cat flap advice

[hemel07]

Does anyone have any tips on how to encourage my 2yr old cat to use the cat flap? Only had it put in today but wondered if it is something that is going to take her a while to get used to? How do we wean her off the litter tray?

[cozietoesie]

Does she go outside at the moment, hemel ?

[issey6cats]

cant help you here my cats have a skinny 5ft 6 servant who opens and shuts door for them rented house cant put a cat flap in

[hemel07]

She goes outside if we keep the door open for her but doesn't venture very far.

[Lovemynailstoday]

Move the litter tray outside. Worked for us. You can then chose to make it disappear altogether, or keep it as an outdoor loo. An outdoor tray works for us and stops the cat digging up the neighbours' gardens. Simples.

[cozietoesie]

Maybe she likes being inside better so might not be real motivated to use the flap? I hate to tell you this (although I'm going to of course) but I've had two or three cats who went outside but preferred to do their duty inside in a litter tray. You could try tactical positioning of treats if she's fond of them but if she would rather stay inside than use it, I'm not at all sure what's to be done.

Time will probably tell.

[hemel07]

She seems to have got the hang of it!!! Am feeling quite proud! Nervous now though about letting her have access to the great outdoors overnight.

[thecatneuterer]

That was quick. The best way normally is to actually take the flap off for a few days, so they get used to going through the hole. That sort of gives them the idea that that is the place to enter and exit.

You may still find that you can't get rid of the litter tray completely though. Cats don't like to go out if it's raining, or if next door's thuggish tom is in the garden, or if the ground is so hard (from frost/drought) that they can't scratch in it, or if they're just not feeling very well. So they will still need to have a tray for those circumstances.

[cozietoesie]

I'd lock it and keep her in overnight. That's the most dangerous time for cats - cars, predators, other cats and so on. You may not have got rid of the tray just yet.

[Callmedreckly]

I agree with cozie 100% - keep her in.

My DC stays in at night, I lock the cat flap & put her litter tray down for the night. I can guarantee there will be a little parcel in there in the morning.

Shes asleep on the sofa, right now.
I cant bare the thought of her out at night, with Foxes ect out there roaming around. .