Cat traumatised by cat flap

[Allo]

We have 2 cats who are just over 1 year old. One is very adventurous and uses the cat flap with no problem. The other has never used the cat flap and does not respond to any attempts we make to encourage him, including treats, leaving him outside and not opening the door - even when he's desperate to go outside and join his brother chasing birds in the garden he won't go through the cat flap.

We think this is because the day we got the cat flap installed, he had a bad experience - he was outside and a chair nearly fell on him. He bolted for the cat flap but it didn't open! It is meant to be activated by a chip, but he moved so fast that the flap didn't react in time. Our poor cat bashed his head hard against the closed flap and then ran off. If you even take him near the cat flap now, he struggles to get away..

I really want him to get outside so we can stop keeping the cat litter tray inside.. any tips would be gratefully received!

Is it possible to take the door off? As in the flap not your door. Leaving it so he can see might give him some courage. Also pop something delicious on the other side which he can see and smell. It might be a slow process though.

Thanks for the suggestion. I've tried putting tasty treats on the cat flap but he won't go near it. I can't remove the flap itself and have tried propping open the flap with tape and string. It's been about 6 months now and we're running out of ideas!

Poor pussy

Hmm.

I will consider further options abd be back!

I'm wondering whether you're all getting so tense about it now that that is communicating to him? After all, he's bashed his head, been used to attempts to pick him up and put him through bodily and so on..... If the family is also coming to watch him go near it, cooing encouraging noises or something, that would add to his bad feelings for it.

I do appreciate that you want to get rid of the litter tray but I'd leave him to it now. He'll see the other cat using it and will go out if he wants to so I'd stop trying. (And I wouldn't shut him outside either - just not let him out unless he uses the flap himself.) He knows what it's for. His decision to use it.