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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

If you can't have a cat flap...

39 replies

NeatFreak · 02/08/2014 12:04

What do you do?
We are thinking if adopting a cat but the back of our house has three sets of patio doors and nowhere to fit a cat flap.
I work part time so would be home most of the time but I'm thinking of the days when we are out most of the day... We have a wooden play house so would this be an idea for when it's too hot/cold/ wet?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 02/08/2014 12:09

I understand that you can fit a cat flap in a patio door. Have a look at the videos \link{http://www.sureflap.co.uk/support/installing-sureflap\here.}

eatscakefornoreasonwhatsoever · 02/08/2014 12:14

Cats can cross their legs for a long time. Failing that a litter tray in a bathroom is fine if you're going to be out a long time. We've never had a cat flap and the boys manage just fine

thecatneuterer · 02/08/2014 12:37

You can have a cat flap in patio doors. There's a photo of mine on my profile. It does cost quite a bit though - it's basically the cost of replacing one pane of glass in your door.

GalaxyInMyPants · 02/08/2014 12:40

Dh took some bricks out the wall. Cat flap in internal wall and external wall. Little bit of a tunnel for them to go through. Took some training but now they use it happily.

Original poster

NeatFreak · 02/08/2014 12:46

Thanks
Doors and walls are very very new so there's no way dh will agree to changing them! I would only be out for a maximum of five or six hours and will have a litter tray inside so I guess it would be ok.

I could put a cat flap in the shed door and put blankets etc in there in case the weather is horrendous and I'm out...

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 02/08/2014 15:44

That would be good although if it's not a micro chip flap, you would always run the risk of having it used by all and sundry in the local cat world. Maybe hang fire on that if you can't afford a chip one for the shed and see how things play out?

If you have a tray, it should be fine with him being inside while you're out - although (as eatscake said) if he's a young boy with a strong bladder, he may just cross his legs. A tray is useful for future night times as well - when I assume you'll be keeping him in. (And for his 'getting used to the house' period when you've just adopted him and are keeping him inside for a bit.)

Good luck with finding the cat for you.

Sparklingbrook · 02/08/2014 16:06

We have a cat flap into the garage. She has a bed in there and water and we put dried food in there if we go out.
She also has a bed in the porch.
In the winter we leave her inside with a litter tray.

Or something like this?

newrecruit · 02/08/2014 16:17

We have same issue.

We have had the cats a year. We have a litter tray which they hardly ever use.

Only real issue is when we go away and in the winter, when it's more of a problem for them I be locked out and not great to leave the doors open.

newrecruit · 02/08/2014 16:18

Looks like a cat flap will be about £400 though.

Original poster

NeatFreak · 02/08/2014 16:30

Ooh I like the little cat house! Wonder if I could get one made?

OP posts:

goshhhhhh · 02/08/2014 18:39

We have a cat flap & our cats are too lazy to use it. They ask to be let in & out. Don't be surprised if you go to all the trouble of putting one in & they prefer to use you as their personal door person

lljkk · 02/08/2014 18:46

litter tray for when you're not home.

Bumpinthenight · 02/08/2014 18:48

Is there a window it could use? Ours goes in and out of the top opening window she lands on the boiler inside and outside there is a little ledge.

Original poster

NeatFreak · 02/08/2014 19:10

Thanks all. don't think there is a suitable window but will have a think. I think I'll see how it goes with letting it in/ out as required and hope for the best...

OP posts:

DogCalledRudis · 02/08/2014 21:47

Anybody i know with cats, they just open a window.

pickledparsnip · 02/08/2014 21:58

I don't have a cat flap, just open the window or door. My cat pretty much sleeps all day & stays out all night. I used to spend ages trying to call her in every night before I went to bed, now she is much happier being out.

Catsmamma · 02/08/2014 22:02

we don't have one, but i try and keep them in at night. The porch has a small window they can get in and out of, so if they do go out after supper then they can at least get back in there...same if we are out during the day.

SunnyRandall · 02/08/2014 22:04

We have a small plastic kennel thing which has a nice fleecey blanket in. It sits under our table outside and is quite protected. The cat is always sleeping in it! So we never worry about leaving her outside if she won't come in. She has been in it all day in the pouring rain as I think she finds the house too stuffy at the mo.

13Stitches · 02/08/2014 22:05

I agree with pickled. We don't have a flap but just let her in/out through the door when she 'asks'.

She learned quickly that if she was out at bedtime she was out all night. Equally, if she's in when we go out, she stays in. I did worry, but then I worked from home for a bit and realised she sleeps all day (inside or out).

We do have a litter tray though. She hardly uses it day to day, more so when we're away for a weekend (timer feeders are brill).

As pp have said, it is possible to put a flap in patio doors. We just haven't done it yet.

Good luck OP!

SunnyRandall · 02/08/2014 22:06

Very similar to this

Original poster

NeatFreak · 02/08/2014 22:12

Thanks for the ideas.

The back of our house only has glass doors and I can't put a flap in them. Front windows only have small top opening windows so don't think that would work either. We have a slopes roof under a bathroom window that might be ok but I need to check it out from the outside- I think I'll try opening/ closing doors and making sure there is some shelter outside somewhere just in case!
Very exciting but need to wait for the right time and the right cat!

OP posts:

WienerDiva · 02/08/2014 22:30

Weird, I was thinking of posting a question along these lines too. My cat is very weird, she won't use a litter tray and she does try very hard not to mess in the house, but with her refusal and her need for fluids and food, sometimes she's caught short.

The only window available is the bathroom window, fine in the summer but not when the weather gets colder and we need a shower in the morning.

I do have a loft room with a window that would be preferable for us but it's on a sloped roof?

Other than that if I'm out, she gets turfed out too and when I'm in she can come and go as she pleases.

She really is the weirdest cat I've ever met (naughty tortie apparently).

Can anyone confirm if this is ok, night in turn help help the OP out? Thanks!

WitchWay · 03/08/2014 08:08

We have a cat kennel in the garden with a cat flap & two igloo beds

pickledparsnip · 03/08/2014 11:08

We have a litter tray too. She rarely uses it though.

pickledparsnip · 03/08/2014 11:09

Usually when she has been shut in for the night.

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