The Cat and his Cat Flap.

[Moln]

How do you teach your cat to use a cat flap? I'm in a state of slight panic as I've to return to full time hours in three weeks.

Put in a cat flap just a week ago (ok so not long, but I'm stressy as I need him to use it!!) and first day held it open with masking tape and he came in and out just fine (lured by treats), then we moved on to having a couple of Lego blocks propping it open (depending on which side he was) so he knew it was open.

Anyway we are now at that he goes out by himself with a slight bit if encouragement ie he meaows next to it and I give it a tap to show him it's open (might need to do this a few times) and he'll then do it himself. A couple of times he's done it himself no help

I've left the Lego blocks for coming in and he's managed to get in a few times this way. However it's been windy recently and it gets blown away (or possibly he's coming in and going out again! The block gets knocked out when he comes in) today I arrived home to find him waiting out the front all sad and meaowing (hungry) as he obviously couldn't figure out the flap (and the Lego block had blown/fell out)

It's it just a case of time? As I said I'm having to go full time and I can't stand the thought of him not getting in for food (or stuck in all day)

He's about seven months if that makes a difference.

[chockbic]

Have you tried putting him through each way?

[cozietoesie]

Yep - you're nearly fully trained now.

[Moln]

Yes but he hates me doing it and gets quite frightened so don't want to make the it scary for him.

[chockbic]

What about holding the flap up so he can see the tasty treat inside?

[cozietoesie]

Moln

....Anyway we are now at that he goes out by himself with a slight bit if encouragement ie he meaows next to it and I give it a tap to show him it's open (might need to do this a few times) and he'll then do it himself. A couple of times he's done it himself no help (My emphasis.)

You're being royally played.

Shut him in the house with food and a litter tray (but with the flap open) and go off to work with a good conscience. Although I warn you that you might come back to 'presents' on the carpet.

[valrhona]

I had to leave the catflap taped open for almost ten days for our nice but dim Margot. Our other, Miss Coley, (the brains of the operation), got it in no time.

I'd go back to taping it up until he's confident popping in and out. Then put in an hour so of poking bits of chicken through at either side. (brrr...)

He'll have the hang of it before you go back.

Even poor Margot figured it out in the end.

Which is good, because hypothermia.

[cozietoesie]

[Moln]

I like the sound of Margot!!

I was wondering if I was being played, but the fact that I came home at 3 today and he was starvin marvin made me question it. I'll try taping it again tomorrow.

The only reason I haven't done that is because I thought it best if I didn't have it wide open after he'd mastered that but just slightly ajar. So if he did come it he with it taped slightly ajar he couldn't be able to go back out

I shall keep at it!!! I've got to the 27th

[NorbertDentressangle]

One morning, before he's had his breakfast (so he's really hungry) put the cat one side of the closed cat flap and his favourite, preferably aromatic, cat food the other.

He'll find a way to get through!

[Fluffycloudland77]

He knows how to use it.

Mine does the sitting on the front step looking heartbroken routine. The record was 7 minutes, he literally threw himself at Dh's car & made out I'd chucked him out in the cold rain. 7 minutes! He was barely damp.

I was most put out when dh told me off because the cat was obviously desperate to come in.

[cozietoesie]

He knows the soft touch in the family. Does he ask your DH for extra titbits as well?

[RubbishMantra]

It took MKitten a while to work it out. Even though he'd seen MCat going through it.

Ham waving, then I got fed up and just pushed him through.

He still doesn't quite have the hang of it, and sometimes forgets it opens outwards. Picking at it for ages to make it open inwards.

[RubbishMantra]

Oh, and MCat's used a catflap for many years, yet still sits outside staring wistfully through it.

[Moln]

Okay. So I can calm down then? Plenty of time to perfect.

I shall try him outside and some salmon inside in the morning. If he does that I shall relax!

[cozietoesie]

Until the 27th? You should be OK.

(Although - be warned. If you have a manipulative blighter they could well refuse to operate the flap unless they get salmon.......dreamies......whatever. Not saying that will be the case with your boy of course.)

[Moln]

I think I am more concerned about the cat than my children about my working full time. .

That's not wrong is it...

[Fluffycloudland77]

Nah, the kids will leave home, the cats there for his whole life.

[Thisismyfirsttime]

Stuff him through it. That's what we did (both ways) and he got it. He can easily come in and out now but sometimes I can hear it slamming where he's trying to get it to open inwards whilst he's inside but that's just a game, if I get up to stuff him through he shoots through with no problem!

[doglover]

Our 6 month old cat has been coming IN through the flap for the last 6 weeks. She still, however, refuses to go OUT through it! I'm sure that she can do it but she just won't!

Today, I have put her litter tray outside because it looks like we have a period of dry weather. I'm desperately hoping that she'll finally twig that she can get out to use it ...............

[cozietoesie]

I'd keep that tray inside, doglover. Some cats just like to do their duty inside the house so you run the risk of her using the laundry cupboard or something instead. She'll know perfectly well how to get out if she needs to.

[doglover]

Gosh, really? I'd hate to upset her - we've never had a single 'accident' since we got her at 8 weeks old - so will maybe see how it goes today and then decide ..............

Because we have a lovable but incurably greedy Labrador, we have to have a rather complicated system of wedging the bathroom door slightly ajar so that the cat can get in to use the litter tray and yet the dog is kept out ........ he eats her poo! Yuck!

[cozietoesie]

Only a possibility so don't panic. I think you just have to attempt to look at things through a cat's eyes. 'Coming in' is a retreat to safety, order, known things etc - whereas 'going out' can be poking your head out into the unknown big bad world, full of dangers and mean toms.

Not every cat can be a Dirty Harry type and some are just a bit tentative about life outside. (Or prefer to have all their wits about them and not have to divert attention to toileting - The Lodger discovered that and actually started to do his duty inside, I think so that he could be prepared for life outside the house with 100% alertness. Cats can feel very vulnerable when they toilet.)

Do you have any other cats out there? (And is she spayed and chipped yet?)

I used to have a lab when I was younger - 'If it doesn't move, eat it!' should be their motto. Would there be any mileage in installing one of those child gates on the door if you have to use an inside tray? That way she could get in there (through the bars) but the dog couldn't. (A covered tray is also a possibility depending on how good he is at ferreting.)

[frostyfingers]

Our lab used to do this - we put a door into a cardboard box and the litter tray inside. Kitty seemed much happier doing his business in private anyway, and it kept the stuff he chucked out whilst digging in one place.