Cat flap help

[woodwaj]

I'm looking at getting a cat flap installed but don't really know where to start. I've found someone to fit it but I need to supply it myself. I'd like a microchip one. How do you register them to your cats chip? Do I need an extension thing?!

Any advice would be appreciated

Tape it open for a while and I also added a step on the outside of the flap - do my darling cats didn't have so far to jump!!! Completely unnecessary!! Once they realised what the flap was for it took less than a week for them to manage it. Note about the weeing.....mine both still use the litter tray for toileting. Which suits me as I don't want cat poo everywhere and we shut the flap at night.

@AnotherDelphinium

I’ve also got a sureflap one. I do like my tech so I’ve got the sureflap connect and I get notifications on my phone each time the cats come and go

A very timely thread. I am on the hunt for a flap and am a bit bamboozled. How do you find it? Are all the bells and whistles worth it?

I'm looking to get a microchip one that you can also programme for in and out times. Any recommendations gratefully received.

@NowYouListenToMeFella I have the Sureflap Connect and as a helicopter cat parent I find it totally worth it
Our cats have a curfew as I don't like them being outside at night for safety reasons (in Mumsnet speak, they're not allowed to get darked on!). So the curfew function is really handy, as is being able to see whether they're inside or outside.
They have gps trackers as well so I can still hunt the little turds darlings down if they stay out too late.

Thanks Violet. I'm dithering between that one and the Sureflap Microchip Pet Door. That one also has a curfew setting.

On another note has anyone put a cat flap in a window? The two lads go in and out a kitchen window so was thinking of putting it in that. My back door is all glass and I think the cost of getting a new double glasses unit for that with the hole cut out might bring a tear to my eye.

The last time I was away I put them in a cattery and the small fella came back sick. I think they'd be happier at home with access to the garden and someone coming in to feed them and clean the litter trays.

The pet door is larger....so suitable for small dogs. You should be alright with the cat flap for cats. (And less likely a tiny burglar can break in!!)

The bells and whistles are great until the cats use a door or window to get in or out then the tracking is awry.

Or until your husband gets new IT, moves the hub and it is no longer reliable....

You can also get cat flaps cut into walls.

You might be able to get your current glass cut rather than order new. Loom into it before discounting it.

The only downside of a window would ve the muddy paws....some days they are muddy and it would go over your windowsill.

It took a while for our cat to get used to her catflap, because the lock makes a fairly loud clicky noise when she opens it. We propped it open for a while, until she got used to it.

Bear in mind, if you're putting it in a double glazed glass door, you'll need to replace the glass, because you'll lose the seal when a hole is cut in it. We've kept our original glass so we can take the cat flap with us if we ever move.

And also bear in mind these only work if your cat doesn't hold the door open for other cats like ours has learned to!

Thanks everyone. I was thinking the pet door one as it is programmable. Perhaps I need to do more research and see if other brands have ones with curfew mode that you can set the times. I don't know if I need all the bells and whistles.

Have spoken to glad people and you do need to order a whole new unit if putting a cat flap in. Waiting on a price for the window. I might ask them about a price for the door when they get back to me.

Surely micro chip cat flap connect is programmable - start and end times and also can keep one cat in if necessary.

Thanks Mumdiva99z I just am dithering about whether I need all the bells and whistles that it comes with. Still waiting to hear from the glass people.

I think it's a lot of money for a cat flap. However, it is nice when we aren't home to look and see where they are. Are they in, or are they out. But....we could survive without that knowledge. (There's also the worry that you can see they are out but it's been a long time....where are they....why aren't they home waiting for us!! Lol.)

I've got a Sureflap microchip one, and my cat hates it. She can go out, but is scared/can't/doesn't like coming back through it. Much bribery with Dreamies and those meat stick things has occurred, but nope. She's having none of it. Am thinking of swapping it for an ordinary cat flap 🙄

I ordered the fancy one. I'm such a sucker. It was on sale so that's my justification for buying it. Should hopefully come next week. Have to ring the window crowd when it arrives.

Good god the two lads better take to it. I think one will be fine and the other might need a bit of time. We'll get there hopefully.

We have the Sureflap one and it's been great. However, we have a VERY greedy cat next door who is also best friends with two of my cats and he tailgates them when they come through the flap and gets in that way. He's the only cat that's ever been able to do this though.

Both of my cats are large fluffy 6.5kg cats so we got the pet flap one. They would get wedged in the catflap size 🤣

A little update and question. I got the sureflap cat connect. It was installed yesterday. Small cat has taken to it like a duck to water after a few times of being posted through it. Big cat is cowering upstairs.

Any tips on training a cat that does not like to be picked up to use a cat flap? There was much ham and treats used yesterday to try and entice him.

There was much ham and treats used yesterday to try and entice him.

I'm sure that would work on a dog but a cat isn't going to do anything it doesn't want to, and also isn't then going to start doing The Thing for no reward when you think it should have got the hang of it.

Our fat cat does a lovely job of pretending to be too fat to get through the cat flap during the day when someone can open the door, but I have the Sure App which shows him coming and going all night without any problem...

Some cats can be put off by the colicky noises the flap makes. I'd start by removing the batteries and propping the door open with something, also tape the locking mechanism so the door swings freely.

Some cats can also be nervous of going outside through a flap as they feel vulnerable stepping outside through the flap without being able to properly scope out for threats beforehand (my sister's cat was like this - would come into the house via the flap but refused to go out!). Depending on what's on the other side of the cat flap, you could try placing some pot plants either side to offer shelter, so your cat doesn't feel so vulnerable when they go out.

Thanks FromOurHatsToOurFeet and Violet. He has looked through it twice today. I'll let him take his time. It's in the window he is used to going in and out of, so at least he is familiar with that and off the ground. He does tend to watch Dave and copy him with playing and general cat stuff so hoping if he sees Dave going in and out enough times he will give it a whirl.

We got the pet door as our cat is quite tall. If I was doing it again I'd get the one with the app so you can control it remotely and it tells you if they are in or out. Having said that my cat knows how to get the locked cat flap open and makes a big racket doing it in the middle of the night so we leave it open all the time or he'd smash the door off it's hinges. At least it stops others getting in, not that my cat realises this! I think you can get a reinforced door from Sureflap for determined cats, their customer service is very good.

I do live a cat who can’t operate a cat flap when the staff are around 😼

Just realised that should say "clicky noises" not "colicky noises"! Haha

A minor miracle has occurred. He came into the kitchen through the flap. It is taped open and the door taped up, but it's a start.

After a long wait, I finally had ours fitted on Thursday. Lord Dave would prefer that I open the door to receive him BUT he is using it!

Lord Dave looks a bit like one of my fellas who is also called Dave. Tom, the other fella has finally take to mine. So glad I bought it, it's very handy altogether.