(probably dumb question:)Is being out all night traumatic for cats?

marge

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The other night my cat got out when i was taking out the trash. He was out for several hours and I was overtired and fell asleep. I felt horrible when I woke up the next am and found him on the front stoop. He's fine, but I noticed that since he isnt nearly as interested in going out (He usually is so hell bent on it)! Is it traumatic for a cat to be out all night? I would imagine he was meowing for me as usual but I didn't wake up. Or is that a human notion that night is scarier? Was he probably playing the whole time?

I have been trying to wean him off going out actually. I mean my neighborhood is safe and I only let him out when I am at home, but would like him to adjust to being mostly indoor if possible. I mean the minute I get home he just wants to get outside.
Do you think that would do it? I don't plan to do it again, but I am crossing my fingers
 

hissy

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It can be depending on what happened to him. I would watch him closely for a few days and if you notice anything off or odd about him other than what you have described, I would take him straightaway to the vet. He could have been in a fight with another cat and if so the bite can quickly become infected and he will fall ill.
 
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marge

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I did check him out, I mean his head and legs etc. It does look fine, the only thing different is his attitude. More mellow, and not running to the door.

I did see him once get into a scuffle with a neighborhood cat awhile back. I broke it up. But those cats don't seem to be out unless it's a weekend, kind of like mine. So I am guessing they were in at the time...
 
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marge

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I guess my question too is do you think cats know that it's night and are more scared being "out all night" than if it was all day?
 

twofatcats

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Don't know where you live and what the situation is there, but if it were one of my cats, I would guess that he had had a narrow escape from a coyote and had probably been sitting in a tree half the night, too afraid to come down.
 
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marge

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No it's the burbs, quiet burbs near a church but the burbs.
 
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marge

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I guess I am mostly feeling guilty. But I really want him to stop wanting out so much. He is really smart about it too. LIke if I am going out with the trash he waits RIGHT by the door when I come up hte steps and jumps over my feet. And if he senses I am walking towards him when he is outside to pick him up he runs away. And when I get home from work, he gets his food and then just stands by the door and starts crying and crying. I want to hang out with him a bit, but no it's outside or nothing. And he sleeps by the door sometimes. I mean don't get me wrong, he's a great cat. And likes being with me too, but when he wants out, he wants OUT and NOW. He lived outside for months before he was trapped by a group and rehomed (he was dumped after he wasn't a kitten anymore) so I knew it would be a transition.
 
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