How do I stop foxes getting in through cat flap?

luckycat99

Hi all

I have recently bought and fitted a PetPorte cat flap following seeing a thread on it here.

However foxes have been breaking their way in through it. They have ripped open foil sachets of cat food and eaten them.

Now we we have a small timid cat - who I am worried might be attacked. Additionally we did not spend lots of money on a cat flap so that other animlas could still get in!! Perporte sent a disclaimer with the cat flap saying that if other animals still get in it's nothing to do with them guv'nor.

I'm very frustrated as this has been going on for a while, the cat is a nervous wreck and we're not sleeping as every time we hear something trying to get in we're up and going to scare it off.

Does anyone have any advice of how wecould get shut of these foxes?? Please, we're desperate.

orlao

Dear God, those foxes are bold!

Are you sure it's foxes not the local tom cat? As I've never heard of foxes being so overfamilar on a regular basis....Obviously, in the meantime, close the catflap, put the food in secure storage and treat your cat with Avocate or Stronghold in case of sarcoptic mange.

IIWY, I would contact pest control at the council as there are health risks with having wild animals coming indoors, (preparing to be flamed now :eek:) and if they couldn't help get contact details of the companies that come out and shoot foxes.

Harsh I know.

kazwookie

Lock the cat flap at night, give your cat a litter tray overnight.

Buy a cat flap with a magnetic collar, the flap is locked till the magnetic collar opens it, the collar is worn by your cat.

birkee

Should have bought a lockable cat flap. Consider changing it or blocking it at night.

Other than, nature will take its course. The foxes will be there long after we're gone.

cjmumto2

Maybe yours is faulty, how can they break through it? Are they microchipped? If it really is so flimsy that a fox can push it open when locked I would complain to the company.

tattyuk75

The thought of a fox coming in at night is horrendous....are you absolutely sure it is a fox? Have you seen it? Much as I like foxes in the wild where they belong, I would have a HUGE problem with it coming in and terrifying my animals! I'd probably talk to the council as well as someone else suggested as it must be classed as a pest surely?

Block the cat flap at night, give your cat a litter tray and see how it goes. Maybe if whatever is coming in at night realises that free meals have stopped from your particular establishment, it'll bug-r off somewhere else.

Sagz_2

If a fox is getting in you will know from the smell, think Tom cat times 100!

I think I'd be inclined to block the catflap at night and call out pest control. There are products on the market that are supposed to scare foxes away but I'm not sure they would work on an individual who was bold enough to break through a catflap.

Mupette

get some felway for kitty to help keep her calm

4nnabella

The main thing I don't understand is how a company can, on one hand, be spouting all the claims on this website http://www.microchipcatflaps.co.uk/ - although I'm not sure if this is the official company website for Pet Porte. Some quotes from it include:

Customers regularly tell us cats force through most magnetic and infra-red cat flaps on sale. The Pet Porte Smart Flap prevents this with it’s UNBEATABLY STRONG patent-protected design.
It’s unique solenoid-controlled locking pins are tested to more than 12kg of force.


You may have seen similar products somewhere else, but I guarantee you that they are nowhere near as effective as the genius Pet Porte Smart Flap.

There’s never before been a product that was so completely developed with the safety, comfort, and convenience of your cat in mind

but then on the other hand will send a disclaimer with the product saying that if any other animals do get in, then it isn't their fault?!

I've got two cats and have got a magnetic catflap. Works fine! Neither of them have ever lost their collar (and even if they did, I can get replacement collars and magnets off ebay dead cheap - I bought a couple when I got the catflap just in case as neither of them were really used to wearing collars before as we didn't have a catflap at our previous house) and I have never seen or heard any evidence that another cat was forcing it's way in, and there are loads of other cats on our street.

Owain_Moneysaver

Shoot the fox.

Sorry, but it's the only answer.

Fabwitch

Foxes are getting very bold these days, my ex neighbour had this problem , she came home one day and the fox was a sleep on her bed, lol. Another time the fox was a skleep on a bouncy castle i had in my garden. Sadly this fox diattack my 13 year old cat twice and he had to be put down as his neck was ripped too bad. Good luck, not sure what you can do but i would get lockable car flap and keep your cat in when your not around