How can I persuade my cat to use the cat flap??

[jelly10]

We've got a gorgeous rescue cat who's been with us for a few weeks now. He loves going outside, but he will only use the cat flap if it's taped open, he won't even consider opening it himself. It's fine leaving it open for now, but obviously won't work in colder weather.

Any tips?

Games and treats. Sit on the other side of the (closed) catflap, draw a feather-on-a-string (or any other toy he likes chasing) through it. Shake a box of treats – the Whiskas ones in the plastic tub shaped like a cat's head are good for this, you can make quite a racket. Give him a few treats first, so he knows what's in the box, then try and coax him through the catflap for more. I've had a few cats who were timid around catflaps at first, it's really just about convincing them it's no big deal. Let him see you put your hand through the catflap too, so he knows it's fine.

You might also want to check – it's unlikely, but just in case – that he doesn't have any hidden injuries on his head/paws that make it painful for him to push open the catflap.

Thanks @MasterLeonard. We've tried dreamies but they haven't worked, but I'll give the toys a try Did all of yours get there in the end?

Hi Jelly have you only had your rescue for a few weeks? I thought they would advise keeping him indoors for a few weeks to acclimatise first to his new home? In terms of the cat flap I'm sure he will get there, you just have to act nonchalant like you're not fussed whether he will use it or not

They all use the catflap now @jelly10, even though they'd rather I spent all day opening/closing doors whenever they felt like a change of scenery

@Botanicbaby, we kept him indoors until he settled in, but after a while not being able to go out was actually making him more unsettled if that makes sense. He loves going out in the garden but always comes back in and he knows where we are for food and cuddles!

@MasterLeonard you have given me hope! I shall persevere...

Treats and coaxing and time. The Bunz hated the cat flap at first, and still expects me to open the human door when DH and I are home. Sometimes I motion to the cat flap and say ‘Use your door!’ and he looks at me with amusement and doesn’t budge.

I used a clothes peg for a week. When I was out I'd use it to open the door fully, and kept it like that for the first day. Then, whenever I was in I'd move the peg down slightly so that the door came closer to shutting, but was still open (if you see what I mean). Each time she came in or went out I'd swing it to the other way (so she was always having to push it as she would if it were closed, rather than having to pull it up). By the end the peg was at the bottom and just a tiny bit open.

Then, as others have said, I used treats. She could obviously cope with pushing the full weight of the door, so it was just needing that little bit extra oomph to get it started. I'd throw treats through, then close the door and encourage her to get them. Of course, she tried to convince me it only worked if treats were involved, but I didn't fall for that!

Is there any cover where it opens? Ime lots of cats don't like going into the unknown, hence why they'll only use them with the door open so they can see what's out there. In which case you can put some container plants or similar near it so he has a barrier. Obviously short term you'll still need the door taped open till he realises the plants/ cover are permanent.