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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

Catflap dilemma

13 replies

grey12 · 04/09/2021 08:47

I have posted a few weeks ago about a cat who came into our garden and hasn't left. Well, she's still here.

The pet charity we've contacted said we could only keep her if we had a catflap. We don't. We have sliding door in the kitchen so I don't think we can have a catflap there...... to change the whole thing would cost a bit of money.......

Do you REALLY have to have a catflap when you have a cat? My mum doesn't! By best friend who always had cats never had one!

We would probably keep the cat otherwise..... the cat likes us and the kids like the cat so it'll be sad for her to go because of this....

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 04/09/2021 08:50

What's it got to do with the pet charity? It's not their cat. My sister doesn't have a catflap and when we had cats when i was a child we never had one either

autumnboys · 04/09/2021 08:53

It sounds as though the cat is living at your house currently, so I would just stop contact with the pet charity and suit yourselves.

I’ve had cats with cat flaps and without. Cat flaps are convenient but not a necessity IMO, especially if there is usually someone at home. You’ll need a shelter and somewhere for food and water outside for your cat’s comfort and be prepared to open and close the back door a lot. Enjoy your new feline overlord.

steppingout · 04/09/2021 08:55

We've always had a catflap but mainly because I really don't like having a litter tray. Could you put one through a wall? We have a cat tunnel at the end of our kitchen units

Original poster

grey12 · 04/09/2021 09:01

@dementedpixie

What's it got to do with the pet charity? It's not their cat. My sister doesn't have a catflap and when we had cats when i was a child we never had one either

They said they would check it and what not.... I found it odd.... I wouldn't mind them coming to check whether we take her to vet, what food she eats, where she sleeps.... but a catflap?!

Maybe we need to have a chat with them

OP posts:

statetrooperstacey · 04/09/2021 09:15

We have a cat flap which our cats use but they also use all the upstairs windows for coming in or out , can u leave an accessible upstairs window open ?
When I was a kid we had on in quite a high window, one of the little ones on a half landing type thing . Cats had to jump up to get in but they managed. One of them even brought a whole live rabbit in through it! Tell the cat charity it’s owner came to fetch it.

prettybird · 04/09/2021 10:20

Didn't see your previous thread but has the cat been checked for a chip?

Apart from that, I don't think it's any of the pet charity's business if you decide to give this cat a home - after all, it is the one that appears to have decided to adopt you It's never been in their care

I know plenty of loving cat owners who have coped with just letting their cat out/in via a patio door.

...Although my parents had a special window made when we were getting double glazing put in : the upper opening window a "normal" window was put in at the bottom and not glazed, so that my dad could then put in a cat flap. He then put in wooden "shelves" (well varnished) on the outside, so that the cats could get to it

Original poster

grey12 · 04/09/2021 10:57

Been to the local vet (no chip), talked to different pet charities.... all these have the cat description and our address. Cat's collar has no information whatsoever. I put fliers in people's letter boxes.

If the owners were very worried we would have heard about it by now.... it's sad because the cat is lovely and very tame. I have very young children and the cat is very tolerant with them!! The 3yo had a little scare in the first few days but the cat didn't take her claws out just swatted with the soft paw and ran away, I was surprised. Think she grabbed her tail.... oh well. She's learned her lesson and is now very careful and keeps teaching the 1yo how to pet the cat

OP posts:

prettybird · 04/09/2021 11:12

You sound lovely - and I love the image of your 3 year old teaching the 1 year old

If I were you I'd just ignore the charities saying that you have to have a cat flap. What are they going to do - charge you with cat cruelty for giving it a loving home? What about indoor cats?

Get it chipped now with your details (assuming you can afford it) Even if its original owner eventually turns up, you can always transfer the details to that person.

Original poster

grey12 · 04/09/2021 11:18

We didn't want the cat and the 5yo was terrified of it in the beginning. Now we got used to having the cat around, 5yo adores her and besides she's a good mouse catcher

OP posts:

Mumsnut · 04/09/2021 16:52

You can have a cat flap in a wall, no need for it to be in a window

Beamur · 04/09/2021 16:55

You can have cats without having a cat flap. It's possible to put them through walls though - you end up with a sort of tunnel.
If you don't have a cat flap you need to put down litter trays.

Original poster

grey12 · 04/09/2021 17:02

@Beamur

You can have cats without having a cat flap. It's possible to put them through walls though - you end up with a sort of tunnel. If you don't have a cat flap you need to put down litter trays.

Yeah! What's wrong with that?! In my country I had never seen a catflap! I only saw those in movies!! That's why I found it so odd when the charity said that

OP posts:

Beamur · 04/09/2021 17:10

I have one - it's keyed to the cats microchips so no other cats can get in. My neighbour has 2 cats and no flap. She likes being able to shut hers in overnight and know they're safe (and not out killing stuff)

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