Hounslow Animal Welfare Society firmly
believes that all cats should be kept SAFE inside
their homes at night.
Many of our cats have been rescued as strays and most of them come in injured or show signs of neglect. We have often spent months making these cats well enough to be homed. Some of them have also undergone extensive medical treatment. We will not rehome a cat to a home where there is a high chance of them having to be rescued again.
- Cats are natural hunters in the wild and night time is best for this. Therefore any free roaming and feral cats will be out hunting and guarding their territories. Some of these cats could well be carrying the FIV and/or FELV and other viruses which can be passed on during a fight. There is a high chance of your cat getting injured in a panic scrambling over fences and through bushes etc.
- You and your neighbours will get more peaceful nights sleep without being disturbed by cat fights.
- Foxes are prevalent at night and MAY ATTACK and KILL especially kittens and weaker or less agile adults. We have seen what foxes have done to cats.
- Keeping cats in from dusk ’til dawn dramatically reduces the number of birds and wildlife killed by cats.
- Cats get lost more easily overnight, especially after rain/snow fall. Cats rely mainly on scent to find their way home and may find it difficult in poor visibility especially as they tend to roam further overnight.
- Cats that are kept inside form a closer bond with their owners, and love to be snuggled up on your bed. You can also sleep soundly knowing that your cat is safe. We keep all our rescue cats in at night and so they will be used to this. Imagine waking up one morning to find your cat has disappeared or has been suffering in agony/dying in your garden or on a road while you were asleep. At least during the day, someone may find her and take her to a vet in time.
- Your cat will pay more attention to grooming and looking after herself when she has time indoors.
- Late at night there are more likely to be speeding cars on our roads. It is also the time when cats are more likely to get stolen whilst unscrupulous people can quite literally get away with murder. We have come across many cases in the last couple of years in our areas, where cats have fallen victim to the so called ‘Croydon cat killer/M25 cat killer’. Cats are more likely to be taken over night when their perpetrators are unlikely to be detected.
- The majority of cat behavioural problems occur in homes where there is a cat flap. Imagine trying to have a good night’s sleep if your front door was permanently on the latch? Other cats entering your home are a permanent worry to your cats.
- Cats which are kept in usually avoid toileting over night, preferring to go out in the morning, so keeping them in doesn’t necessarily mean you will be cleaning out trays every day. There should always be a litter tray in the house for emergencies. Cats that are desperate to toilet frequently may need medical attention.
How to keep your cat indoors when they want to go out
Cats may well ask to go out but if they get a meal or a treat instead and if necessary get some exercise playing with their owners before bedtime, they usually settle down.
Just don’t let them out! Keep the cat flap locked and cats well away from the cat flap and/or room with the cat flap if necessary.
Remember it is for their own good and you may save money on future vets bills by not letting them out when they are most at risk.