indoor cat

Question
Hello,

I brought home my American Shorthair (?) cat when she was somewhere around 6 months old.  She is now approx. 1 year and 6 months.  We live in a one-story rambler in a suburban neighborhood, with no screens on the windows or doors (we don't like screens because they block breezes).  She stayed in the house all through the winter no problem - no interest in the outside world.

However, now she likes to go outside.  I let her out sometimes so she can exercise and hunt.  She spends a little more time outdoors than I would like.  Ideally I would like to let her out for 2 hours in the evening.  But, of course, she doesn't come when called.  She usually comes back inside for dinner and that's when we shut the window - or she'd eat and go right back outside for her second adventure!  

She is also outside at times during the day.

Is there a way I can train her to only want to go outside for two hours at night?

One thing that concerns me is that when she returns home, her harness (it's reflective for safety :) is dirty up top - on her back.  Since she sometimes brings home mice, I believe she may be going underneath houses.  I'm afraid she'll get into mouse poison!

She does understand when I say "no".  She will often meow sadly at the closed window and when I say, "no, Mau!"  She gives up and finds something else to do.

I have a lot of faith that I can train her, I just don't know how.  I've successfully trained turtles and my iguana.  But my cat... she is something else!

Answer
Amanda,

It is often difficult to get a cat to do what we want. One type of training that has had good results with cats is called "clicker" training.  You can go to Karen Pryor's web site (www.clickertraining.com) to get some idea of how it works.

Otherwise, I know of no other technique that will get your cat to come in when you want!!!!!!!  Also, cats do not do well with negative reinforcement. Clicker training is a technique that uses only positive reinforcement.

Best regards... Norm.