Indestructible cat flap - is there such a thing?

Unity

I have two cats. One is a small timid female, but independent. The other, her brother is a large animal who has, to my mind, been watching too many 'Mission Impossible' films .

The female is sensible and would be happy to come and go as she pleases - but there's a problem. Her brother had two road traffic accidents, the second of which he only barely survived and the vet has said he must be kept indoors since he obviously isn't going to learn :rolleyes:. We do take him out in the garden on a lead and he's quite happy with this - but obviously if there were a means of escape he would use it:D.

We've previously had a number of 'Staywell' and other cat flaps, everyone of which he has demolished, in one way or another. He has completely broken the white plastic surround, dismantled the door mechanism and on one occasion removed the moving flap completely including the rubber seal.

At present we have bricks blocking the cat flap to prevent his escape, but it means we have to physically let our other cat in and out via the door. I would prefer it if she could get in herself, now that the days are getting colder.

So what I need is a strong cat flap that will let one cat in and out, but will keep the other cat inside with no chance of escape. Is there such a thing? I love them both dearly, even though I suspect the male has been a car chasing dog in a previous life.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Tabatha_Kitten

Im also after an indestructable cat flap. My dog has broke 4 so far this year trying to follow the cats out !
Im thinking about getting the small Staywell 600. It has an aluminium frame and a flexible plastic flap.
Has anyone out there got one ? Will it solve both mine and the op's problem ?

eira

I roo would love an answer to this-have been through arange of Staywell cat flaps and they,ve all broken. The last one had four collars that all failed at nearly £10 each and the flap mitself is in pieces leaving a hole in the wall which is now Grand Cat Central. This was a Staywell 400.The cat next door but one has all but moved in and nothing I do dissuades him. Can.t use the Porte or whatever its called because the Siamese microchip has migrated and there is no power supply by the hole in the wall, Our vet recommends another which is more sensitive as regards microchip detection but it s close to a £100

If you look at cat flaps they always strike me as being flimsy and brittle.

Seems to be scope here for enterprise. There is a howling draught through the hole where the cat flap should be so I would love an answer to this

Unity

Firstly, thanks for all the replies :T.

I managed to get an address in the UK to contact Staywell to ask specifically about an 'indestructible cat flap' and if the Staywell 600 Aluminium might fit the bill. I also included the link to this thread so that they have the option to come and advise those of us with this predicament. If they just choose to reply direct to me, I will of course update the thread.

If your cats are anything like mine, they should be employed to test out high security prisons as Samson would most certainly escape :rotfl:.

Unity

Just to let you know I got a reply and here it is:-

>>Thankyou for your email.
The Staywell 600 is a very strong durable pet door but unfortunately does not have a selective entry option, therefore if the barrier is raised any cat can enter or exit.<<

I have replied asking if there is another model that will fulfill the criteria we need and if not, can it be considered for the future as there is definitely a gap in the market.

Tabatha_Kitten

Many thanks Unity.
I think I will give the 600 a go as other cats are not a problem for me with my 3 big bruisers and the dog to back them up !
Its pricey though so if anyone out there has got one and can back up Staywells claim I would be pleased to hear from you.

robert_harper_2000

I was just going to say use the Staywell Aluminium it has a flexible flap and so is very unlikely to break - but it is a slimmer door and abit more expensive.

You can get replacement flaps for the doors too

Unity

Just another quick reply from Staywell: -

Unfortunately we do not manufacture an aluminium model that is selective entry.

I have passed on your suggestion to the relevant deptartment at Head Office.

So, I'm stuck again , but the cheapest I found for the Staywell 600 Aluminium is here:-

http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/dog-supplies/dog-beds/dog-doors-runs-and-kennels/dog-doors-staywell/pet-door-staywell-600-white-aluminium-small.html?ref=googlebase

£23.95 - hope that helps.

robert_harper_2000

Yeah that is the downside... they make a selective but it is only for large dogs - maybe it is discontinued now

Tabatha_Kitten

Wow. Thats far cheaper than the sites Ive looked at.
Hubby is moaning that we (I mean he !) needs to make the hole in the back door bigger, but Im gonna give it a go.
Its far too cold now at night to have a bit of plastic sheet duck taped over the hole !
I will let you know how I get on with it.

Unity

robert_harper_2000 wrote: »

Yeah that is the downside... they make a selective but it is only for large dogs - maybe it is discontinued now

Tabatha_Kitten wrote: »

Wow. Thats far cheaper than the sites Ive looked at.
Hubby is moaning that we (I mean he !) needs to make the hole in the back door bigger, but Im gonna give it a go.
Its far too cold now at night to have a bit of plastic sheet duck taped over the hole !
I will let you know how I get on with it.

It's best if you start humming the tune from 'Mission Impossible' before reading this:-
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Well, we've used Staywell in the past, but you wouldn't believe the destruction Samson has wrought - he is certainly well named . We've always used the models with the magnetic entry system operated by the magnet on the cat's collar. It's fitted through a panel in the conservatory wall.

The first one we put in was great for Willow - she used it without problem. However during the first night Samson attacked :eek: breaking the actual door and taking off the rubber seal with his claws. We fitted a new one as at that time we couldn't get a replacement door and there was a draught blowing through this hole in the wall :rolleyes:. Next morning he had completely removed the front plastic fascia, again got the door out and the rubber seal was off again :rolleyes:. At this point we put three house bricks in the tunnel to block the hole, covered it over with plastic and wedged a heavy wooden chef's trolley in front of it, which of course means letting Willow in and out via the house door.

And all those Internet jokes you see about how to give a cat a tablet.........................

I'll say no more!