My cat is indoor/outdoor. What do I do with her when she's meowing like crazy to go outside at night?

Question

See she's a stray. We found her in January so near 9 months ago. She has since slept at night and during the day we'd let her out and she always comes back when we jingle the keys. Well for the last month she meows like crazy until we let her out. She comes in eats like two bites and runs outside. A couple of days she slept on my bed all day long but she is driving me nuts at night. She doesn't want to stay in at all. Do I give in because she's meowing like mad to go outside or do I stick to it and let her out in the morning? I know you can't train a cat but I just want to do what's best here. I don't want her to only come once a day for an hour now. I'm thinking she's doing this because it's really hot. She's 1 year old the vet said. Do cats sleep in the daytime and out at night when it's hot? Help!

Answer 1

Is she spayed?  Make sure she's spayed, so she doesn't go and make more stray kittens <=[.  

My cats were indoor/outdoor until I had to move to a 1 bedroom apartment.  Then they had to become indoor cats only.  At first it was hard.  Actually my younger cat (5 years old) adjusted pretty quickly.  The older one (15 years old) didn't like it at all.  He was meowing ALL night and it drove me crazy!  I didn't give in though.  It actually took more than a month, but he actually realized that he can't have his way.  Now that he's adjusted, he's very happy.  I just make sure there is a nice spot near the window for him.  He sleeps with me, play and eat like normal.  They don't look miserable or anything.  

I think the key is to stick to YOUR rule, and don't give in! It might be annoying at first, but eventually, your cat will learn.

(oh and cats can be trained, my younger cats can fetch, sit, and stand :) .. they are very smart, and that's why they think they can always get their ways.)

Answer 2

it could be very possible that she is in heat....just a guess. i do not think that it's because of the hot summer alone. may i ask if she is spayed to rule out being in heat?

it is possible to train cats. it take a lot of perseverance and patience. there are lots of helpful books. vet may be able to help as well on this.

cats in general are nocturnal so it may explain some of the behavior.

glad to know she has been to a vet, congrats for taking her under your wing. i hope something works out for you very soon. sounds like an adorable cat too :)  

Answer 3

try leaving a window open so she can come and go as she pleases or install a pet door.

Answer 4

You "know you can't train a cat"?  HUH?  Where did you hear that?  She's meowing to go out BECAUSE you let her out.  And everytime you give in and open that door you're TRAINING her that meowing = an open door!  STOP LETTING HER OUT - period.  If you care about her you'll keep her indoors where it's safe.

Has she been spayed?  I sure hope so or the reason she's wanting to get out might be because she's in heat and wanting to mate.  Please don't make more unwanted litters.  Kittens and cats are killed by the MILLIONS every year because there's just not enough homes for them.

Answer 5

Well Cats Sleep Mostly In The Evening? But What You Do Is If You Live In An Good Quiet No Harmful Neighborhood Then Like On Your Back Door But One Of Those Flap-able In And Out Things At The Bottom Of You Door So The Cat Can Go Out Anytime or You Can Do That To Your Front Door? But You Have To Train Your Cat Thow?

Answer 6

she is probably doing this because she hears a male calling to her. If you let her out she will have kittens . So get her spayed soon , and she should lose interest in getting out at night. She is answering the males out there. Spaying is the only way to stop that.  

Answer 7

You actually can train cats! Don't let her out at night. Keep letting her out during the day. She'll eventually learn when she can go outside and when to stay indoors. My cat actually learned quite quickly.

Another option would be to get your cat spayed. You won't have to go through the meowing of your cat in heat.

Answer 8

shes probali in heat.my cats a stray cat too and i asked the vet how i could noe if shes been desexed.my vet asked me whether she gets desperate to go out.apaerntly when they are in heat they will harrass u into letting them out and might be more moody.this only happens for a while so id put up with it unless u want her to go and mate.but i dont think that wud be good for her at 1yr old.i guess still let her out in the day but not for toooo long.

Answer 9

My cat did this when she went into heat - it was the night before she was due to be fixed and she went mental. When we finally got her inside again she tried to make babies with the rug and pretty much everything else that would stand still. So, if she's not fixed, fix her. As someone else said, she may have a special friend out there and unless you want kittens she needs to be spayed. And keep her inside 100% of the time, she'll live longer that way.

Answer 10

maybe...She already met 'someone' outside....a male cat...hehe...the female hormone is active at this moment...