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

Original poster

Escaping thru the locked cat flap.

30 replies

Turangawaewae · 02/09/2020 07:32

We have a cat who has worked out how to escape through our cat flap even when it is locked. She figured out how to hook up the door when it was set to allow cats in, but not out again. Now she has worked out how to batter her way out when it is locked in both directions. We now put stuff in front of it at night but she still sometimes gets out. When we went away our cat sitter ended up putting three wooden tables in front cos one didn't work!

Anyone had similar? Any solutions?

OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 02/09/2020 07:36

My cats did this.
What type of cat flap do you have?
We have a SureFlap and we contacted the company who gave us an extra piece to reinforce it and stop them escaping.

WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat · 02/09/2020 07:37

Put wooden spoons through cats collar which will mean it won't fit through the cat flap.
Also it looks jolly funny.

Persipan · 02/09/2020 07:42

I have my (heavy) tool boxes against the catflap at night. No way the cat's moving them! In his case it was because he's to stupid to understand the concept of it being locked, so would just claw at it until he ripped it out of the door frame completely.

Original poster
Turangawaewae · 02/09/2020 12:23

We can't keep a collar on the wee shite either. She's just busted out again. I'll see if I can find a make on the cat flap tomorrow when it's light.

I'm in NZ and good cat owners here are supposed to keep their cats in to protect the native birds. Blush

OP posts:
SimonJT · 02/09/2020 12:24

I have a sureflap pet door, it is linked to my cats collar and only unlocks for her. It also has four locks, two each side so it can’t be pulled open with claws. Ours just goes in to the bedroom but its very strong.

AnotherEmma · 02/09/2020 13:01

I do recommend a SureFlap if it's sold in NZ (probably is) as it works with the cat's microchip, so no need for a collar. Worth the money.

Jaxhog · 02/09/2020 13:05

Mine have all learned how to beat a locked cat flap. We now barricade it, which works. At the moment.

TuttiFrutti · 02/09/2020 13:53

Our current cats are kept in by the SureFlap on the locked setting, but our previous cat who was VERY clever managed to undo the locks on it. Nothing would keep him in. We once left him with a boarded up (we thought) cat flap on the "completely locked" setting and he spent an hour standing on his hind legs trying to undo all the devices, which he managed to do in the end.

Oldraver · 02/09/2020 14:00

I looked at flaps intensely for a while and was surprised there wasnt a cover to seal the whole thing, like for when the house is empty

DS had a cat flap fitted yesterday, hud cat is quite big and we all have said he should of got the pet door, even the guy fitting it asked if he would fit

He bought on a live shrew today so he says it will had sealed up. 😸

Jaxhog · 02/09/2020 17:59

We tried locking flaps with little dials. Our smarter cat figured out how to turn the dial, and then taught the other one! We also tried flaps with sliding covers, and they worked that out too. A solid barricade is the only thing that works.

Bargebill19 · 02/09/2020 18:00

A piece of wood with hooks on the door to hook it on to? You can unhook it in the morning, but the cat can’t get out at night. Could be varnished it’s painted to match/contrast with the existing door.

Jaxhog · 02/09/2020 18:42

A friend tried the microchip flap until their cat discovered she could stand next to the flap and create a loud clicking sound to attract attention.

violetbunny · 03/09/2020 16:09

Hmmm one of our cats managed to figure out how to turn the dial to open our old cat flap. We replaced it with the Sureflap one, but unless it's been manually locked she can still open it - she hooks a claw under the flap and pulls it towards her.

I'm in NZ too, I emailed Sureflap and they have sent me a replacement cover which is designed to fix the problem. It was sent to my office just before the last lockdown so I haven't been able to install it yet, but planning to do it next week. They said it's usually certain breeds who figure out how to open it, she's just a moggy so maybe she's cleverer than I thought 😂

violetbunny · 03/09/2020 16:11

Oh and we have the same thing with having to barricade her in at night. We normally have to move an oil heater in front if it to block it, then the heavy coffee table so she can't push past it. She is so determined!!

Catsrus · 03/09/2020 19:59

one of mine managed to take the locked cat flap OFF the door, he broke the plastic surround and the bits were just lying there.......

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/09/2020 20:11

Ours used to run at it and head butt it till the flap fell off.

Could you fit this & then it’s not such a problem?.

oscillot.com.au/

WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat · 03/09/2020 20:14

I had a cat who made a mould of the back door key in a piece of soap that had inadvertently dropped on the floor, melted down some metal from some of his old Wiskas tins and made an exact copy of the key and then let himself out. How else could he have done I ask my children?

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/09/2020 21:02

Witchcraft 🙌

Original poster
Turangawaewae · 03/09/2020 23:47

I've been replying on my phone but the messages keep disappearing. I hope I haven't been accidentally messaging you all?!

Our catflap is a Catwalk brand. It was installed by the last owners but seems pretty standard.

When we came back from our last holiday, the cat sitter had used three wooden stools to block it as the little swines managed to push one away!

@Fluffycloudland77 - we have hedging around our garden so the fence thing wouldn't work.

It's interesting to know we are not the only people with this issue. Clearly there is a market for a solution! I was thinking of some sort of wooden panel you could slide down over the cat flap. But is is beyond my skill level to make.

OP posts:
Bargebill19 · 04/09/2020 08:51

Easy. Two cup hooks in the door. A piece of wood with two holes drilled through near the top. Hook wood over hooks. Make sure wood covers cat flap before cutting and drilling!!

sv12b · 19/10/2021 03:57

I have a sure petcare microchip connect and one cat has worked out how to hook her claw into the edge and pull the flap towards her when it is locked waiting for her male counterpart to come in at curfew (coyotes in area).
For those with sure petcare (sureflap same same) , did the extra piece solve the issue?

sv12b · 19/10/2021 03:58

Did it work?

violetbunny · 19/10/2021 09:42

@sv12b

I have a sure petcare microchip connect and one cat has worked out how to hook her claw into the edge and pull the flap towards her when it is locked waiting for her male counterpart to come in at curfew (coyotes in area). For those with sure petcare (sureflap same same) , did the extra piece solve the issue?

Yes, they haven't been able to break out since we installed the replacement part last year.

Pudmyboy · 19/10/2021 23:07

@Fluffycloudland77
Ours used to run at it and head butt it till the flap fell off
That is bloody hilarious!!

Fluffycloudland77 · 20/10/2021 07:39

It wasn’t at 10.30pm when your trying to go to bed and live on a busy road. We had to put a calor gas canister over it in the end.

Little tinker.