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Original poster

Cat flaps that stop mice/birds from being brought in

18 replies

ChatterMonkey · 03/03/2023 07:13

Does anyone have recommendations for a cat flap that works in stopping the cats from bringing in 'gifts'?

After a bird being brought in two nights in a row, ive decided that the cost of a more expensive cat flap is worth it, as long as it works so wanted to see if anyone here had any recommendations or experiences!

Currently have a microchip cat flat that they use happily so the concept of a microchip click to allow access is already learned, im guessing ones that block entry with a mouse or bird is the same concept but doesnt unlock if it detects something in the cats mouth? Are they pretty reliable?

OP posts:
Jadedandlost · 03/03/2023 07:28

Following as my cat is a prolific mouser and as we move into spring it always gets worse.

NatMoz · 03/03/2023 07:30

Same here but rats as big as my cat🙈

Beaniesmumsie · 03/03/2023 07:32

Is it only at night? Can you lock the cat inside at night? I have one of those fancy app enabled microchip ones but they won’t detect whether the cat has got a gift or not

Beamur · 03/03/2023 07:33

I've stopped letting them out at night. Kill rate has dropped to virtually zero.
They have a cat flap they can use all day.
Dawn is prime hunt time.
Previous cat used to bring us a 3am gift most nights. Wish I had shut him in!

TiredandLate · 03/03/2023 07:34

I didn't know these were a thing! Watching for ideas..

Sluj · 03/03/2023 08:02

I'm not sure this exists but it would be fantastic if it did. I have a Sureflap app controlled pet door which works well but doesn't detect any "extras "

Haus1234 · 03/03/2023 08:05

We looked into this a few years ago and there weren’t any available at the time, would be interesting to know if there are now!

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 03/03/2023 10:32

Oh i think i misread the fancy sureflap catflap and thought it did this, its a shame that its not been developed yet!

Only thing i can see is a crowdfunding project for one but would rather something that already exists rather than a potential one that may or may not work...!

If i keep them in at night will they learn to toilet during the day? They have a litter tray available to them but they never use it, and prefer to go outside. So im worried that if we kept them in they would be uncomfortable with having to toilet inside?

OP posts:
MissJam · 03/03/2023 10:36

This is disappointing to hear they don’t exist 😂 our cat is a nightmare for scratching and wailing to get out at night.

At the moment OH often gets banished to the spare bed due to co sleeping from 2am after being up a million times.

The cat has learned to bother him and he lets her out the window. She then scratches at the front door (sounds like nails on a blackboard) or the spare bedroom window.

Discussed getting a cat flap to try and prevent this especially if light sleeping MIL comes to stay!

Cat has brought a live mouse into open spare bedroom window all the way downstairs which hid behind the sideboard.

Not ideal! Last year we had several birds brought in and one just sat in the kitchen and the cat had gone back out! A selection of butterflies and even a frog…

Can’t be dealing with guts and feathers round the house this year as have a new baby!

If you find such an invention do let us know 😂

AnotherEmma · 03/03/2023 10:36

As PPs said, it doesn't exist and you just have to keep them in at night. They soon get used to it. They use the litter tray if they have to but will probably adjust to toileting outside in the daytime.

Haus1234 · 03/03/2023 10:38

Just to add unfortunately mine never did get used to being kept in at night and sat crying and head butting the cat flap for hours … in the end we decided we got more sleep with the occasional mouse!

Beamur · 03/03/2023 10:51

The cats I shut in are very biddable and seem quite happy to swap mousing for snuggling! My previous cat would have simply removed the cat flap from the door in order to get out...

longtompot · 03/03/2023 11:31

If i keep them in at night will they learn to toilet during the day? They have a litter tray available to them but they never use it, and prefer to go outside. So im worried that if we kept them in they would be uncomfortable with having to toilet inside?

I am disappointed that this doesn't exist too @ChatterMonkey

We do keep our cat inside at night now as she kept getting hassle from the undone toms in the neighbourhood 😠 She wasn't really a litter user, though when we had one for our old boy who would be shut in the living room at night as he was poorly and losing his sight. (One Christmas Eve my dh had to try and find him as he got stuck in a neighbours garden and was howling!)
I digress, she would use his litter tray occasionally. We sometimes had a queue whilst one waited for the other to finish despite having two trays!
We now have one in our utility room which is where she goes through to use the cat flap, so she does use it. She does also go outside, but not as much as before. I think the protection of the birds is such an important thing to do and they are at their most vulnerable at night.

kikidee1679 · 08/09/2024 12:40

It does exist. I'm just thinking about investing in one at the moment. www.onlycat.com/?utm_campaign=search-conversions&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh8KZjKGziAMVa4FQBh0d4Bk8EAAYASAAEgKAXfD_BwE

KittyQuestions34 · 11/09/2024 23:36

I just posted about this! I am so so tempted to buy an onlycatflap but I'm so worried it won't work - if it was available in shops I'd feel more confident but you can only buy it on indie go go at the moment. And it's £400 bloody quid!!! But worth it probably. I hate the 'gifts' so much Confused

Cat tax included Grin

Cat flaps that stop mice/birds from being brought in
imaginationhasfailedme · 02/10/2024 14:45

I've ordered an onlycat but delivery is estimated December. However, you do get added to their FB page where people who have had theirs delivered are showing really good results! They're quite good at updating which order numbers are being released. It also is an ongoing development so the app and adjustments to your own flap (curfews etc) are done by them upon request (but by the comments are being done really quickly).
I can't wait for mine to arrive. It's a huge investment but we've got three cats and I'm up and down four times a night. Foxes are about so I can't lock them out and locking them in results in carnage.
Also just seen zeromouse which looks like an add on to your existing cat flap tunnel entrance bit. But needs a power supply so unless you've got a nearby outdoor plug socket, I don't see how to get it powered. That's just under £200.

lochmaree · 29/12/2024 21:43

Thanks @imaginationhasfailedme - zeromouse looks great! I hadn't seen that one, was aware of onlycat though. Anyone tried zeromouse?

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