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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:
Kiirim · 04/12/2021 15:19

I did the cat flap in window option as it was the only thing you could relatively easily replace once no longer needed.

cloudtree · 04/12/2021 15:31

We previously had a tunnel through the wall into the garage and then a further cat flap into the house. This minimised drafts into the house. This time we have a dog flap since this is heavier and so the drafts shouldn’t come in

TheLongRider · 04/12/2021 15:34

We have a cat flap in the wall and it is well used. We put it through a cavity wall and external insulation. It has been in place for four years without any issues.

My home needs a cat - cat flap logistics
Duckrace · 04/12/2021 15:52

We have a cat flap, a decent size too. Originally it was used. Now they much prefer to come to the living room window and wail through the glass for us to get off the sofa and open it.

StCharlotte · 04/12/2021 15:59

Make a hole in external structural wall;

We've done this.

Toddlerteaplease · 04/12/2021 16:32

Get a Persian. They can't go out without supervision. As they are not bright enough. No cat flap needed!

Notdoingthis · 04/12/2021 22:27

We have a hole in an external structural wall.

Toddlerteaplease · 05/12/2021 07:52

I loved to story about the cat that had a cat flap in a wall. And he used to sit in the tunnel it created. With both doors open. Letting in the cold GrinHmm

CovidCorvid · 05/12/2021 07:57

We had this issue. Dh made a hole in the external wall, was a 20 min job. Cat flap fitted, cats happily used it.

CovidCorvid · 05/12/2021 07:59

And yes, flaps are optional. Two years ago we got a pedigree cat who isn’t allowed out. Swapped normal flap for a microchip one for older moggy. Kitten would wait for the click when moggy unlocked the flap and then barge through. So we had to lock it. Moggy survived with us opening the door. However we do have outbuildings she can go in if we’re not home.

FlyingFlamingo · 05/12/2021 08:05

We don’t have one. When we aren’t at home I like knowing they are safely inside, and there is absolutely no chance of coming home to kind ‘gifts’ - although in the summer when the door is left open one of them did bring in a baby rat and lose it under the fridge Hmm so there’s always a risk Grin

Mine don’t miss what they’ve never had. I’m not sure they’d use one anyway - we have one into the toilet where one of their litter trays is and we have to peg it open because they are scared to use it Hmm

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/12/2021 08:21

@Toddlerteaplease

I loved to story about the cat that had a cat flap in a wall. And he used to sit in the tunnel it created. With both doors open. Letting in the cold GrinHmm
Total legend.
StroppyTop · 05/12/2021 08:31

Definitely don’t need a cat flap. In fact, they can be v stressful for some cats if they are the type that let any cat in - like having your front door open all the time.

Snailhaterz2 · 05/12/2021 08:40

I did the tunnel through external wall thing, when I moved into a flat with big glass doors. It worked very well, even though a change of levels (there was a bit of a drop down into the garden) meant I had to put a small table underneath the exit, so the cat could get back in. It took a bit of time explaining the idea to the bloke who fitted it, especially as the flap needed to be able to swing back into the tunnel.

Justcannotbearsed · 05/12/2021 08:44

Due to building works our cat who was used to a cat flap didn’t have
One for several months. Having a cat flap was much easier in terms of not being at beck and call, not being worried about him being shut out and hungry or shut in and desperate. Also means don’t need a litter tray.

We’ve just had a cat flap put in brand new upvc back door into utility and are probably going to have to put a flap in a brand new nice wooden internal door into rest of house….haven’t broken that to husband who hasn’t worked that out yet…

In your position I’d put one in the upvc window in the loo, we had this as interim solution pop out the pane, put in upvc panel with cat flap.

DontKeepTheFaith · 05/12/2021 13:40

Next door has their cat flap through the external wall.

Now our cat has learned how to use it, we wouldn’t be without our cat flap. Our cat only goes out for a few minutes at a time but can do that 15+ times during the day. Very irritating to have to constantly let her out or in. I can see it would be easier in warmer weather.

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/12/2021 13:42

I could live with no flap if your getting up to let them out, it’s the 5 minute evaluation of the weather that would piss me off, then the trip to the other door to see if the weathers better at that door.

Rinse and repeat.

Dougieowner · 05/12/2021 13:52

I put a plywood tunnel through the external wall with a catflap at each end (one was a locking flap and the cats each had a microchip "key" on their coller).
Worked perfectly for our three cats with no noticeable cold spot or draught.

Toddlerteaplease · 05/12/2021 16:22

@Fluffycloudland77

I could live with no flap if your getting up to let them out, it’s the 5 minute evaluation of the weather that would piss me off, then the trip to the other door to see if the weathers better at that door.

Rinse and repeat.

😹😹😹😹😹😹😹
thecatneuterer · 05/12/2021 16:26

Make a hole in the external structural wall. It's easy. My builder charges £50 to do it. If it's a cavity wall you can get a tunnel extension. If it's a solid wall then the 'tunnel' is just cemented.

thecatneuterer · 05/12/2021 16:28

@StroppyTop

Definitely don’t need a cat flap. In fact, they can be v stressful for some cats if they are the type that let any cat in - like having your front door open all the time.
Completely disagree. And if other cat visitors might be an issue then get a microchip operated flap.
Original poster
NeverRTFT · 05/12/2021 16:32

@Kiirim

I did the cat flap in window option as it was the only thing you could relatively easily replace once no longer needed.
Could you share more details on this option and/or a pic? Thank you
OP posts:
Original poster
NeverRTFT · 05/12/2021 16:34

@FlyingFlamingo

We don’t have one. When we aren’t at home I like knowing they are safely inside, and there is absolutely no chance of coming home to kind ‘gifts’ - although in the summer when the door is left open one of them did bring in a baby rat and lose it under the fridge Hmm so there’s always a risk Grin

Mine don’t miss what they’ve never had. I’m not sure they’d use one anyway - we have one into the toilet where one of their litter trays is and we have to peg it open because they are scared to use it Hmm

If the cats don't have the option to go out, don't they sometimes destroy the house a bit from being cooped up? Tear at the furniture, that sort of thing? Or is this just not a real issue
OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 05/12/2021 16:42

Tbh they do that anyway. The sofas just a huge scratch post.

FlyingFlamingo · 05/12/2021 18:19

Mine don’t seem that bothered. One scratches the doors but I think she’d do that anyway - she asks to come in, passing trees on her way, and runs straight to a door Grin, she’s also a chewer so can’t be trusted with cardboard. They do ask to go out as soon as we come home if we’ve been out all day but if it’s cold they come straight back in anyway!

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