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Cat Flaps

Installing a cat flap

First buy your cat flap. huge range online here:

Catflaps

Installation.

All cat flaps come with instructions.

Which cat flap to get?

If your pet is a standard size cat then you won't have any problems finding a cat flap to suit. If you have a large cat you might find them more reluctant to use the flap if they have to squeeze through.

You chosen location for cat flap.

Double glazed doors can be problematic. You can cut the glass yourself if you're very experienced, or you could ask a glazier to do it. It may weaken the glass and you'll break the sealed unit "sealedness" which might cause condensation inside, or even loss of insulation. If your door is made of toughened glass then you have very little chance of cutting it.

You might consider replacing the panel with a plastic one which will eliminate some of these problems and be easier to cut.

Some people consider putting a cat flap tunnel through a wall instead as this can be quite a lot cheaper than replacing a double glazed back door and is probably more secure.

You would have to make sure you waterproofed the whole and beware of cavity insulation, by sealing the tunnel unit you'd make it easier for the cat to use.

Make sure that the outside of the door level isn't too low for the cat to get in and out of the cat flap comfortably. If they struggle then they will make more noise and you'll go insane listening to them getting in and out of the cat flap.

If there are a lot of cats in the neighbourhood you should consider getting a cat flap with a magnet key. This will ensure only your cats come in through the cat flap. It is more expensive but other people's cats are expensive to feed and you'll find you save loads by only feeding your own cats. Also the last thing you want is a cat coming in to your home and spraying.

Don't expect your own cats to protect their territory either. They won't. Or they will but only when they find a ginger cat under the bed that isn't supposed to be there. Believe me being woken up at 3am by cats fighting is pretty alarming.

The magnetic keys are replacably although this isn't a problem if you use a good collar. Always have a spare key and collar for the day your cat loses his key as you'll find it much less stressful. Replace the spare when you use it too.

Training your cat to use the cat flap.

Some cats adapt very quickly and will need little encouragement to use the flap as a means of escape in and out of the house.

Other cats need more incentives. You can start by holding open the cat flap and calling to your cat. You might find the neighbours waving to you after a while if your cat sits and stares at you like you're insane.

There are theorys that a cats whiskers give the cat an indication of how big the cat is and therefore how small a space it can squeeze through. If your cat has huge whiskers though it is likely to think it'll never fit through the cat flap. Don't cut the whiskers off - just move to stage two of the cat flap training plan.... bribery. A little treat food can encourage your cat to use the flap.
You will know what treats your cats like and so will be able to bribe them accordingly. Once they've come in and out of the open cat flap its time to up the stakes and have it half lowered so they can push against it a bit. Its often worth trying to see if they'll open the flap on their own at this stage... as they might just realise that its easy!

If they refuse to push against the flap to open it you're in trouble. Well you're not really as long as you take sensible precautions. Put the cat on the outside of the flap and get back indoors without letting the cat slip in with you. You can then either leave the cat to explore the flap further on its own, or wait for hunger to take over. By lifting the flap a tiny bit you'll encourage the cat to try and get in for themselves.

A note about moving the litter tray... If you plan to allow your cats continual access outdoors then your long term aim could be to remove the litter tray. This should be done slowly, moving it to near the exit at first and then putting it outside. Some cats are fussy about "going" outside. A well tended flowerbed will ensure they have plenty of options though (Some like mulch to scratch at though) - and if its in your garden and not the neighbours you'll keep on good terms with your nextdoor neighbours. Cats like finely tilled soil which is soft and easy to scratch in. Sadly this means that if you have a flower bed with seeds planted in it they're likely to go for that. Keep an area hoed for them and they'll hopefully use that. You can then dig it in when needs be too keeping your garden looking better. Make sure its not an area where children play and cover up all outdoor sand pits!

Things to watch out for - long term cat flap use

The horror of horrors, mice, frogs, voles, shrews, birds, flies, woodlice - these are all things your cat might bring into the house. I'm sure people have experience more things than this but one cat can bring in an awful lot of mice. (And they don't always kill them either - so you have to catch mice then)

Keep the cat flap panel clean. This ensures the cats can get a clear view out and in ensuring they don't accidently run into something they don't want to.

If your cat flap gets dirty or breaks you'll have disappointed cats and a cold house! Keep an eye on it for wear. Some of them have lifetime guarantees on - well worth looking into!

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