To get a cat without a cat flap?

[Ansumpasty]

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!

NapQueen usually about 14-16 years. I'd get a flap. Though they do tend to stay closer to home in old age so you could get away without one.

I may just bite the bullet and get a flap.

We don't have a cat flap. Stays in and sleeps all day. Few hours in evening out. Turns up at 10 for last pouch

I've one of those microchip flaps that only let my two in. The Princess is home every night for her dinner and then stays in; I often only know when her brother has been in because all the food has been eaten. I tried to keep him in during the snow earlier this year but he went off in a huff as soon as he got out and stayed in the farm byre for the week. He does like to join the dogs on their walk though. Covered litter tray in the utility room for emergencies. They're country cats and great hunters though tend to leave the presents on the drive; I do have an old coal shovel for picking up any that make it indoors.

I dont know anyone who has a cat flap. We just let them use the windows. Never been a problem.

Thank you for the explanations that I wondered about earlier.

Sorry folks, still not convinced personally! But each to their own as always.

We don't have a cat flap. I used to leave the sliding patio door open but discovered that's really just like having a flap. So your cat can bring home, with triumph, some ghastly flapping thing. And leave it on the floor. Or under your ds's bunk bed. Or under the sofa.

So the door stays just cracked open, so I can hear if someone's miaowing to me, fresh air gets in and out, and cat victims do not. I've read on here hair-raising stories of panicking pigeons flapping round bedrooms in the middle of night, or dead rats being deposited on owners' faces or similar, and tbf I do not want that to be me

Cat also has a litter tray, she prefers to go outside for al fresco toileting but does it in her own garden. She does use the tray if she needs to go but doesn't have access to outside, or outside is very wet or wintery.

You don't need a cat flap. You do need a litter tray.

Our cats don’t bring prey through the cat flap. We shut them in at night when most hunting is done. When our cat does occasionally catch things he keeps them outside thankfully.

We have glass doors so can't have a cat flap but have 2 cats.

I am the door opening slave. They have both learnt to give me a little head bump at the kitchen window (which I can see from the living room) when they want to come in and they shout me from the door when they are ready to go out again. They are kept indoors during the day when I'm out and overnight and we have a covered litter tray with a charcoal filter so it doesn't smell.

We have a cat and no cat flap. I work from home though so he's in and out of our back door a lot and has his 'going out' miaow. He'd be fine indoors with a litter tray though xx

You don't NEED a cat flap, we didn't for the first 8 years with cats but it helps immensely. We now have a cat flap in our glass door (replace the whole glass, save the glass in case you want to sell and purchaser doesn't want a cat flap). Rescuing is great but ask a vet for any advice on cats - I wish I had asked BEFORE getting the cats because apparently black and white cats are notoriously prone to stress issues which one of ours suffers from!

Black and white cats are not more prone to stress issues than any other cat! I can't even believe I just read that.

As for rescuing, adult cats will have a developed personality. You are far more likely to know what cat you are getting as an adult (from a reputable rescue) than a kitten! And adult cats are way less destructive than kittens.

We don't have a cat flap, but we do have a covered litter tray. You will need a litter tray.

*gamerchick

Do you visit the bathroom twice a day OP? hmm

If you're not willing to get a litter tray then don't get a cat. You have unrealistic expectations.*

I obviously didn’t mean I would only let the cat out first thing in the morning and last thing at night, same as i never did with my dog.
What I meant was, is it ok to let it out at say, 6:30, then in and out all day and then check it’s gone out for a wee and in again before I go to bed at 11 ish.

Thanks for your answers, everyone. Helped a lot, as always

Why oh why does bold never work on my iPhone!?

If you have line breaks I think you need to do a pair of asterisks on each line

What I meant was, is it ok to let it out at say, 6:30, then in and out all day and then check it’s gone out for a wee and in again before I go to bed at 11 ish

Well no, it's not ok. The cat needs to be able to go to the toilet during the night if it wants to.

You have to provide a litter tray if you're not going to give it a cat flap. To do otherwise is stupid and cruel.

What I meant was, is it ok to let it out at say, 6:30, then in and out all day and then check it’s gone out for a wee and in again before I go to bed at 11 ish

That's fine. But you are likely to get puddles and steaming piles of cat poo about the place if you don't have a litter tray. If the cars NEED to go to the loo in the night they will. They aren't like dogs who will try to hold it or alert you that they need to go. Some cats will try and wake you to ask to go out but not all.

Fadingcat has a cat flap. He is in and out probably 10/15 times a day. No litter tray since he was a kitten except when he was wearing a lampshade after injury —fighting—

My cat doesn't have a litter tray and just goes near the door when she needs to go, or I just let her out whenever I think 'she should need to go soon'

Definitely go for it, cat flaps aren't a necessity!

Yep but prepare to wait at the door in the cold until she's ready to come back in

Black and white cats are not more prone to stress issues than any other cat! I can't even believe I just read that
Actually according to several vets it is true, according to this article its true www.telegraph.co.uk/news/11953669/Black-and-white-cats-are-most-likely-to-have-a-hissy-fit.html and by experience its true.

You definitely need a litter tray (or 2 ideally) I have one that never uses a litter tray despite no catflap and one that asks to come back inside to do a stinky poo.

I have a cat flap. My floofy Godess declines to use it. She will stand on the window sill next to it looking outraged if I stand by the flap & encourage her. 'The Rule' is: she comes in by the main front window but has to leave by the side window. Breaking this Law results in pitiful, ear splitting yowls at the closed side window & more outraged stares.

Forgot:every cat I've had has been out all night and inside, fast asleep, all day. So litter trays never been an issue

This 1 news article more prone to a 'hissy fit'? My vets have never ever said this.

Also not my experience volunteering at a rescue with 50-75 cats through our doors every year. Nor my 2 at home.