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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

Started staying out all night

16 replies

doyoulikemyyams · 28/07/2024 08:14

My partner's cat is a 3 year old (spayed) female who's recently started staying out all night.

DP works during the day so she's usually in all day and then he lets her out to explore and play in the early evening - on his days off she's largely free to come and go as she pleases, normally popping in and out to 'check in' quite reliably. Until recently she'd come home for dinner around 7 and then stay in for the night after that.

Recently, though, she's not been coming home at night. He can hear her bell in the mornings so he knows she's OK, but it's worrying him, as his normally quiet road gets some cars that go pretty fast during 'rush hour' and it means he has to leave a window open while he's out at work so she's not stuck outside in bad weather. Plus (he's a big softie) it plays on his mind at night and he's finding it hard to sleep entirely solidly knowing she's not home.

Cat flap not an option at the moment, although something we'll look into.

Is this normal for a cat of this age? Adolescent pushing-the-envelope behaviour?

Is there anything we can do to get her back into a routine?

OP posts:
sunsetsandboardwalks · 29/07/2024 07:30

Cats are crepuscular so it's normal for them to want to be out at dawn and dusk.

If she's kept in all day sometimes I'm not surprised she wants to be out and about.

cheezncrackers · 29/07/2024 07:33

In the summer, when it's hot, cats often prefer to sleep in the garden and be out all night as a) they enjoy hunting in the dusk/night/dawn and b) it's cooler. It's entirely normal behaviour IME, but if he doesn't like it he'll need to find some way to get her in before he goes to bed. I feed my cat some biscuits at bedtime and she's greedy, so it's enough to entice her in, but most cats aren't as greedy as mine 😁

MapleTreeValley · 29/07/2024 07:39

It's the warmer weather OP. She'll stop doing this when it gets colder and wetter.

TonyeKnausgaard · 29/07/2024 07:41

It'll calm down naturally as the weather gets colder and wetter.

My cat is out nearly twenty four hours a day at the moment. In the winter, she'll pop out for an hour or two, if that.

If she's motivated by food, you could try offering treats at bedtime and lock her in after.

Velvetcatfur · 29/07/2024 07:44

Imagine having a fur coat in hot weather inside a house . Cats want to be outside all the time in Summer .

paintedpumpkins · 29/07/2024 07:51

How is a catflap not an option but something you might look into? I’d prioritise sorting this.

Original poster
doyoulikemyyams · 29/07/2024 08:27

Thanks, everyone.

We're in northern Scotland so the comments on heat made me laugh - if only we had some hot weather for her to try and seek relief from!

But still could certainly be seasonal, actual temperature aside, right? So I guess all there is is to wait and see.

This little lady was a true lifesaver for DP during a very hard period in his life, so they've got a strong bond. He knows he worries about her too much, but he's a big softie and she's an adventurous soul, so it is what it is!

@paintedpumpkins it's a rental house, and the landlord would not be a fan of us taking off his UPVC door and cutting a hole in it. Landlord's not a fan of there being a cat in his property at all, frankly, so we're not in a hurry to rock the cat-boat again any time soon. Just got to take it one thing at a time.

OP posts:
sashh · 29/07/2024 08:40

In summer mine only comes in to eat, or tell me I need to feed her.

OolongTeaDrinker · 29/07/2024 08:44

Why doesn’t he let her out during the day before he goes to
work - she would be more likely to come in during the evening if she’s had a great time adventuring during the day. Seems a bit mean to leave a cat locked indoors by herself all day!

paintedpumpkins · 29/07/2024 08:49

doyoulikemyyams · 29/07/2024 08:27

Thanks, everyone.

We're in northern Scotland so the comments on heat made me laugh - if only we had some hot weather for her to try and seek relief from!

But still could certainly be seasonal, actual temperature aside, right? So I guess all there is is to wait and see.

This little lady was a true lifesaver for DP during a very hard period in his life, so they've got a strong bond. He knows he worries about her too much, but he's a big softie and she's an adventurous soul, so it is what it is!

@paintedpumpkins it's a rental house, and the landlord would not be a fan of us taking off his UPVC door and cutting a hole in it. Landlord's not a fan of there being a cat in his property at all, frankly, so we're not in a hurry to rock the cat-boat again any time soon. Just got to take it one thing at a time.

When we rented with a cat we actually swapped the front door for one we paid for so we could get a catflap, with the landlord’s permission. Swapping a back patio door glass pane could also be an option.

Original poster
doyoulikemyyams · 29/07/2024 08:50

@OolongTeaDrinker - partly because of how busy the road gets during rush hour, and partly because he doesn't love having to leave a window open for her if she's out during the day (see cat flap chat above).

It's not a super-rough area, but not the kind of place people would be smart to leave doors unlocked and windows open.

Oooh, @paintedpumpkins that's a smart move! I'll definitely suggest that to him – nice bit of lateral thinking! Thank you😊

OP posts:
sunsetsandboardwalks · 29/07/2024 09:18

It might not be that hot but you'll still be facing long, light evenings which is why she doesn't want to come home.

Mine all have free access during the day to come and go as they please but they know they get fed at 9pm and then after that it's inside until the following morning.

Julianne65 · 29/07/2024 12:13

Our two year old does this. She sleeps all day under a bush in the garden and then she's up to mischief at night outside. She comes in for food but not often as she isn't as food motivated as she used to be and it's hotter so she seems to need less (we are in London).

My friend is renting and she managed to convince her landlord to let her put a catflap on the door to her flat in the kitchen. It's a 1930s style posh flat. The landlord added a new part to the contract which she had to sign to ensure she will return the door to it's original state or pay for any damages. She had a panel on the door removed and replaced with a cheaper panel where a catflap was added. The landlord actually requested a more expensive "posher" catflap. She had to pay for it all of course. I reckon the landlord will just keep it as is when she moves out.

Another friend moved into a flat that already had a catflap installed into a window in the bathroom. That might be an idea? It can be replaced when moving out.

BobbyBiscuits · 29/07/2024 12:15

Some cats love staying out all night. Especially in summer. It's totally normal! Tell him not to worry one bit.

ISeriouslyDoubtIt · 29/07/2024 12:34

Every cat I've ever had has loved staying out all night in the summer. My 12 year old has a snooze after his tea indoors, comes in and out a few times then stays out all night, sometimes till about 10am, no idea where he goes.
I've had cats for 40 years and have never had a cat flap, they miaow or scratch on the door if they want to go in and out, or I leave the small window open in the day and they jump in and out, it's always worked fine for me.

Edasseri · 30/07/2024 14:17

My boy cat would do this if I let him, but I don’t let him because otherwise I’d be like your boyfriend and be up all night worrying.

What I do is when I come home from work, I feed him and then let him out, but I don’t feed him a full meal. I give him half of his usual portion so that a few hours later he is hungry again and comes home for more food. Then I just keep him in after that for the night

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