Any experienced kitten/cat owners?

[AGirlHasNoShame]

We have an adorable 7 month old kitten. She has been spayed and signed off by the vet and absolutely LOVES going outside.

We have installed a cat flap which opens with her microchip for days we are out and obviously don’t want to leave windows open but she just isn’t getting it

She will exit the cat flap with loads of encouragement every morning if I lift it three quarters of the way open but after I’ve opened windows etc she just uses them. She also doesn’t seem to understand that she has to push it with her head/paw to get out herself. Is it just a case of patience? We have had it for two weeks and I religiously spend time practising with her everyday but she just sits looking at me like I’m daft 😂 any tips?!

I had a cat the same. She used to sit looking at it then look at me I had to open it for her all the time. Kind of defeats the purpose really. In the end I went into garden and called her through it iyswim. Try that preferably with a treat for her.

Worst week to do this, but if you kept the windows closed she'd have to use the cat flap.

She will get there in time though. Have you tried tempting her with food the other side?

Is it that she can use it, but chooses not to?
Because that's just cats.

She won't use it if you continue to help her, she'll just wait for her servant to lift the flap! I agree that when it's cooler you need to shut the windows and tempt her through with some dreemies or chicken or whatever her cat-crack is.

As an aside, I've had cats who've headbutted the cat flap like Jugonaut to get through, and our smartest one who'd hook his paw around to open (he'd also knock the neighbour's door knockers) to be let in for food.

Reading this reminds me of why I love cats.

Yep. She's got you exactly where she wants you

This is going to sound a bit heartless, but our cat also didn't seem to understand that she had to push through the cat flap. The only thing that worked for us was picking her up and pushing her through ourselves. She was absolutely fine, and immediately seemed to 'get' it and started using it herself.

Lots of practice, with treats. Took BoyCat several weeks to get it (he'd had a flap before, but not for a couple of years as we'd been living in a flat, and he forgot )
GirlCat would like us to open the door instead when we are home, so feigns idiocy.

From her point of view- why should she open the flap when she has a slave (you!) to open it for her? .....

Cats just spend their days looking bemusedly are their humans.

She will use it when you aren’t there/not available.

My old tortoiseshell was a cat flap refuser. She preferred scratching on things to get our (prompt) attention and then demand the door to be opened.

As an experienced cat owner I would bet a large sum of money she knows perfectly well how to use it. One of mine does this and even goes as far as affecting a confused expression if we catch him using it.

You are almost certainly being played. One of mine trained me to answer the door to him when he activated the security light by my window.

He eventually decided to reveal he knew perfectly well how to use the cat flap as a "Fuck you." when I put him out for doing something naughty, thinking he wouldn't be able to get back in.

She's using you

Close the windows and leave her to it. She'll figure it out.

Everyone else has said it!! Welcome to cat servant duties 😻

My cats are indoor cats and I found out the other day they’ve learned how to open internal doors yet when we are about they will just stand and miaow loudly for a servant to come and open it for them.

Actually we need a photo before we advise. It's The Law round these here parts (it's not really, we just like seeing each other's kitties. You don't have to)

Aww I knew it!!! I knew she knows 😂😂

Here is her cute little gormless face pretending she doesn’t know anything

I’ll persevere and close the windows! I’ll also try and wave around some fish to entice her, lucky neighbours!

Look at that fake innocence

She's gorgeous and knows it

'Who, me? Well gosh darn my l'il paws but I do declare I cannot work this door thing, hooman slave'

Just go out I guarantee she will use the cat flap

That cute face says “what me? I’m all alone and so far from home. I know nothing please please help!”

Bet she has little giggles in her sleep!!!

She's gorgeous. I suggest using a treat (Thrive is the favourite here) paired with a sound but reserve them ONLY for when you need her to do something. Our cat is trained to come to her special bell and knows she will get a treat but ONLY when she hears the bell. It's helped us a lot when we can't find her or if she gets out the front where she isn't allowed.

I haven’t had a cat flap for years but when I did, like a PP I just picked the cat up and pushed him through, opened flap when he was out and held it open so he could see me and encouraged him back in with a treat and repeat.

Aww how can you not comply to every whim of that face?!

She knows. She just can't be bothered if she has a hoomin servant. Also, she's lovely.

I have a cat flap refuser too.