Training cats to use cat flap

[Catingle]

We have two new cats and they've been persuaded to use the catflap if it's held open but can't grasp at all that they can push it to get out.

How can we train them to use it?

Stand on the other side with a piece of chicken.

I posted mine through. But the chicken technique (or canned tuna! Super smelly) also works I'm sure

I used wafer thin ham and persuaded them through. They both picked it up in no time!

I also used treats and then eventually popped them through! They got the message and now use it all the time.

One of my happiest memories is watching my cat-virgin partner lying on the ground teaching our new kittens to use the cat flap. After I had laughed as much as I wanted to I explained the chicken technique....

I trained the one that’s most food motivated similar to above, but also held the flap lower and lower so he got used to pushing and feeling it on his back.
I didn’t need to train his sister. She learnt by watching him.

Have you shown them the instructions? The first time I had a cat flap fitted, I plonked my cat next to it and showed him the instructions. He looked at me as if I was stupid and just went out through it.

I find the older the cat, the longer they take to use it as they’re naturally more cautious. As it’s heading towards summer, can you prop it open for a whole longer to get them really comfortable with going in and out? If you’re tempted to post them through it (I do this with kittens!) then I would recommend always posting from outside into inside as they is less scary for them. Ideally with a tasty treat the other side.
there is also a middle ground, where you keep it partially open and they have open it the rest of the way to get through. They usually will get it soon enough.

I posted mine through it with the door open. Through and back and then used treats.

Both could do it after about 5 goes although one of them used to do a massive run up and charge through it 😂

I seem to recall I used string to tie the cat flap open, and gradually lowered it

food! And not opening the door for them.

This thread has cheered me up so much, especially the "Have you shown him the instructions?" question. When my sister had her first cat we used the tuna technique, I still howl every time I remember his back legs wiggling as he balanced on his front paws on the other side of the cat flap until he worked out how to get his back paws through as well. We have also been known to gently post cats through the open cat flap until they get the hang of it.

I’ll try the tying it half open technique.

it’s a microchip controlled flap that seems to need a good shove to unlock and they’ve not figured out it’s possible yet.

If I try posting them through it they just struggle to get away.

They are perfectly happy going in and out while it’s tied fully open though!

Had one rescue for over 2 years now and she's still to posh to push the cat flap herself!

My kitten understood how to use it but the magnet holding it down was too strong for him to push open. He's only 6 months and a small cat. I took the magnet off and he goes through now. Maybe if it needs a good push to open it might be a similar situation

Dcat is very dim and came to us as an adult who hadn’t used a cat flap before so it took a while.

We did food to tempt her. Posting her didn’t work because she is quite large so it’s a squidge anyway and she is a wriggly fucker who hates being held.

She got going out long before coming back and used to meow to come in until DH opened the door. She finally got it when dh was on a work call and couldn’t drop everything to let her in. Took a few weeks though. Think it was the click when coming in that made her nervous.

She still prefers an open door! She’s very precious and we all refer to the cat flap as the servants entrance🤣🤣

My kittens learned by watching the big cat..
My older garden cat just refuses. I bought him a lovely outdoor house with microchip controlled cat flap to keep him safe and cosy. I have to prop it open or he won't go in. He's hugely food motivated but even that isn't enough.

We've done this very recently with a microchip sensing catflap. Have done as above but used a big dollop of bluetack to keep it open. Also seems to help if a big scary tractor comes past the house and gives extra motivation to get inside.

We trained ours before it was fitted by pushing and enticing him backwards and forwards through it as part of a game. It was shortly after he had had his microchip fitted and were actually trying to get the microchip reader to register.

When it was fitted a few days later he still wasn’t allowed out and we came down one morning to find that he had practically destroyed it trying to get it to open. There were bits of plastic and batteries all over the floor.

Mine took 2 whole weeks to learn how to use it! I had to take the magnetic lock off too and use lots of treats to help them get it.

Even now, as they come in through the cat flap they have a look on their face about having to suffer the indignity!

They all instinctively know what to do. They just like to see the lengths you'll go to while they judge you.

Dreamies. Took about 10 seconds.

Yep, that worked for outs. I think it might have been salmon though. Also lift them up and push them against flap.

It's slightly humiliating to see how cats just use us for entertainment....

Also seem to remember my cat soon worked out how to use it when she was outside and it started bucketing rain