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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

Kitten without a cat flap?

23 replies

livinthevidalockdown · 04/05/2020 18:12

I live in a housing association house and they have said no to having a cat flap.

I would really like a kitten (or two) but then would have to keep them in when I'm at work. Would obviously let them out when I'm home. I have a garden I can cat proof and live on a Clos that they can roam safely enough when they are older.

I've had a cat before she didn't like to go outside when she was old so I have no issue with the litter tray etc.

Does anyone else do the same?

OP posts:
MNHQ
LilyMumsnet · 04/05/2020 18:30

We're just moving this over to the little tray for the OP. Flowers

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/05/2020 18:47

What kind of door do you have? Some can be modified & returned to normal so easily it’s a wonder more break ins aren’t through the door panel.

Original poster
livinthevidalockdown · 04/05/2020 18:55

@Fluffycloudland77 I'm not allowed a cat flap at all.. even if it could be put back

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Fluffycloudland77 · 04/05/2020 19:21

When we lived in a house on a fast bend our Bengal was only allowed out when I got home and he adapted.

Lots of interactive toys and rotating toys so they don’t get bored would help and lots of high up perches for them to look out the window from, maybe a bird feeder in the garden for added entertainment.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 04/05/2020 19:30

We didn't have one with our feline overlord. Just let him out when he asked and he'd yowl at the windows to come in. Sometimes he'd be out when we went out and so stay out all day, he survived! Never seemed to bother him. He clearly found somewhere to go because it could be pouring down and he'd come home bone dry when the rain passed.

We had a downstairs bathroom and he could get in and out of the little top window vent if it was open. He could also climb up to the kid's bedroom window and demand to be let in if we'd not noticed him downstairs.

Original poster
livinthevidalockdown · 04/05/2020 19:57

Yes, thank you!

I think I will go ahead and I might put a microchip cat flap in the shed with a cozy bed!

OP posts:
EachandEveryone · 04/05/2020 21:19

Yes two will be a good option. Ive never thought about mine wanting to go out when Im at work and im out for 12 hours three times a week. I just have to be sure they dont get out before I leave for work. Even when Im home they can go out of the cat flap but they dont go far or for long.

ticktackted · 04/05/2020 21:50

What my friend did was buy her own back door, swap them & keep the HA one in the shed, then swap them back when she moved out! I don't know if she was technically allowed to but it seemed a fairly sensible solution.

tillyteatowel · 05/05/2020 07:58

We rent and have also swapped a door so we can have a cat flap. Don’t know if a HA would agree but worth a try?

Original poster
livinthevidalockdown · 05/05/2020 09:00

No I've tried all options with HA. It's the actual cat flap that is the problem as will affect the ventilation system in the house. Something about it not being airtight!

OP posts:
tillyteatowel · 05/05/2020 09:03

Now I’ve heard everything! Do they even think that about a Sureflap?

Original poster
livinthevidalockdown · 05/05/2020 09:09

Yes, they were getting fed up of me going back to them with solutions so in the end just said it's a no!

OP posts:
ticktackted · 05/05/2020 09:32

Airtight?! Are you not allowed to open windows & doors either?! Ah well - you tried!

Anyonewannawoo · 05/05/2020 09:36

Ventilations of the house?!?

I always thought you could do whatever you want to a HA as long as you returned it to how it was.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 05/05/2020 09:44

Shed option sounds great until you have someone in charge at the HA who is not hard of thinking.

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/05/2020 10:53

Have you got one of those heat air source/ground source pump to heat your house?.

Whenever I hit a problem I email the ceo of the company and set out my problem to them.

Dh says I’m probably on a nutter list by now.

Original poster
livinthevidalockdown · 05/05/2020 11:02

Honestly I've had all of these discussions with them! It's a no! 😂

OP posts:
nettie434 · 05/05/2020 19:48

But will the shed be ok livinthevidalockdown (great name BTW) if a letter to the CEO doesn’t do the trick? There was an amazing link a while ago from thecatneuterer about some cats in East Ham, most of whom had been strays. They have a special cat house as an alternative option to being in the house.

Original poster
livinthevidalockdown · 05/05/2020 20:11

@nettie434 I think it will be fine and I will adapt it for them. I want somewhere where other cats can't get in!

OP posts:
nettie434 · 05/05/2020 20:55

I meant would the HA be ok about the cat flap, not was the shed ok. I think the shed will be a bit like us having a garden room. My friends don't have a cat flap and when they are out and it's raining, she goes under the barbecue. She has not taken kindly to next door's cat claiming this space too.

concernedforthefuture · 05/05/2020 20:58

My cats sleep all day. I don't think they get up at all until we get home from school / work, so can't see it being an issue.

Original poster
livinthevidalockdown · 05/05/2020 22:17

@nettie434 oh I see! I'm just going to put it on the door and replace the dirty when I leave. There's no ventilation system in there! Ha!

I'm sure they would be fine at home during the day but it would make me feel better that they have somewhere to go if I can't call them in or something!

OP posts:
Original poster
livinthevidalockdown · 05/05/2020 22:17

The dirty!? Ha I mean the door!

OP posts:
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