Our cat won't use her cat flap and pisses all over the fucking house

[FrazzleRock]

We moved nearly three weeks ago and kept our very outdoorsy 8 year old cat in for the recommended two weeks. We then let her out and she was happy to go, so got rid of the awful little tray (I hated that thing).
A couple of days later my DP installed a cat flap so she could go out and in on her own accord. Problem is, she will not use it. She'd rather wee and shit all over our new house. It's driving us bonkers. This morning I put her breakfast outside the cat flap so she'd go out. It took her ages and took a lot of persuading (I had to hold the flap open for her). But she still came back in and pissed on the landing up against a poster I had just framed and was waiting to put up, which is now ruined

We don't know what to do anymore. We're tearing our hair out. What is this cat flap fear and how do we stop it?

[cozietoesie]

Perhaps it's the outside that's scaring her more than the cat flap - for some reason. I'd put a couple of trays back for her directly and let her make the decision in her own time.

[rainbowstardrops]

Is the drop from the cat-flap to the ground too high? We put a couple of paving slabs outside the door when our cat wouldn't use it.
We also just sat like loons holding the flap open and encouraging her in and out with treats. Probably took a couple of weeks or so.
She's fine now

[LMGTFY]

6 months in and I caught ours pissing in a laundry basket last night

[Wolfiefan]

Put down a litter tray. It's unfair on everyone to have an upset cat who is messing in the house.
You will also be much more popular with your neighbours if they aren't cleaning up cat shit.

[Veterinari]

Cats should always have a tray in the house sO that they have a choice and aren't forced to urinate somewhere inappropriate. Cat might be scared of something outside such a bully cat in the new neighbourhood, local dog etc. Just cos you like your new area it doesn't mean she does. She's not doing this to upset you, she's doing it because she's scared of the cat flap or something outside, and you are forcing her into a stressful situation.

Stress causes multiple health problems in cats. Give her a tray

[FrazzleRock]

It's just so frustrating as she's never used a litter tray (not since she was a kitten anyway). She has always spent most of her life outside.
And she won't use it more than twice so we've spent the last two weeks clearing it out all the time.
rainbowstardrops DP built a step for her as the drop on the other side was slightly high. Shes perfectly happy to go outside if we open the back door.
LMGTFY It's maddening isn't it!

I'd better get another litter tray or two then

[gobbin]

One small tray inside and just let her out through the door (we've never used a flap). I think if you keep a cat you also have to factor in a tray. Ours use it for the odd wee (twice in about a week, between the three of them) whereas it was shitmageddon every day when we first had them/kept them in for months (kittens). Them's the breaks.

[FrazzleRock]

"I think if you keep a cat you also have to factor in a tray" - Seems we do now, but we haven't done for the past 8 years.
And to think we were considering another cat at some point based on how independent and easy our cat is. That definately won't be happening now.
We assumed she'd love the cat flap, having all that independence. Oh well.
Thanks for your advice all

[cozietoesie]

She might adore her flap but that doesn't necessarily mean that she likes going outside to toilet all the time. For all you know, The Cat From Hell comes round and sprays the place sometimes so she's edgy - on occasion - about possibly putting herself in an extra-vulnerable position.

(I've had a cat who brought himself up on the streets but when he moved in with us, quickly showed a preference for using a tray. I guess that it meant that he could saunter outside without anything on his mind apart from hunting/hanging out/ etc etc. He'd actually come in just to use his tray and then head out again.)

[newpup]

Agree about keeping a litter tray (and I hate them too) but she could be petrified of something outside. Or the garden could already be marked as another cats territory.

Inside try a felliway plug in diffuser. They give off friendly, relaxing cat hormone smells ( no smell to humans) they really helped de stress our elderly cat when we moved. Good luck.

[FoxesOnSocks]

Is the outside of the cat flap too exposed? Could you put something either side that'd act like a screen/barrier. For example I've plants either side of our back door

[FrazzleRock]

FoxesOnSocks Its not really, no. We have two ways of getting out into the garden. The main way is the french windows straight out into the garden, the other way is through the side back door which takes you out to the garden via the side of the house, which is where her cat flap is. The flap has a roof thing on the outside (I think its the scanner that recognises her chip).

She doesn't seem bothered about being outside so I do think its just the cat flap she's bothered with. It does make a beep noise as she goes through, like she's been scanned at the supermarket . Perhaps it's that she hates? I wonder if there's a way to turn that noise off. I will check the manual tonight.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Which catflap have you got? We've got the Sureflap pet door and it doesn't beep. It makes clunking noise when he goes through it but definitely no beep!

Just a thought, they do seem to be noisier than normal cat flaps but would it be worth getting a cheap non-microchip one to get her used to the actual flap?

[FrazzleRock]

We've got this www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/cat-flaps-and-gates/smart-flap-microchip-cat-flap?orderBy=4#

Though just seen the reviews! We bought it on a whim while at Pets at Home, now thinking it was a waste of money and could have got a much cheaper one. Should have done our research first