Help !! My cat wont respond.

Hi ya, am new to this site, but i think i can relate to your poblem. I have three cats, an they all just started going out two years ago when we moved to a house from a flat. My ginger cat Foster would go out for the longest periods, and i would sit up all night waiting for him to come home. But as they get older they become more confident, and enjoy hunting at night, so although Bud an Murphy will always be in at night, Foster can be seen in my neighbours gardens having a prowl, then slinking off into the woods. And no matter how much i shout him, rattle the biscuit box, or chase him down the street, he obviously doesn't want to come in. So now, he gets one call, an then he's out for the night, but he's always there in the morning scratching at the back door to get in. (usually with a dead mouse as a way of an apology) So dont worry if she doesn't come in at night, she'll be out doing her catty things, an will always be back when she gets hungry, or theres a nice fresh made bed for her to get her fur all over.

Hi there alex you could let your cat out earlier but don't feed her before she goes out. When you see she is in the garden and you think she is ready to come in get a tin or packet food of her food and open the door. tap the tin or flap the packet of cat food as this will make her realise that she is likely to be fed.also try and get her into a routine of going and coming in the house at a certain time.

hi alex, cats I think are very unlike dogs as they dont need the constant care of us humans they are alot less dependant and in most can fend for themselves and can be very aloof, I know its a worry when they dont come home but they will come back only when they are ready they often catch their own dinner at this time of year, just wait until the winter and she will be curled up on the mat again coz its cold outside.

I agree with Jim that with the longer lighter and warmer evenings..most cats will want to stay out longer and enjoy their time outdoors rather than come in and be shut in.
I know that my mother hate's leaving her cats out at night..so they are fed early in the morning and allowed out throughout the daytime and she won't feed them again until they come in around 8pmish..then she will feed the four of them and keep them in....that way she know's where they all are and after a bit of miaowing and protest,for a few minutes..they get the message and take themselves off to their various favourite places around the cottage......she has been doing this with all her cats for year's and it work's rather well.
My own cat's are indoor cat's so I don't have this problem myself.....but maybe this could be another solution to your problem or you could try as Jim suggest's below!.
Good luck and keep us posted on how things work out for you and Lucy!.

What i have found out over the years with my cats is that once the warmer weather comes they tend to stay out longer even all night. My sister bought a small dog kennel and leaves it by the back door for her moggy.