Cat Flaps for very large cats

RacyRed

Hi,

my boy is now really struggling to get through the standard Staywell cat flap I have.

Which cat flap do other large cat owners on here use and what is their opinion of them? It is going to cost me a small fortune to replace my existing one (in a double glazed window pane) so I really need to get it right first time when I change it.

It needs to be very tough but also easy enough for the girls to use (they are half the size of the boy).

Thanks

nanokitten

Sounds like you need a dog flap! I'd choose one with some kind of selective locking mechanism. hopefully you'll get some doggy owners come by on here.

nanokitten

As an after thought, unless he's a very large build, I would have though being too porky to get through the cat flap is an indication your lad might need to go on a diet. There are some quite good diet foods about (eg hills). It's bad for anyones health to be overweight - I'd say a chat with the vet might be in order.

RacyRed

nanokitten wrote: »

As an after thought, unless he's a very large build, I would have though being too porky to get through the cat flap is an indication your lad might need to go on a diet. There are some quite good diet foods about (eg hills). It's bad for anyones health to be overweight - I'd say a chat with the vet might be in order.

He is tall, at least 35cms high, but is not over weight (about 7.5 kilos in summer coat, but could be 8K in full winter coat, which is about what he should be. He is a very active boy and is quite literally, twice the height of most other cats.

When I got him (stray, young and under weight at 5 kilos) and installed the cat flap I'd not taken into account that he would grow so full bodied and large, as at that time I knew nothing about him or the type of cat he possibly is (Norwegian Forest). He has very long back legs (much longer than his front legs) which makes it more difficult for him to crouch through the cat flap.

A dog door might be an idea, thanks for that suggestion.

sammy10

Hi, I have a Norwegian forest cat and there is no way she would fit through a normal sized cat flap. We have one that says its a large cat/small dog door. I cant remember the make but I will check when I can be bothered to move:o

nanokitten

Wow, he sounds a beauty! I take back what I said about being porky! Sometimes it's more to do with placement rather than the size of the hole (especially if he's tall) We had a cat that would go out but not in, I think because the flap was too low and she couldn't get her shoulders under easily when going up the step from outside. (cats are amazingly flexible - we've just been watching mine squeeze under the china cabinet to fetch a toy it look like she dislocated every bone in her body!).
You don't want a flap that's too big as it'll be a security risk ut there is lots of dog doors available http://www.petstuffonline.co.uk/category/35/DOG_FLAPS_DOORS
only problem looks like most are not suitable for glass. (You could always fit one throught the wall).

jenhug

staywell do a dog flap, your cat would fit through that.

nanokitten

I think the problem is that most dog flaps are square and to fit one into a double glazing unit the hole needs to be round (as they cut a hole in the glass).
An alternative is to have a UPVc / wood / steel panel fitted instead as they can cut a rectangular hole in it - it might even turn out cheaper.

mrtobs

Couldn't you just give him a key?

frivolous_fay

Why don't stray NFCs come to my door

ginvzt

We got a large cat/small dog flap from petmate. It was installed in the house when we looked around and thanks to this we have our cat now!!!! I wish he used it though - instead he cries at you in the morning to open patio doors for him to get out in the garden for a bit.

Also, it has a panel that you slide in to lock it, not a 4-way mechanism...