Cat flap vibes needed please

[JackSpratt]

Christine, help! We finally got a microchip cat flap, but the programming doesn't appear to be working. If I take out the batteries does it work as a "normal" cat flap? (Until I can figure out why it's not reading the chips; it's been a long day....)

[Bazsmum]

What a good girl Blip is!  The ramp sounds fab! 

[Christine (Blip)]

I've bought two nice rectangular cushions to sit on the inside step and my wonderful new builder is making us a little aluminium ramp for the outside - robust enough for Blip but not so heavy that it can be used as a window-breaking tool by burglars.

Once I have the little ramp, we can start training.  At the moment, I'm opening the door for Blip although she is being very obliging and waiting for me to wake up before she miaows to be let out.

[Bazsmum]

Oh dear my typos are becoming infamous 

We like a puzzle now and then 

Yep, they're quite an enigma, I enjoy working out what they mean 

Much more entertaining than any cryptic puzzle out there! 

[Janeyk]

Oh dear my typos are becoming infamous 

We like a puzzle now and then 

Yep, they're quite an enigma, I enjoy working out what they mean 

[Millys Mum]

Oh dear my typos are becoming infamous 

We like a puzzle now and then 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Oh dear my typos are becoming infamous 

[Christine (Blip)]

I made a mistake before:  ours is a SureFlap http://www.sureflap.co.uk/

Blip still hasn't used it, mind 

[CarolM (Wendolene)]

Cats are canny and if they want to use it they will!.....

and if they don't want to use it they wont    When I first installed a cat flap Korky took to it like the proverbial duck to water but Rosie refused point blank to use it.  Mind you, she also refused to try to open doors, even ones that were already fairly widely ajar.  Her preferred method for any type of ingress was to miaow loudly and often.  Surprisingly it worked a treat 

[Millys Mum]

gave pavibf sones pike on the path

You have paving stones do what on the path? 

Would love to help out here Gilly, sorry your on your own with this!? 

I'm reluctant to put a pike outside our French windows: the fox would only eat it and I'd have to get another one every day 

   the fox would love a daily pike tho

[purrdy1]

  hmm Gill did say she made frequenbt typos!

[Kirst]

So glad its not only me.............................

[Bazsmum]

 

[Christine (Blip)]

gave pavibf sones pike on the path

You have paving stones do what on the path? 

Would love to help out here Gilly, sorry your on your own with this!? 

I'm reluctant to put a pike outside our French windows: the fox would only eat it and I'd have to get another one every day 

[Bazsmum]

gave pavibf sones pike on the path

You have paving stones do what on the path? 

Would love to help out here Gilly, sorry your on your own with this!? 

[Millys Mum]

gave pavibf sones pike on the path

You have paving stones do what on the path? 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

inside is higher than outside and gave pavibf sones pike on the path so they can get out and in again from outside cos sasa has very short legs and when its blowing and very wet or an emegency, they need to be able to get in without climbing

[purrdy1]

I would also suggest breeze blocks, they are fairly light (for you to handle) and can be manouvered if needs be....

We have simply pushed the cats through the cat flap (gently!),  at feeding time when they have been hungry..it doesnt take much time for them to realise how easy it is to get back in!!!

Cats are canny and if they want to use it they will!..in the mean time they will have you running around fussing for them!......love k xxx

[JackSpratt]

We have bricks lined up outside our back door for the cats to get in and out easier. (People thought I was a bit mad until I pointed out the step size in comparison to our cats legs....)

Glad to hear she poked her head out. I think it's more difficult to train one cat, because if there's more than one they train each other so to speak! Definitely use bribery....

[Rosella moggy]

I went and bought 4 slabs to create outdoor step Christine.  Using food as a lure is great if there is a special treat she loves.

If she has to stand on back paws inside to get through flap, I'd say perhaps she needs something inside too 

Just as you give up all hope of her using flap, she will surprise you 

[Christine (Blip)]

  everyone.  I shall take all your advice: changing the time delay, holding the flap open and using a treat as a lure during training.

Meanwhile, Blip has put her head through (at 04.07 this morning, with me holding the cat flap open  ) but has yet to take the plunge.

I do wonder if I need anything on the inside though, as if she stands on her back paws she can easily get into the flap and of course she doesn't have to jump through it, she can scramble through it.  I've left the cushion there for now but I'm going to move the bucket.

Cold this morning before dawn, wasn't it?

[Bazsmum]

What's this? C in a flap over a cat flap! 

All will be fine Im sure......

Ive always just held them open, showed ham at the other side then hey presto! Do this a few times then put the flap down, then you paw it to show her what to do! 

Just a thought! I could get you doing all sorts here! 

[ClaireR]

Hi Christine

Good luck with the flap!!  It is not the best weather for it, but I propped it open for a week or so to get my gang used to jumping through first before I shut it and encouraged them to push their way through.  I found if I opened it slightly and let them feel the weight of the flap on their head that they soon got the hang of it!  I was probably too soft!!

We have a full step up to our french windows outside so no need to put in a special step for mine....what about the kiddy steps that they sell for toilet training??  They are plastic and have a gripped top??

Cxx

[Millys Mum]

Im getting a breeze block to put there for dexter, easy to move then.
Aswell as leaving it in open mode for her to learn i would suggest you adjust the time delay when you advance to her being scanned, its set at 4 seconds which for a learner isnt very long!
Dexter refused to go in at first only out  but after a week i caught him doing both, he is quite thick tho, blip is probably smarter!

[Christine (Blip)]

loads on E-Bay going cheap - just enter step stool

Ah: nothing on earth would persuade me to use EBay, Trigger.  Do you know of any reputable suppliers?

and a footstool would do the job on the inside - there are nice leather ones going cheap, or wooden ones

The area on which the inside device will have to stand is only about 9" - 10" wide, I'm afraid, so a footstool won't do it.  I may have to have something specially made by a carpenter, I guess...

[Kay and Penny]

loads on E-Bay going cheap - just enter step stool

and a footstool would do the job on the inside - there are nice leather ones going cheap, or wooden ones

[Christine (Blip)]

I'd suggest for the inside and outside plastic step-ups (if that's the right name) as they have rubber feet - you don't want something that can slide if she comes in at a rush

That sounds like a good idea.  Are such things made?  And I might prefer wood, at least inside...

[Kay and Penny]

I'd suggest for the inside and outside plastic step-ups (if that's the right name) as they have rubber feet - you don't want something that can slide if she comes in at a rush

[Christine (Blip)]

As my chums know, we're having our windows replaced.  Now this is all well and good, but it means that Blip's former method of entry and egress (through the security grille on a kitchen window) no longer exists and she is now the proud possessor of a SureFlap cat flap in a French window.

Except that (a) because of the configuration of our French windows there's a bit of a jump on the inside and the outside and (b) she doesn't know what it is.

I've put a cushion on the inside, which may have to be a permanent feature, but I can always buy one specifically for the inner step so that's OK and, at present, an upturned bucket on the outside.  Obviously I need a better solution than an upturned bucket!  Any ideas welcome 

Also, any tips on getting Blip used to the flap.  I've turned off the microchip reader so that the flap just operates as a normal flap at present (as recommended by the manufacturers) so she can get used to the idea before we all get clever 

Purrs to the rescue, please