Reluctant cat flap users

[polly567]

I have a pair of 1 year old siblings who are not yet roaming freely between inside and outside.
They have been very nervous if the outdoors and it has taken a lot to get them going out at all. I have been leaving the patio door open over summer so they can come and go as they want, as far as I know they have not yet left the garden, but will spend 30/45 mins exploring out there now.

However they will not use the cat flap. If I don't open the door then they don't go out. Any tips on how best to encourage them?

I can't add a picture! Sorry!!!

there are youtube videos no doubt
Our method was always to feed them in and out (one person each time ) multiple times. Maybe give them a dreamie each pass so they get to associate the passage with something nice. Make sure the flat is about their head height, they need to see where they are going.

My current cats only one of them has mastered the flap, the others come thru 1st floor windows.

Can you take the door off the cat flap or prop it open?

Put them out just before it starts to rain?

I have a cat flap refuser - he has total hysterics by the patio doors if he sees someone, he'll somehow climb up onto the porch or garage and howl at windows. However we have a Ring camera that covers the cat flap which demonstrates that when it's nighttime, cold, raining or there's another cat or fox about then he can use the thing without any problem.

Definitely prop it open so they get used to going through the hole.
Check the height and angle that they have to enter and exit - if necessary give them a step.
When they're using the opened flap, use pegs to prop it part way open (do this while they're out and prop it so they can come in).
Hide.

Good luck!

Could some one show me how you prop the cat flap open?

They might need a step for getting back in, especially the smaller of the 2. I mean she definitely could jump it, but she might not know that

Also feeding outside could definitely work. My boy especially is a big foodie!

We used duck tape to keep ours permanently open for a couple of days and posted the cat in and out of it

I used string to tie it up - loop round the flap, tie to fixed point on the door.

Cats won't jump to get through a flap, they step, look, then squeeze through as if it weighs a ton with a look of utter disgust on their faces. Only a frightened cat will leap through a flap.

It only took a couple of goes of pushing mine through before they were crashing in and out about every 20 mins.

Obviously if someone is in sight to open the door then it malfunctions and they scrabble piteously at the door edge instead.

Please enjoy my diagram 😂

I did the same, duct tape to keep it open til they get used to going through. Then later if I heard the cat flap banging I would go and hold it open so the cat would come through.

When the colder weather comes and the doors and windows are mostly closed, they’ll start using the cat flap more.

One of my cats when exiting the house used to bounce the flap until it swung open enough for him to duck under the flap. He was fine coming into the house.

Sellotape it open
Lots of encouragement and treat when they come in

Also stick your arm through it so they can see what they are are supposed to be doing
We had to spend a fair bit of time hanging about the cat flap on day one

Thanks everyone. Love the drawing @YesItsMeIDontCare!

Our old cat was a seasoned cat flap user when we moved here so had no problem with the big step down to outside/up from outside.

I think a big part of the problem is that they just aren't that bothered about going out 😂

I think a big part of the problem is that they just aren't that bothered about going out

That's not going to improve with the weather, is it? Perhaps chuck them out and make sure they can get back in (we used a box of cat food to prop the flap open) and the rest is up to them.

On a separate note, anyone know why I can't post photos?
When I try it says 'you have no photos to add'
I'm on the app. Haven't posted a photo for years, but it always used to work.
I checked settings and the app has access to my photos

No exactly @ChalkHeartsMelting - I want them to love the outside and go exploring... otherwise boy cat is going to get fat!

We took the rubber/magnetic seal off our cat flap for a while so it didn't ever click shut. (equivalent to propping it open I guess). Then lots of dreamies.

We put an extra step outside ours as it's a microchip one and cat couldn't get the angle of entry right for the chip reader until we did.

In good news girl cat has been going in and out of the tied open cat flap all afternoon! Wish I could add a pic for you

I have a catflap refuser since our long hot summer and her lovely parents considerately keeping the door open😻

She waits by the back door to go out but will come in the cat flap. We are going to have to get tough because I do not want to be constantly opening the door this winter.

She wouldn’t use the catflap when we first got her and it was only when DH who was wfh couldn’t get to the door in time that she eventually got fed up and used it to get out. Before that we tried dreamies either side of the flap and me holding it open for her.

“She wouldn’t use the catflap when we first got her and it was only when DH who was wfh couldn’t get to the door in time that she eventually got fed up and used it to get out.”

Its so hard to find the staff these days isn’t it?

My two idiots use it to get out (aged 12 years and the other 11 months) but are unable to get in. Ok it's slightly higher up that side but I've tried raising the height with a step, planks, bricks, and they are all nope! we're stuck out here help.

We have a drop either side, they have a step up stool inside and a piece of sleeper outside and have no problem using them.

My cat used to be afraid to use the cat flap but we realised it was quite a drop from there to the ground when she was smaller, so we put a couple of concrete slabs outside as a step.
Also used to bribe her with Dreamies! It didn't take her long to learn.

tape The flap up and have one person inside and one outside! Tempt cat out with high reward food like chicken or tuna or ham.. worked a treat for my cat and only took about 6 times!