What should I do with my cats at night?

[villagecorner]

We are fetching our cats (age 1 and 4) on Saturday. Is it OK to shut them in their cat room at bedtime overnight? We are setting up our small single room for them. They'll be in there with all their things until they've settled in but I was just wondering if it was OK to shut them in overnight while we sleep (a) initially and (b) in the long term. They will be going out when they can (the Internet has suggested waiting anything from two days to six weeks...) but I'd prefer them indoors overnight.

Any general advice would be appreciated. They've lived with a family before but have been at Cats Protection for about 7 weeks. We don't know too much about what brought them to rescue - just that their owner couldn't cope any longer. We hope this means financially or something and not because they are monsters! They are our first cats so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Theoretically,yes. Perfectly acceptable.

The trick is making it comfy, fleeces to lie on and food, litter tray & water plus toys.

I'm not the only one on here to provide a hot water bottle in the winter.

[mermaidstale]

Once your cats start going outside you will need something to encourage them in at night, like Dreamies treats or a small meal. Get them used to the sound of a shaken packet at that time while they are still shut in. Have they got a lockable catflap?
Wait until they are well settled in and happy with you before letting them outside.

[fackinell]

Mine would go stir crazy shut in one room all night. They're not a fan of shut doors at all. Can they not have a bit more space to roam in? Mine tend to sleep all day and are active at night. I prefer them in and one is cool with that but the other is in and out the cat flap all night. They are safer indoors if you can keep them in but one room seems a bit mean. Sorry.

[thecatneuterer]

I would say it's fine to keep them in a room overnight. And we recommend a minimum of three weeks to keep cats inside when you first get them/move home. Longer for very timid cats.

[villagecorner]

Thanks for your advice. We'll keep them in their room overnight and leave the door ajar once they understand that's their little cosy place. They'll be able to roam the house/outdoors during the day and evening but I just want them to settle down and sleep or play quietly when we do. I thought it'd be best to get them into a good routine now. We've not got any children yet but we are planning on TTC in the next couple of years and I don't want to suddenly have to start being strict with them then when they won't be used to it. I'm just keen to get them into a safe, practical routine do they are happy and we are too.

[Pipbin]

I recommend a Sureflap Petdoor. Expensive but it has a thing where you can set a curfew time. Ours locks at 8pm at the moment. Bincat can get in but not out.
We have never let her out at night and she doesn't show any inclination to go out after dinner.

[SummerSazz]

just want them to settle down and sleep or play quietly when we do

Good luck with that

Our cat sleeps most of the day and loves to roam about outside at night - I'd feel mean stopping her from living her desired cat life if I'm honest.

[thecatneuterer]

If you can keep them in at night it's much safer for them. Most road accidents deaths happen at night.

[Hakluyt]

Just have a cat flap and let them do their own thing. You don't need a cat room.

[Pangaea]

Mine get locked in the kitchen, with beds and food. They don't play with toys, they are old.

We leave the cat flap open and they come and go as they please.

[Twonewcats]

I dont think a specific cat room is at all necessary, tbh.
However, ours are shut into a small area overnight - small sitting room and dining room - and seem fine with that. I'm not interested in them having free roam of the house at ANY time, far less at night. And I'm not having them sleeping on our beds, so they have no option at all