Asking for back-up Mumsnet Cat-people!

[valrhona]

Now that the colder weather has arrived, it seems the word on the street with the local cats is that our place is just great to hang out in.
In just the last two days two new friends have turned up, and they are doing their best to make friends with dd and dh when I'm not in.
Now we already have two furries of our own to worry about so I want to get a sure-flap cat door. ASAP.
Dh (not normally a luddite), INSISTS they do not work (despite never having had one) and that the cats will be stuck outside .
Mumsnet, could you back me up here??

[hiddenhome]

It's probably worth a try, but a determined cat can break through these things. I had a cat who was so strong he'd dismantle his cat flap quite easily

[thecatneuterer]

I got one for my neighbour and it works very well to keep my cat hoard out of her house

[thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter]

Might be worth going to a shop like Pets at home and having a look at robustly test the display ones - we've never had one but SIL did and it was as flimsy and effectual as cardboard. I think her cat had head butted it so much it busted the closing thing at the top!

[paneer]

I have one and it works fine. I am assuming both yours are chipped.

I frequently see other cats in my garden and am sure they would be in my house if it wasn't for the microchip flap. and my cat has never been stuck outside.

[Archfarchnad]

There was a programme on the bbc a few weeks back called Cat Wars (might still be on iPlayer). It showed video of a cat getting in through a sureflap at night by hooking his claw round the side and drawing it up towards him, instead of pushing through with his head. The brand wasn't mentioned but it sure looked like a sureflap.

We've had a sureflap for the last few weeks (have only had cat for 6 weeks) and been really impressed, no sign of a strange cat getting in and it works every time. However, Archcat also took the precaution of having (and winning) a few scraps at the beginning with the one neighboring cat who had dared to come close. We haven't been troubled by other cats coming within 50 metres since then.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Well it's kept the intruder out for 4 years here even hen he travel at full pelt at it.