our 7 month old cat has recently been neutered and can now enjoy the freedom of outdoors . We’re introducing our cat to the cat flap. Is the norm to lock it at night or to let cats go out?

It is best to lock the cat flap at night for a number of reasons

Cats are predators and will hunt at night, they do predate birds , which is not a good thing. They will also bring their kills home as gifts for you, and when I say kills some of them could still be alive.

cats can also be predated by larger predators like foxes.

cats are vulnerable on roads at night.

you will feel more secure knowing your cat is indoors and safe

this does mean you will need to give your cat access to a litter tray for nighttime, but they probably won’t use it much if they are in and out during the day.

the other issue is that you might have a cat like mine who loves being outside and is a right pain to get inside when he wants to be out having fun in the dark.

Depends where you live. We have a catflap - magnetic so only our cat can access it. He has been coming and going as he pleases day and night for the last 16 years. Before him we had 2 cats who also came and went as they pleased - both died of old age (in the house) at 22 years and 24 years. None were hunters and our garden is full of birds. Because they were well fed and had toys they liked to 'hunt' there was (and is for our current male cat) no need to hunt.

So many cats near me have disappeared and gone missing over night - best keep them in at night. It takes a while but mine just skips in now when she’s called.