Cat flap training

[Bugsy73]

Hi, we have a 2yr old cat (and an 8yr old) who cannot use the cat flap! It doesn't generally matter as there is usually somebody home to let him in and out and we keep him in on a night.
We are going away in August for 2 weeks; last year we kept him indoors but I think he will go mad if we do that this year as he loves being outside.
How can I get him to use the cat flap?!

We taped ours open to start with and then tempted them through it with treats (dreamies!). One cat picked it up quickly and the other took a few weeks to get there

Same as ^

We showed them the flap and pushed them in and out a few times and gave them some chicken each time, then left it taped open. They got used to it quite quickly until we changed it for a microchip flap that makes a noise which scared one of them who wouldn't use it for a week.

I taped it open for a while then gradually lowered it till she got the hang of it. Took a couple of days

Sometimes you just have to literally walk them through it, then reward after.

I am trying just to push him through with his head but he doesn't seem to be getting it!! He just stands in front of it tapping it with his paw. He's not the brightest of cats!

One of mine opens it with his head, the other uses his paw

We used the push through method, then coaxed through with food. We also went for the cold turkey method - didn't let them in the door and made them use the cat flap. Ours were 1, but I think even an 8 year old should be able to pick it up.

By jove I think he's got it!
He's gone out of it at least, shall see if he manages to return....

Before you know it they will be driving you mad going in and out of it all day!

I left mine open for about a week. And I slowly lowered it a few cm at a time. So he got used to doing it slowly. Eventually he was opening the whole thing on his own. He just had to get used to it on his head and back and he was fine