Blocking a cat flap at night

[LarkspurLane]

We keep our cat in at night but he has free access to cat flap during the day.
We can lock the catflap but twice he's bypassed the lock mechanism and got himself out. I think he pulled the flap towards himself and somehow clicked it open.
We put something in front of the catflap at night at the moment but it is irritating. He associates it being covered with not being able to go out so he doesn't go near it. If we leave it uncovered, he's always having a go at opening it.

I have searched online for some kind of cat flap cover but I don't think they exist.
I want something secure but easy on and off. Maybe I could use a shower cap? Or some magical velcro thing?

https://moose3d.co.uk/product/cover-for-sureflap-catflaps/ - or similar?

OMG - yes!
Thanks so much - your internet searching is better than mine.

Jolly good! Glad to help.

That cats a Bengal too so you know they’ve tested it properly. At 3am, on a school night.

Our Bengal moved a gas canister to break out one night.

I was half hoping the cat might be included with the flap cover - it's gorgeous!

I think it’s a seal lynx bengal. Bengals are great we loved ours.

I am so glad I clicked on this thread. My cat can unlock his flap with brute force, but I want him in at night. He's a nightmare for hunting. And I'm sick of dead mice in the house.

My oriental boy cat wouldn't accept a locked cat flap. He dismantled it and skipped off outside.

We absolutely love our catflap cover! The second cat saw it he just thought "game over" and never even tried to remove it.
I would heartily recommend this to anyone who wants to keep a cat in sometimes. It's also a bit warmer than having an open flap.

As the Googler involved in this, I am rather heartened a few people have found it useful

Why didn't I know about these?? My old cat worked out quite quickly how to claw at the catch that controlled access and would let himself out (and then be locked out) and the previous flap became so weak and knackered that he just used to hurl himself at it! We had to shift a big box of wellies against it every night.

Are they universal covers? I think our flap is a Pet Safe staywell one.

Our old cat flap was great. It had 4 settings. In and out, in only, out only and neither in or out. Just a little dial to turn next to the flap. We have never let our cats out at night so, around teatime, we put it on in-only until they were all inside and then it got locked.

For those cats that were built like tigers, there was also a panel that slid down, covering the whole flap, making it escape-proof.

My cat had sussed out getting out the in-only setting very quickly.
But panel coming down to cover it all sounds great. All catflaps should have this but don't, which is way I ended up on mumsnet seeking a solution.

We solved the clever cat issue by not opening the cat food until they were all in for their teas. While they were eating, the flap got turned to locked.

The one we got is from Argos, link below. Sadly, the sliding panel seems not to be part of it anymore.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8701143?clickPR=plp:7:22

I bought the bright pink one on the back of this thread as our girl had figured she could make it click and get her claws in and pull the flap forward

We're hoping the bright cover signifies it's closed as previously had a combination of boxes in front

Have just come across this thread as we’re having the same issue. If only this catflap linked worked as well for our cat - we’ve gone through a few of them because when locked he just breaks them using brute force!

We have a neighbourhood bully coming into our home so we need to find a way to keep him out and our cat in at night.

Have been recommended microchip cat flaps so have just been researching those, but reviews show that if you have a determined cat like ours then they can break/ defeat those too - and they’re not cheap!

Those cat flap covers are exactly what we need. Our cat can move anything heavy placed in front of the flap.

The Moose cat flaps described in a different link above work for a lot of different cat flaps, maybe you could check out? Or have you already?
I still look in delight at my cover. It totally changed cat's mindset, as soon as he sees it is on, he does not even try to remove it, and I don't think he could even if he wanted to - I need to use both hands.

This our current set up with the pink Moose

To be fair we haven't fitted the velcro yet

I’m so pleased to find this thread. Sadly I think the website owner is having a break so will have to wait a few weeks to order.

We have a microchip cat flap with curfew but one of our cats can even defeat that by using one paw to hold the lock down and one to lift the flap inwards!! We are back to putting very heavy things in front of it but they often get round that too 🙄. This must be worth a go 🤞

Will definitely be in touch with the owner to be sure that I get the right one and give it a go.

Yes but they’re on a break till September according to the website link!

Orders for moose cat flap covers are now open! I have just ordered mine.

Fingers crossed it does the job!

Wow, I wish I had known about these before.

Let's just say the skinny stray managed to get the flap door ten yards down the path, broken in two, as she went through a locked (hah!) catflap.

@Moose3D are these still available?

Great! I'll keep a eye out

So delighted to hear about this! Really need it for my cat. Will be ordering one once the site is open! 😄