Cat using the cat flap

[summerleft]

Shes done it!

I tried putting tape along the bottom,  i think I saw that suggestion on another thread

I heard the flap yesterday and thought she had come in, this morning I started the hoover and she flew through it! LOL

3 down 3 to go, one just wont fit hes too fat, but the others, I felt sorry for fluffy she was locked out for 3 hours, found her hiding around the corner, she came in and hid under the bed.

Thing is if they sneak out and I dont notice they are stuck

Its very noisey here, its taking them much longer than it does to get used to villages/countryside

hoping they will as they are all getting decidedly fat 

[tigerbaby]

It took Jameson 2 weeks to work it out. We tried everything, and sat with ham/treats on the other side, only thing we only got a sharp claw in our finger and he somehow always managed to fish the treat back through the flap and into his mouth.

So, we took a piece of string, and attached it to the shelf above the flap, and the other end cello-taped to the bottom of the flap and kept the flap slightly open. He soon worked out how to get IN through the flap, but only if it was slightly propped open as it was easy for him to push through. Then we slowly lowered the flap until it was very nearly closed. And then we finally closed it. It took him many tries until he one day mastered the art (digging at the corner of the flap with one paw until it starts flapping and then he'd shoot that one paw through and then let the rest of himself through. It was always a funny sight

[moiramassey]

I have found that taking out the magnetic closing strip works. It means the catflap actually flaps, which is a bit of an issue in the winter, but helps them get used to it.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Yes thats Sasas problem she pushes it with nose and then tries to get it open with head before it shuts again and fails  magnifcantly lol....so we get flap flap flap squeak  flap as she wrestles with it. Sometimes she gives up unless big Misa comes along and shows her it will open and its not mean meowmy trying to catch her...........sigh

[Rosella moggy]

What would you do?

Wait and leave her to it. She'll figure it out.  After the fretting we had with Freddie, I refuse to worry about this with any future puds    Honest I refuse    No really  

Hopefully she'll use the Billy Whiz method involving a paw push esp if there is a magnet to stop the wind flapping the flap. Those magnets can be a bit too strong for the nose push action  

[summerleft]

Ive just put a little wodge of paper in it so its slightly, open, they are used to having a big dog flap held open, so it will take time as you see.

Will see if this works

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

You just need to be patient cos some cats take a long time to use them , I kow Kocka did and she always used the option of flapping the flap or banging on the kitchen window in preference so I could do my duty as a slave 

Sasa took agaes here to use it too.

All cats have a different method of getting in and out and you also need to look at the height of it and the length of your cats legs cos you may need to provide a stepping stone on one or both sides of the door...............mine was too high outside for sasa with short legs and same for Kocka.

sasa also scares herself cos she uses her nose to open it and if its windy it blows back on her before she can get out. Some cats also do not like the flap coming down on their tail!

This all takes time and patience by all

[summerleft]

Shes asking to go out so i have to open the door for her, its just that Id rather her find her own way out and in rather than shutting her out

[fluffybunny]

Hello! 

Have a look at some of the suggestions here: http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,20589.0.html

[Millys Mum]

Once shes had enough time to settle in her new home she will start to want to visit outdoors and this incentive will encourage her to learn, give her some time, house moving upsets some cats more than others and you havent been there very long at all

[summerleft]

I cant get one of our cats to use the flap

she just sits and stares at it, Ive tried flapping it about and shes jumped through it, but not push it herself

she stares through it to come in , and no amount of trying to teach her works, she panics and runs off

OH says I should just leave her and she'll do it but she hasnt yet. What would you do?