Cat flap training

[VenusClapTrap]

Finally got the cat flap programmed to the cats. Shoved them out through it with a combination of encouragement (Dreamies) and force (gentle shove).

How to get them back in? I’ve put Dreamies in the tunnel, but they just eat the Dreamies then reverse and go and stare hopefully at the door.

I can't shove them back through it because they do that thing where they turn to liquid and flow sideways.

Any advice? One is clearly desperate for a wee, so at least the silver lining might be she learns to go to the loo outside.

I assume it’s a microchip one with the click? We had to prop it open for several days so they got used to coming in and out with the click before having to also push the door. It probably took ten days before we closed it and they had to do it properly.

put food just inside the cat flap too but where that actually have to come in to get it.

good luck!

I’d tape the flap up for a couple of hours to let them used to go through the hole in the door (not ideal in November, granted) then go through a state of letting them use it to go out and you pushing it open if they appear stuck on the outside (start by shaking the Dreamies to try them to push in themselves).

I did, however, have a cat who took the best part of 9 months to use the cat flap to come in but that was down to her stubbornness. She knew how to do it but just wouldn’t!

Peg it open using a clothes peg for a few days so they get used to using it as a door. Then move the peg lower on the flap so they learn to push it forward (and swap the side of the peg to accommodate coming in or going out depending where cat is). My older cat took ages to be brave enough just to go through because he was frightened of the click despite having used a regular catflap for years.

I’m not sure if taping it will mess with the electronics? It’s a SureFlap smart cat flap.

I see this is going to take more effort than I thought. Previous cats have cottoned on to flaps very quickly!

Dd has made some progress with treats and the fishing rod toy. Girl cat is starting to get it, but boy cat just looks at me with a sad and nervous face when I put him in front of the flap now. He’s a loveable thicko.

We have a male loveable thicko too. He still paws at it for ages before using it properly but he can also bypass the curfew by holding down the catch with one paw and opening the flap inwards with the other 🙄

taping it up won’t mess with the electrics, it’s fine. The electrics just deal with the switch which will work as usual, just won’t have the flap between the switches.

Thanks. So today the flap was taped open all day. Girl cat thought this was marvellous and she’s been in and out like a yo yo. Boy cat managed it once or twice, with much wailing beforehand, and panicky shuffling on his belly.

I think we’ll stick with this for another day then try to convince them to push with flap. That will be tricky. Not sure how to convince them about that!

If the girl cat is getting the hang of it, the boy will learn through seeing her do it! Our younger ones (including the dog 🙄) learned really quickly by watching the older ones

If it's a smart cat flap, is the microchip on the cat 'forward' enough to open without the cat going too far in? Our cat won't push much and we learned the microchip was too far back on her neck to trigger the click that opens the cat flap. We have to get a microchip tag and hang that on her collar. It helps we know she can open cat flaps already because we had a magnetic one before.

It took about two weeks with mine.

Like you I was puzzled as previous cats had just got it.

I had it taped permanently open for about two weeks (in the summer) and then used pegs in either side slowly moving them along until the cats got used to the flap being lower and lower.

My cats are noticeably stupid.

I had a cat-flap refuser. She used to just sit on the other side of it looking mournful and pathetic. I tried all the tricks - treats, food, taping it open etc etc. I eventually contacted the rescue we got her from for some advice, and they told me she had been using a flap quite happily there, so we realised we were being done! After that we made her get on with it - refused to open the door for her and she got the message.

She'd still rather sit by the patio door looking sad than sidestep a bit and come through the flap (which is in the wall round the corner), but she caves eventually.

This is the level of gormlessness I’m dealing with here.

I’ve had this with two of our cats and had a second microchip implanted (and all records updated and cross referenced).

Chip positions seem fine. It clicks when they go to look through it; they just don’t understand they have to push.

I can’t continue to keep it taped open all day now the weather is turning.

I’m not following where you put the peg. Doesn’t it get in the way?

Every day I have to call ny furry overlord throught the cat flap. She sits and meows till I yell PUSH THE DOOR and she comes in chelping at me. The neighbours must think Im mental!

A clothes peg attached to the open flap door near the top hinge area props the flap wide open at almost 90 degrees.

The clothes peg attached lower down the flap nearer the bottom and the door is propped open at a smaller angle so cat can still see a gap but needs to push the door slightly to fit through.

It only opens in one direction with a peg on so you'll need to do a bit of swapping sides and opening the door on opposite sides depending if your cat is coming in or going out.

The peg trick is working! On the way back inside anyway. I can’t do it for egress unfortunately because the flap goes through a thick wall - the tunnel is about 40cm long - so can’t peg it when it’s pointing into the tunnel. Hopefully though, once they’ve got it one way, they’ll figure out they can push to go out too.

Funnily enough Thicko boy was the first to push his way through - he’s more rambunctious and was very motivated to get inside once he realised it was raining!

I feel your pain. My cat has had her "tunnel through the wall" installed for over 2 years and still sits looking mournfully at it hoping we'll open the door instead! She's quite capable of using it, she just prefers not to. Funny how she has no trouble over night when we aren't around.

Like you we did the whole taped open, then taped lower etc. to teach her. She just doesn't seem to like having the flap brushing against her as she passes through it.

It sounds like your 2 are well on the way to proficient use now, but don't be surprised if they are still asking you to hold it open / open the door instead for years to come!

We have lift off. Both cats are now fully using the cat flap. They’ve been in and out all day, living their best lives and catting to their furry hearts content.

Thank you for all the help and encouragement! We got there quicker than I thought in the end!

"turn to liquid and flow sideways" 🤣🤣🤣

Great news - they were quicker than mine!

Also love the turning to liquid phrase 😃

Mine is permanently taped up, cat jumped when having his chip, so chip in wrong place and won’t work on sure flap. Vet says he can’t have another chip, so stuck with it. Luckily exits to utility , which is then propped open, so cold not bad.Last cat took to it easily , this one took ages and still won’t use if I am in