cat now refusing to use cat flap - any ideas?

[paddingtonbear1]

Hi all,
We've had our cat for 5 years, she's nearly 10 now. She was using the cat flap OK (although preferred us to open the door for her if we were there!). It's a microchip one. Recently the batteries suddenly ran out and the flap locked from the outside. We replaced the batteries and know it works again, but assume she's been put off as now she won't try and use it to come back in! She goes out through it but then just meows and scratches at it until one of us opens it for her. She won't push at it with her nose like she used to.
At the moment there's always someone in the house and she doesn't tend to go out at night anyway, but eventually we'll be required to go back to our workplaces. How do we convince her it's ok to use again? Have tried treats, even pushed her through it once but no joy!

I'd just ignore her. She'll do it eventually.

Ours still prefer to have one of their staff open the door for them, but one of them really took ages to use the flap. I think she hated the click sound.

It was simple enough to bribe her to come in (at dinner time obviously) but then I used to pick her up when she asked to be let out, insert her into the entrance to the flap and when it unlocked, push the flap to show her there was freedom ahead, and she would usually get herself out. It feels mean but like pp say, they do get it eventually.

Has she maybe had a shock at the other side of it? That can really put them off but they do forget in time. I think in your case putting dinner on the other side of it might help?

Has another cat peed up against the outside of the flap? Perhaps that is why she's reluctant to push it open with her nose. Or maybe she's thinking why get a dog and bark yourself?