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Original poster

No cat flap - what to do

27 replies

2020firsttimemum · 08/12/2022 18:34

So we recently moved into a new home and there is no cat flap. Our cat generally likes to stay in and sleep during the day and go out at night from 8pm in and out as he pleases.

We currently leave the kitchen window open all night for him which hasn't been a problem whilst it's been slightly warmer but now it's cold (-3 this morning) its making the house unbearably cold in the mornings. Which I can deal with but I have a 2 year old too so not really ideal.

Any suggestions on what we can do prior to getting a cat flap installed (it has to go through the wall as the glass isn't suitable for a flap)

So far our options are

  • leave the window open all night and move the cat bed into the kitchen and close the kitchen door but would the cat get cold?
  • close the window when we go to bed at night as he's usually been out by then (then he's likely to meow loudly until I get up and open it again)
  • shut the cat out at night. Obviously not what I want to do as that's a bit mean!

WWYD?

OP posts:
POTC · 08/12/2022 18:35

We don't have a cat flap, if you stop letting him out at night he'll adjust and go out in the day instead, mine did.

TakeMe2Insanity · 08/12/2022 18:37

Re program him, sleep at night go out during the day. That’s what we did.

Morechocmorechoc · 08/12/2022 18:38

We don't have a flap. They sleep all day. Go out over dinner and come back in as we go to bed. Cat will soon adjust to new routine. also then they don't bring moce in through the cat flap! Not to mention they are terrible for letting the cold in.

Morechocmorechoc · 08/12/2022 18:38

In warmer weather they like to stay out at night but not in this!!

custardbear · 08/12/2022 18:41

We have two... either side of the outside wall in the kitchen ... works really well except for the dippy one who curls up inside the cavity and goes to sleep 😴

No cat flap - what to do
custardbear · 08/12/2022 18:43

Eh?! Not sure why it's a black pic

MrsSkylerWhite · 08/12/2022 18:44

Litter tray. If he isn’t used to one, start with earth if you can and gradually add wood pellet or clay.

KirstenBlest · 08/12/2022 18:45

New door or move house.

RomeoOscarXrayIndigoEcho · 08/12/2022 18:47

Is there something about the glass that makes it unsuitable?

We had a bottom half of a glass door replaced with a new panel plus cat flap.

Then when that all changed it's a full glass door (full length glass panels rather than half) and that has a cat flap in.

The first option was surprisingly affordable. In that I was expecting to pay £500 and only paid £125!

Could you get a second opinion from a glazier?

Original poster
2020firsttimemum · 08/12/2022 19:12

Thanks everyone, I didn't realise that he would eventually just retrain as such, so I'll give this a go. Do you know how long it 'should' take him to get used to it?

@MrsSkylerWhite I'll be honest I don't really want a litter tray. He is litter trained as he used to be an indoor cat. Also I'm pregnant at the moment too so have to be careful with litter trays etc

@KirstenBlest this was really helpful thank you ☺️

@RomeoOscarXrayIndigoEcho because it's a new build the glass is different or something. We will have to replace the whole panel of glass but I'm sure a neighbour also looked into it and decided against it but I can't remember why! The glass is for the patio doors which are about 2.5m high by 0.5m or so. Definitely something to reconsider when we have more money

Thanks all for your help and suggestions!

OP posts:
RomeoOscarXrayIndigoEcho · 08/12/2022 20:11

@2020firsttimemum ours is full length patio doors. I did have to source the right sort of cat flap.

Might be worth while costing because if you do decide to go through a wall (which is possible) the cost might end up being equivalent. I'll see if I can take a picture later if that helps?

SheWoreYellow · 08/12/2022 20:15

Shut him in at night but try and get the cat flap sorted really quickly would be my preference.

WednesdayFridayAddams · 08/12/2022 20:19

No cat flap here.

it’s a bit of a pain when puss decides they want to go out at 4am in the summer but at this time of year they are happily tucked up in bed now and won’t get up until at least 7am.

GemmaFoster · 08/12/2022 20:21

I replaced whole patio door panel with a new piece with made to measure hole for a std cat flap. Ordered it from local glass company. To be fair a friend fitted it, but costs were around £220 inc cheap cat flap.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 08/12/2022 20:21

You can't leave him locked in at night with no litter tray.

Its too cold to leave the window open all night. Get a litter tray and keep him in with that.

Starlitexpress · 08/12/2022 20:27

Our little darling had a catflap for several years before I got rid of it, couldn't play the game of chase the mouse at 4.00am anymore......

Anyway, once you get used to getting uo a million times a day to let her in or out, it's absolutely fine. Stays in all night in this weather but was happy to be out all night in the warmer months.

Has a litter tray but refuses to use it, preferring to wait to use the great outdoors, so no extra cost or mess!

reallyworriedjobhunter · 08/12/2022 20:41

Our cat uses the doorbell. Sigh.

MyTreeIsFake · 08/12/2022 20:44

Mine’s either in or out. I haven’t got a cat flap. If she doesn’t come in she has got a bed in a den in a shed.

Paranoidandroidmarvin · 09/12/2022 04:54

You can have cat flaps put into windows. Would that be cheaper than a whole door?

Fedupofdiets · 09/12/2022 05:18

reallyworriedjobhunter · 08/12/2022 20:41

Our cat uses the doorbell. Sigh.

Mine has learnt to knock the front door! Thought it was a fluke first time but no he reaches up and taps the knocker 😳

We have never had a cat flap and mine gets shut in the lounge at night, he has a litter tray but very very rarely uses it they learn to wait.

fernz · 09/12/2022 05:23

Letting them out at night is risky anyway, most RTAs and other accidents/injuries happen while it's dark. Cat rescues generally recommend keeping them in dusk til dawn.

QuinkWashable · 09/12/2022 05:58

Whilst you can't put a catflap in glass, if you've got one of those classic half/half aluminium kitchen doors, you can swap out the lower glass for a panel that you can put a catflap in if you'd like - it's what the people who rent my house did - it looks fine.

MargotMoon · 09/12/2022 06:34

I got a cat flap out through a wall, quite a thick one at that

SheWoreYellow · 09/12/2022 09:25

QuinkWashable · 09/12/2022 05:58

Whilst you can't put a catflap in glass, if you've got one of those classic half/half aluminium kitchen doors, you can swap out the lower glass for a panel that you can put a catflap in if you'd like - it's what the people who rent my house did - it looks fine.

You can 😀

No cat flap - what to do
AWaferThinMint · 09/12/2022 14:56

We just let ours out whenever he yells. We moved to a house with no flap and he quickly adjusted.

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