I know, why would I expect cooperation from a cat?
Wise cat people, can you assist with this one -
2 rescue cats, we've had them for 18 months. A giant ginger boy and a tiny black girl.
Prior to May they've been kept inside when we go away, and we pay a cat sitter to visit daily.
We went away in May and boy cat decided to pee all over the house in protest, and continued to do so on and off. He now refuses to use the litter tray. We go on holiday on Wednesday for 2 weeks so in a slight panic we got a cat flap fitted on Friday to give him access outside all day, with it locking automatically at night once they're in. It's a surepet one.
Boy cat has figured out the cat flap immediately. He's food obsessed so a couple of dreamies shaken next to the flap and he was through. He's also able to easily push it with his massive head.
Girl cat, however, will go OUT fine but refuses to come in. She's generally a skittish little thing and seems nervous. I've tried posting her through it but she starfishes. The magnets seem quite strong and tricky for her to push when I finally get her in the tube. They're not removable or adjustable. We've been holding the door open with pegs but she still won't come through it.
I know she has come in through it at least once but if we're home she just sits by the backdoor meowing.
Options are, as far as I can tell -
1 - keep them both in for 2 weeks and risk boy cat peeing everywhere again
2 - keep it as it is and hope she figures it out/is just playing me - possibly reduce the window of time they're allowed out?
3 - use the surepet collar on boycat so he can go out but she can't (microchip doesn't work because I think his chip is too far down his back)
4 - ask neighbour to check she's in at night, but only from Monday onwards because she's on holiday until then
5 - ask catsitter if she can come twice a day, but this will be £££.
Anything I haven't thought of?
They both have collars with airtags but that's not so helpful in this situation!
Photos for tax