Do you let your cat out at night (if she wants to go)?

Our last cat, Bonnie, deceased now for many a year, would do her nut if we didn`t let her out at night. She`d venture out in the daytime for short periods, then about 11pm, she`d be at the door, waiting to go out, then she`d be on the doorstep in the morning, waiting to come in for breakfast. Till one fateful morning, when she was almost 16, she wasn`t there. We searched all over, no sign, then my ex son-in-law, who worked at the factory next door, came to see if Bonnie was here, because he`d found a dead cat in the factory yard and thought it was her. Sadly, it was, she must have collapsed and died on her last hunting trip.

Oh numberplease sad for you, but perhaps quite a good end for Bonnie. Dying in action, so to speak.

Our eldest cat is (although very spry and active) is looking very thin these days, and her coat looks a bit, well, sort of clumpy and a tad motheaten.

A bit like an old cuddly toy that has been much loved?

I think I'm going to have to give in. Daisy woke me at 3am this morning, standing on my face, as is her usual practice - I didn't argue, just staggered through to the kitchen and let her out of the cat-flap. I couldn't get back to sleep, because of the snoring person next to me (he also has a cold and cough...), so wandered back to the spare bed. Fell asleep with Daisy on my feet (she wasn't out long), and was woken up shortly afterwards as she had decided there was a mouse in the corner under the floorboards.
I think the answer is to keep the cat-flap open....she can come and go as she pleases. She's a real hunter, so I think it's going to get worse as the mornings get lighter .

"Green* sometimes, with cats, it is better just to give in! (I do not advocate this with children, husbands or dogs)

With cats - definitely! As for the others.....NEVER!

green you have adopted a cat who uses your house like a hotel!! She certainly sounds like a character who knows what she wants and goes and gets it. I love the idea of cats who live with us but go their own sweet way. I remember watching a DVD of Eddie Izzard describing his friend's cat doing something behind the sofa, purring loudly - 'is your cat drilling down there?' He is, he's drilling for something.' And going on to describe a cat who lived with him, but didn't really like the food provided. The cat would sniff the bowl, look disdainfully at his host, then pat both sides as though checking pockets - 'keys, check, right - I'm eating out' as he sailed through the cat flap!

Reading the thread makes me think that my cats are true home lovers. In fact I'd say they were basically lazy - I know cats sleep a lot, but these much prefer my settee or the spare bed. Perhaps they'll perk up in warmer weather. They're usually still asleep when I come down around 7 am. Unfortunately as I say I'm not keen to welcome a menage a trois with the new 'friend' so cat flap is locked at night and tray is in place - though to date they've never used it.

I think cats must have enormous bladders, goldengirl!

One of ours never goes out, the outdoor world is far too scary (she is, to be honest, rather strange, varies between being totally besotted with us, to being utterly convinced that we are cat murderers. She will sit on the end of the bed, purring and doing that "smile" thing that cats do, then I pick up my roll-on deodorant and she runs as if the hounds of hell are after her. Although she is adopted, I find it hard to believe that she was traumatised by a bottle of Mitchum in early life.)

Eldest cat, also adopted at quite an age, had never been outside until we had her. Is now a total sun worshipper. Good weather, outside, warming her old bones until she is so hot that she is hot to the touch. Anything less, indoors, preferably in the airing cupboard if she can nip in before the door is shut. Will only "go" in the litter tray, obviously thinks that is the right place.

Maurice, we have had from a kitten, goes in and out at will. Well, sort of. With Mr Phoenix being currently at home all day, Maurice regards him as a sort of concierge. The amount of times that he goes out, in, out, in, out, in..............

We have two rescue cats. Sophie - who we rescued last August - did not want to go out of the house for months, she has just started to go out, usually early evening. I was a little concerned the first time, but although we are surrounded by woodland (hence foxes etc) she must enjoy going out and doing a little hunting for herself.

I really would be realistic - are there really any more dangers around at night? What about cars and other cats etc in the daytime?

Our second rescue cat Sybil has not been out yet, she was spayed last week and has not had her second vaccination yet. I love her dearly - but if you love something/one set her free ............. she will return!

I currently have 4 cats each one with a different nature. I let them come and go at will, through the cat flap. Now that the weather is improving they are starting to spend part of the night outside. I wish they didn't because I seem to spend the night listening for the flap. One of my Bengals, Saffron, used to spend days away, up to a week, but recently only 48hours at a time. She has currently been missing for 10 days, which is worrying. I just hope she will stroll in soon! I suspect she has a second home in the next village, reached via fields.I have attached a note to her I.D. collar asking where she goes but never had a call.
My life feels like that of a mother with wayward teenagers (mine weren't).I wish I could keep the cats in but think it would be cruel.

Since my original post a month ago, Daisy has been going in and out of her cat-flap at will. She still walks all over my pillow around 6am, but she seems very happy to wander around now. I think she hunts quite a bit - she would have had to do a lot of that when she'd had her kittens - goodness knows how many litters - before she was 'rescued' and neutered. I didn't feel at all happy about keeping her in - especially when she'd been used to the outdoor life!

Janice I don't think there are any more dangers at night. There are less cars about if they should happen to go near a road, and I don't believe there is any danger from wildlife. My cats share my garden and surrounding farmland with deer, foxes and badgers (see my photos). They all mingle at close quarters with no problems, it is entertaining to watch!

Just an update on my previous responses. The threesome is no longer! I saw the tabby holding down the cat who was not accepting of him/her and to my amazement, my other cat who up until now had been apparently happy to let him/her in dived in to the rescue and saw off his former friend. Since then there have only been vague sightings of the intruder and the duo are back to their normal ways. The cat flap however still remains firmly shut at night.