Getting new rescue cat to use catflap

[Quodlibet]

Can anyone give me any advice on getting my new cat to use the cat flap and preferably to poo outside?

She has been with us for a couple of weeks and we fitted the flap this weekend. She doesn't seem very keen on going into the garden currently, and just sits on the doorstep miowing if I put her outside! I think it may be partly because there are a lot of other cats locally and she is only a small thing. She was a stray prior to us adopting her, and I wonder if she's had a hard time of it outdoors.

Anyway, anyone got any tips about building up her confidence to go outdoors, and how to get her using the cat flap?

Is it a flap into a window or glass door, or a normal door, or a thick wall? We had to get our flap put into the wall, which is about a foot thick, and our boy would nevertheless prefer to be let out of the glass patio door because he can see out of the other side and knows that he's safe (no enemies lurking) - however he's forced to use the flap in the end because he knows that we'll refuse to open the door just for him but he thinks we're terrible servants. When cats go through a flap that's not set in glass they're effectively having to poke their heads out into the unknown, and that's very scary for them.

If you get iPlayer watch the recent BBC programme called Cat Watch 2014, I think it was the first in the series. There was a cat who also didn't like its flap and the behaviourist recommended putting pot plants around the outdoor entrance to make the cat feel more protected - and don't be tempted to 'post' the cat through the flap, because cats are bloody minded enough to refuse to do anything you really want them to do.

You can also try the absolutely obvious trick of giving her a treat every time she goes through so she associates it with rewards. That was how we got our boy through the very first time when he was reluctant - he was on the inside looking out, and we showed him Dreamies on the outside so he could see them through the perspex.

We tied ours open when we had a reluctant catflap user. Then we fed him treats from either side.

I think we had to leave it tied open for about a week, mind you, it was Summer so the draught didn't matter

Maybe she'd rather be a house cat, she won't have the best memories of outside. We had one who rarely went out.

We took photos when she went out.

Leave it open for a while, treats on either side and ignore her. Some cover like plant pots outside does help too.

Mine love going out and it is nice to not have a litter tray about.

Peg on either side of the flap to hold it open (move them down the flap progressively as he starts to use it so he gets used to opening it). Cat treats on the opposite side of the flap to the cat. Stop opening the door for them.

Has worked on 4 kittens and 6 rescue cats (aged 2-13) in my time.

And yes they are blooming stubborn and will probably refuse to let you know they can use it (even a year in with our latest cat he only lets us see him use it occasionally)!

We only ever had rescue cats. Most of them have had use of a cat flap in the past and recognise it and know what to do.

I admit I have posted a cat gently through the cat flap to teach them how to use it. Given the choice, our cat would prefer 24/7 valet service at the door.

Despite having a cat flap, he will still sit where he can be seen and whine to be let in !

Thanks for all these ideas. Peg idea is genius! I've been hanging out in the garden today and she's been hanging out a bit with me, so hopefully the garden is becoming more familiar and less scary. I reckon if I can teach her to come in through it (so far she will jump through if I hold it open) then eventually she will get the hang of going out.

We don't really have anywhere for the litter tray to go without it being in the way (currently it's by the back door, but our kitchen is tiny tiny) so I am hoping we can phase it out eventually.

I'd keep it, on a cold wet night they'll just wee in the house anyway, or poo.