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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To get a cat without a cat flap?

126 replies

Ansumpasty · 31/07/2018 20:14

Never had a cat before but considering adopting one as the children are desperate for a pet.

I would want the cat to be able to go outside and don’t like the idea of a little tray.
How do you go about this...are they let out, similar to go a dog, last thing at night to wee and first thing in the morning? I’m clueless!
Would it be selfish of us, and hard work, to consider getting one without a cat flap? Thanks!

OP posts:

Awrite · 31/07/2018 20:51

We have 2 cats and no cat flap. We both work full time.

We just open the door when they want in or out.

We do have a litter tray as a back up though.

SailingDay · 31/07/2018 20:52

I think it's cruel not to have a cat flap, especially if there's no one in the house most of the day.

Cats need to be able to come and go as they please. It's cruel to have them shut outside all day - they can't dash in if it's raining. And it's equally cruel to have them shut inside all day when they'd rather be able to go outside for short periods.

womanspeaking · 31/07/2018 20:53

Decades of having cats but have never had a cat flap. Train them to be in at night (except in the heat when they completely refuse). Litter tray in the house, routine for mealtimes and cues to call them in.
Nothing unreasonable about it at all - except you have to make sure you're around enough to let them in and out .

Rubyslippers7780 · 31/07/2018 20:56

No cat flap here..door slaves.. but no live mice / rabbits or birds in my house either!! In previous house woke up to a rat being gifted to me on my bed!!!

Almostfifty · 31/07/2018 20:57

We had a litter tray when our two were small, once they started to go out, I got rid of it. They sleep outside at night (their choice, as soon as we get up to go to bed, they're at the front door, they go in the shed when the weather's cold) and come in and out whenever they want.

There are times when they would like to jump in and out of the door every five minutes, but I just ignore them if they do it too often.

Original poster

Ansumpasty · 31/07/2018 20:58

Thanks, everyone. We don’t have a back door; the back goes right into the conservatory and so no place for a cat flap.

A litter tray for night time as back up seems like a must.

I’ve also been one of those people who say it isn’t fair for neighbours to find cat poo in their garden when they don’t choose to have a cat, so perhaps hypocritical of me to get one and let it do just that.
I’m starting to wonder if a guinea pig would be the better option

OP posts:

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 31/07/2018 21:00

We never had a cat flap. We moved house, DGF put one in the garage. Our 14yo worked out how to get in, but not how to get out.

SirHubzALot · 31/07/2018 21:01

You are absolutely BU. Cats need to go in and out as they please to use the toilet. You need a cat flap OP.

Or get a litter tray? Seriously, I've had cats all my life and my parents before me and we've never had a cat flap. As long as you're around to let them in and out - especially at night - they will be fine and happy little chaps.

tangledyarn · 31/07/2018 21:02

No cat flap here. The cats learn to tell you when they want to go out. Somedays they are in and out loads..much more in summer but other days they do just chill in the house a lot. Works ok but annoying in the (early) morning.

tangledyarn · 31/07/2018 21:03

We also have a little cat house in the garden which they can shelter in if they are caught in the rain.

UpstartCrow · 31/07/2018 21:04

I wish cat owners would use a litter tray

DinoGreen · 31/07/2018 21:09

We have a cat flap. The blinking cat refuses to use it 🙄 He will only exit the house through one specific window in our living room, which he will command us to open by sitting on the window sill miaowing. His preferred method of entry is also the living room window, but he will use the cat flap to come back in if forced to because we have gone out and closed "his" window.

So no OP, you don't need a cat flap, but yes as others have said you will need a tray for night. Mine sometimes manages to hold it all night but sometimes uses the tray.

MrsRubyMonday · 31/07/2018 21:13

We have three spayed female cats, never had a cat flap. Our cats don't go out unsupervised, during the day they stay in the house, windows are currently open but on baby latches so they can't get out, three large litter trays available at all times. They come out into the garden with us in the evening but they don't leave the garden and they come back in when we do. If we leave the door open they often take themselves back inside anyway. When we are no longer renting we will be building a 'catio' for them so they can go outside into a secure area and we will install a flap with access to that. With the number of road accidents and big males they were fighting with, it's not worth them roaming for us, they are perfectly happy and safe in the house. We provide plenty of stimulation, toys, climbing opportunities etc.

happypoobum · 31/07/2018 21:16

If you have a conservatory you can have a catflap. Very easy for glazier to replace one panel and put a catflap in it.

Cost me about £125.

I wouldn't have a cat without a cat flap unless you usually have people around all day or don't mind a litter tray.

keyboardkate · 31/07/2018 21:17

Dogs have masters,

Cats have maids.

I will not have either of them. Too restricting. What do you do when going away, or an emergency or whatever.

Think about how you cater for your kids and get back to me.

ellendegeneres · 31/07/2018 21:18

I used to have a cat flap. Through it I lost count of the amount of ‘presents’ we were given. When my back door got replaced, the cat flap didn’t. I have a litter tray, and I’ve no problem dealing with that.
I say no flap, no presents!

JillyArmeeen · 31/07/2018 21:24

We've not got a cat flap, we just open the door or window.
Do have a litter tray for If she's stuck in for a while but she's not used it for months and spends most of her time outside.
She's not much of a pet to be honest, more like a teenager that doesn't want much to do with us until she wants something from us, creeps for a bit then is back to her mysterious and independent life.

Would you consider a pair of rats? They make lovely pets for children, much better than guinea pigs or rabbits in my opinion, very friendly and intelligent, you can train them to use a litter tray and do tricks if you put the time in.

Worried74 · 31/07/2018 21:26

We have 4 cats, a cat flap, four litter trays. A cat flap makes life easy for all (we have lived in various rentals before with no cat flap) but is not essential but you must have a litter tray it is unfair on cat and neighbours without. We also have guinea pigs and 2 of those are more hassle than the cats, litter trays and any surprising gifts put together!

Worried74 · 31/07/2018 21:28

Also we have adopted and been told by various charities a catflap is a must for consideration.

keyboardkate · 31/07/2018 21:31

Sorry now, but four cat litters. Sorry that is just vomit inducing for me.

Why?

There is such a pet fetish in the UK really.

But each to their own I suppose.

keyboardkate · 31/07/2018 21:33

Cats hate you. Do you not realise this?

Worried74 · 31/07/2018 21:34

Rule of thumb is 1 litter tray per cat and 1 extra in terms of welfare. So sorry it makes you ill people looking after their pets. Toddle off to the loo, dont want to make a mess.

keyboardkate · 31/07/2018 21:44

Woops,

I dislike cats. I would not have a dog either.

Far too much hair shed in both cases. lol. Think of the energy costs of cleaning up after these animals with your vacuums. And HAVING to walk a dog twice a day, and housing them whilst on holidays. Nah, sorry I have more things to do. Cannot afford vet fees either. Sorry folks.

Before I am reported, please understand that many people are of a different view. Just saying!

LadysFingers · 31/07/2018 21:48

We have 2 siblings. I have tried them with two litter trays - one downstairs and one upstairs. Complete waste of time! So long as I keep them clean, the cats are apparently perfectly happy to use just the downstairs one!

However, like children, cats can have d and v. Some gobble their food down like they haven’t eaten for a month - and it comes back up later! One of our little furry overlords left me 4 piles of regurgitated cat biscuits this morning!

Twillow · 31/07/2018 21:51

Downside of a cat flap is the little 'presents' of wildlife that they bring in.
I do love that idea of a cat flap to the garage!

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