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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

My home needs a cat - cat flap logistics

55 replies

NeverRTFT · 04/12/2021 10:59

We have a semi with garden. Had the back of house and kitchen remodelled a couple of years ago so it's frickin impenetrable (having been burgled few years ago). Now I want to instal a cat flap and it's a head scratcher. The options:

Cut a hole in bottom of newly hand made solid wood French doors, possibly not doable due to shaker panel detailing;

Replace a small window pane (think they are called muntins - the kind of windows with a grid of small panes). The windows don't open;

Make a hole in external structural wall;

Fashion something out of the downstairs loo window which is an inexpensive big pane double glazing with small opening at top.

I'm stumped.
Want a cat.
Not really planning to have housebound cat, seems unnecessary when we live in resi area and have garden etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
NeverRTFT · 04/12/2021 11:00

Sorry end of post was meant to read: any ideas?
Thanks

OP posts:
TellMeItsPossible · 04/12/2021 11:02

Hope you don't mind me following this thread, as I have similar issues! I'm leaving towards either a wall or window pane open. Back door is less than 3 months old, with panelling, and don't feel confident or happy about cutting into it.

cloudtree · 04/12/2021 11:05

Cutting into the door is the cheapest and easiest option. But I understand the pain. We’ve just cut one into our new oak stable door Sad

MissAmbrosia · 04/12/2021 11:05

We have a cat and have never had a cat flap. We just let him in and out the back door.

ablutiions · 04/12/2021 11:11

We have our cat flap at the front in the hall/porch. They just make their way around the side of the house quite happily.

WhatsWrongWithMyUsername · 04/12/2021 11:33

We have cats and no cat flap (yet), 2 years in.

WFH means I am their servant.

I like knowing whether they’re in or out

Leave a window open in summer. In winter they’re in more. Sometimes they yowl outside the door and they have to wait until my work call finishes.

I’ve actually got a catflap that was going spare, but waiting to see if they will go through it before I install it. They’re currently terrified of it, even though it’s just lying around the living room minding its own business.

2reefsin30knots · 04/12/2021 11:42

We don't have a cat-flap. Cat asks to go out and has learned to literally knock on the bi-folds to come back in. She smacks it with the pad of her paw- it's remarkably effective.

Cat is very much a self-identified housecat though. She only ever goes out for a few minutes at a time.

Clymene · 04/12/2021 12:03

I have had a new double glazed window cut for my French doors. Cost £300.

My friend has a tunnel through the extension wall next to her bifold door. Think it cost a similar amount.

Both work well.

HunkyPunk · 04/12/2021 12:13

I’ve actually got a catflap that was going spare, but waiting to see if they will go through it before I install it. They’re currently terrified of it, even though it’s just lying around the living room minding its own business.

Speaking from experience, I don’t think cats get used to cat flaps until they’re installed, the cats are outside and they come to the realisation that the only way to their food is through the cat flap! Mine was v tentative, but loves his food!

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 04/12/2021 14:07

We don’t have a cat flap. We have a utility room between the kitchen and the back door, so would either need that door open permanently, or two cat flaps.

Our cat has a bit of a routine in terms of when she goes out, especially in winter, and she doesn’t roam beyond our garden/immediate neighbours so it works fine. She comes to the kitchen window when she wants in, or one of us goes to check on her every 20 minutes or so if it’s dark. We always bring her in at bedtime (which can be a bit of a battle in the summer!) and she has two litter trays although she generally toilets outside at the very back of the garden.

cansu · 04/12/2021 14:13

We have a cat. He stands next to patio door when he wants to go out. He stands the other side and taps on the door with paws when he wants to come back in. Works fine.

dementedpixie · 04/12/2021 14:15

We got a front door with a cat flap as we have glass sliding patio doors at the back. We are on a quiet street with speed bumps so the cats aren't in as much danger. They do ask to get in and out the back door though because they are contrary wee buggers

Santahatesbraisedcabbage · 04/12/2021 14:16

Get a shed. Catflap in for emergency refuge.
Dcat in and out at your beck and call as is your duty...

MrsPleasant · 04/12/2021 14:18

I just open and close the back door 50 million times a day. If I open the bathroom window wide enough, big cat goes out that way. I like not having a cat flap, I like to know where they are and I don't want presents brought in, big one is a hunter, often of good leaves and rubber bands, but also mice and birds.

Notgoingonholiday · 04/12/2021 14:21

In our last house we had a hole put in the wall and cat flap installed. Here we have a cat flap in the door, but they aren't handmade and new! Would be more likely to go for the wall option If I were you, or as PP has said see how you get on without one? But with the amount our cats are in and out it would never work for us. Only one of our cats uses a litter tray and that only if absolutely necessary (we lock cat flap over night).

CharlieandLolaCat · 04/12/2021 14:23

Mine (or theirs) is in the wall but had it installed when house done up.

Finknottlesnewt · 04/12/2021 14:26

I have been owned by cats for over 50 years. For 48 of them I have opened doors for them when I'm home (ft work) or the kids/DH. We have never had a cat flap but there has always been a refuge if we were out . Garage/shed/greenhouse..

We moved 3 Yeats ago and house had a cat flap already there. Which led to the outhouse /utility which has a small hole cut in the door.

It's a revelation. I thoroughly recommend. With one exception.. the buggers can freely bring me 'gifts' .

notangelinajolie · 04/12/2021 14:37

Had many cats over the years and have never had a cat flap. Do you really need one? Have also gone without litter trays once they are old enough to go out. Ours are very vocal when they want to go outside and knock on the patio door (yes they really do) when they want to come in.
They will always find shelter under a bush when its raining.
I'd try without for a while before spending money on alterations.

Madcats · 04/12/2021 14:38

When we had an extension built we made them factor in a catflap (had bought said flap beforehand). It WAS a sureflap that used to recognise the cats microchips. It is 14 years old and the electrics are broken, but otherwise it is fine. We rendered around it on the external wall so we'll get round to replacing it when the render needs redoing, I suspect.

You mention a downstairs loo. Is there scope to put the catflap in that bit of wall?

Our cats have a couple of litter trays as well as a catflap and French doors. They get miffed if we shut them in all day (e.g. if somebody is using chemical or powertools in our/neighbouring gardens), but they can cope.

AllBellyandBoobs · 04/12/2021 14:42

I have a similar issue and we're thinking the best option is to have one put into the garage so they at least have somewhere dry to go if we're out and it's raining.

Earlybird00 · 04/12/2021 14:47

We did without a cat flap for a couple of years. Only time it was inconvenient was when we were on holiday the cats were either in for long periods or locked out until a friend or neighbour came in to feed them. When our extension was built we had a cat flap cut into the bifold. There is a small wooden step either side so they can reach the flap.

NellieBertram · 04/12/2021 14:51

I just open the door when the cat wants to go in or out. Call her in when I go to bed and she stays in til morning.

TheCreamCaker · 04/12/2021 15:14

I've had cats for 41 years, never once had a cat flap. Why must you have one? Our cats have always been in, with litter trays, food, etc., then let out/in/out/in when someone has been at home. They have always been in at night.

Original poster
NeverRTFT · 04/12/2021 15:15

Amazing- thanks for all the replies!

It didn't occur to me that cat flaps are optional. We could start off without one and just try to get away with opening door when wfh, although there are 3 days a week when no one is at home between 8-4 ish.

The refuge in garden / shed is a great idea!
Glad to hear people have had success with tunnel through wall solutions. I thought I was a bit mad to have thought it up, but I guess in some houses it's the only way.

Thanks again!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 04/12/2021 15:17

I have a friend who has a tunnel through her wall with a catflap