Our cats vs next door - help please :)

[cookiemonster100]

Hi,

Our neighbours have a tom cat (who has been neutered) and we have two girl cats. Tom cat from next door chases them around our garden, & recently has managed to get through the cat flap and chase them around the house.
We purchased a new cat flap last weekend which identifies the cats through their microchip. HOWEVER our cats will not use the new flap. They wait by the door and one of us will let them out. I have tried to be firm & not open the door and encourage them through the cat flap. But this morning, I literally thought one of them was going to go to the toilet in the house, so I opened the door to let them out. I think one of the reasons is the noise the cat flap makes, but the other appears to be their tom cat sits by the cat flap waiting for them. Today I managed to encourage one of them out, however within 5 mins the tom cat was chasing her.
Its getting to the stage we can't sit in the garden without chasing this tom out, and if we have the french doors open we can't leave them unattended (i.e. pop up & use the loo as this cat gets in).
We get on well with the neighbours, but to be honest I am not sure what they can do. I was a bit peeved tbh they did not offer to pay for the cat flap considering the number of times we went round to talk to them about it & it was his suggestion to change the flap.
Ok here are my questions

1. Has anyone had any problems with getting their cat to use these types of cat flap? Did you manage to resolve it? If so - how?
   
2. I am worried they are struggling to use it. When we tested them on, they seem to need to be very close to the cat flap, & I wonder if they are being chased they can't get in as the flap does not open in time?
   
3. If this does not work I am not sure what else to do. Personally I feel if they can't sort him out they should keep in & not the other way round. I am probably being unreasonable, but to be honest its a lovely day & I am little peeved I can't sit with the doors open.
   
   Help please!
   CM x

[Fluffycloudland77]

Can the range on the cat flap be adjusted? Ring the company because you can't be the first person this has happened to.

I'd super soak that Tom cat, I've got a highly territorial cat and I wouldn't object to the odd dousing, his last fight cost £60 in vet bills whereas a soggy cat costs me nothing.

One of our cats victims snapped one day and beat him up, dh had to separate them, the worm can turn.

[LovelyWeatherForDucks]

We have one of those cat flaps! It did take a while for our cat to get used to it - DH spent quite a lot of time coaxing her through with treats, but in the end I made him leave her alone and she figured it out with a week or so. I think it was the combination of the loud click and heavier flap that confuddled her, so we did help open the flap a bit whenever she activated it as she struggled to push it open at first. She now comes running through at quite a speed and never has had a problem!

We have the same problem with other cats, I had the doors open earlier and was upstairs...our cat came trotting up the stairs...moments later followed by one of the neighbouring toms who promptly scarpered when it spotted me!

Once the nasty cat did manage to get in through the cat flap, as it was very close behind her and snuck through before it locked (though I think the lock speed can be adjusted).

Oh and an added bonus - we save so much money in cat biscuits as the neighbourhood cats aren't snacking when they visit!

Good luck, I'm sure your cats will get the hang of it...

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I have one and yes the cats were nervous of the click. However, I 'posted' them through it a lot and they realised it didn't 't bite.

[DontCallMeBaby]

Are they having trouble going in, or out, or both? We have a microchip catflap, and two cats. One is very indoorsy, one very outdoorsy - put them on the 'wrong' side of a flap and they'll make the effort, put them on the right side and they're not that fussed. So it could be that of yours are outdoors and want to get in, they'll do it, but if they're indoors they'll let the flap defeat them. Could you cope with a litter tray, for a while? No stress to get out, but if they want to, they'll do it.

I agree with the supersoaker idea, and fwiw I'm with your neighbours in one respect, sorry but there's no way I'd pay for someone else's catflap, especially having bought my own to keep other people's cats out! But neither would I object to mine coming home sopping wet of they'd been making a nuisance of tthemselves.

[cookiemonster100]

Thank you for your responses, I will sit tight and hopefully over the next week it will sort itself out.
Fingers crossed. :)

[Fluffycloudland77]

Our cat cracks on he can't work his flap when mil comes round to visit, she gets the full on shrek big-eyed look and ends up opening the door for him.

He manages the flap the rest of the time.

[deliasmithy]

1. Yes. I tried treats on each side, posting the cat through, holding it open etc. She is slow of brain but eventually got it after about 4 weeks.
   

3. I would let this tom cat in and set the flap to in only.
Terrify him a little with loud noises and water gun. Ensure he has a terrible experience at your house. That should help. Can also try lying in wait in the garden with the hose.

[sashh]

Another vote for the soaking

[SpecialAgentTattooedQueen]

I keep my cats indoors.