How to teach cats to use a catflap

[beanhunter]

Hi. We have two cats and have just had a cat flap installed and the little one had taken to peeing on the floor when he doesn't get to go outside. We have one of the microchip ones but neither seem to have a clue what to do! How do I teach my lovable little fools to use a catflap?

[BorisIsBack]

I taped the cat flap open for a few days and shoved the cat through it once each way. Then, once they had both got used to climbing in and out, I took the tape off and showed them both how to push it open then left them to it (outside) with a smelly bowl of food right inside the flap. It worked. I did have to feed them through it a couple of times. Stupid cats.

[BorisIsBack]

It took a few days of having the cat flat tapped open for them to work out that they could safely go through the hole.

[beanhunter]

They won't even let me do that! They scrabble and push and twist and won't go through. We had to have a new bloody door for this so they better suss it out!

[LemonRedwood]

Dreamies

Seriously, I put some down inside the tunnel bit of out microchip catflap and he just stuck his head through to get to them. No problems after that.

[Yellowsun11]

I shoved mine tbrough shut the door - yhen held it open with one hand piece of chicken in the other - she soon worked it out !

[SuburbanRhonda]

Do the posting through thing then leave them outside, not inside. More incentive to go through if their food is inside.

[SoupDragon]

I also taped it open until they got the hang of it. I think the microchip ones might have a small delay in unlocking which puts the cat off.

I agree that they are more likely to come in rather than go out.

[BorisIsBack]

The clicking noise and delay on the microchip cat flap put mine off for a while. I also taped down the locking mechanism until they got it.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Be a bit more forceful posting them through, took our cat a week. Dreamies work too!

[clarazabel]

Same here, taped it open put treats either in or out and posted her through it....took about a week but then she isn't the brightest button. No problems now though

[beanhunter]

Little one successfully posted. He's the perpetrator of wee on carpet so main need. Fingers crossed.