My cats hate the Microchip cat door

[ooooohnoooooo]

Help!
I'm a very experienced cat owner.

We had a bully cat coming into the house and either he, or our terrified cats l, pissed on the newish lounge carpet so it had to be replaced.

So we got a microchip cat door. But they just won't use it.

We've tried
Treats
Gentle encouragement
Gently manhandling them through it
Just leaving them outside

But nothing works.

Any ideas or tips please ?

I just can't face a house smelling of cat shit and pee. 😩

Following! We had a cat flap many years ago and our cat used it perfectly, absolutely no issues, there's been a gap of 8 years due to house moves etc and he finally has a new one, I thought he'd be delighted! Will he use it? Will he heck!

How long has it been installed? It took mine about 2 weeks to get used to it. It was the clicking noise that scared her. I left her out one day when I needed to go for a shower and when I came down she was in the house so her need to come in trumped her fear eventually. After that there was no stopping her.

It took my sister’s cat a couple of months. She said he just suddenly started using it.

Do they have litter trays?

If they have used a non microchip cat flap before I agree it may be the clicking sound. I found lots of dreamies close enough for them to activate it helped them get used to.

I tied our microchip catflap open with a bit of string for a few days (it wasn't during cold weather though!)

They don't have a poo tray because a) if they do we will never get rid of it b) they stink. C) we have 2 cats and would need 2 trays.

The treats may work.

We hoped that they'd work it out but the youngest (stupidest !) one sat outside for 5 hours in the rain.

They are both very nervy animals anyway.

It's been in a few days and they are used to using a cat flap.

Did you let them in and out of normal doors in the adjustment period or leave them out until they came in the door ?

So it seems just more time.

I had a similar situation and got a microchip flap. My cat didn’t like the clicking noise to begin with but I put a radio playing music (or possibly static) right next to it so the clicking wasn’t as obvious and somehow that worked!

If you don't provide a tray and they won't go out they will crap on your floors!

I taped ours open and used treats
In the meantime I'd put a tray down even if only temporarily.

You know there is a bully cat in the neighbourhood yet you want to force your cats to go outside every time they need to use the toilet?

You may not like litter trays but I'm afraid that's just part of owning cats. You have a duty to provide them with a safe, clean space to go to the toilet.

Is it worth trying taping it open somehow, so it's just a hole? To get them used to going backwards and forwards without having to combine with the waiting for it to open. Then try taping the locking mechanism down so they go in and out without having to wait for it to open. A sort of progression?

Could it be the bully cat is hanging round outside and putting your cats off?

Try switching the microchip activation off until they get used to the actual flap, so that it doesn't click - we did this and it worked a treat

Can't remember for certain as we've had it so long put I think we taped it open for a few hours whilst we were in and got them to go through a few times

Dreamies may help lol

We've got a dog door. Had it months and the bloody cat will not use it. Dog managed fine within days but cat insists on being let in and out.

They love being outside. No one is forcing them.

They are miserable and climbing the walls if they are locked in.

The older cat used to see off all the (boy) bullies but she's 15 now and sleeps more so they are taking advantage.

The microchip cat door was to stop bully cat coming into our house (he had done this a few times and terrified my two).

We've had a bog standard food for years and they've green happy.

I've taped it open for now and they are using it 🙄🙄🙄

Little furry fuckers.

I didn't say you should never let them out

I said that you should provide your cats with a safe indoor space to go to the toilet, especially now you know there is a bully in the neighbourhood causing them problems.