cat flap - recommendations?

knithappens

is a cat flap a good idea, i work full time so want the cats ( visiting the RSPCA re homing center this weekend) to be able to get in and out during the day while I am out.

Some people tell me no as other things can get in mice etc, and other cats. While other people i have spoken to swear by them. I was advised from the re homing center to leave a window open for them to get in and out, but my windows only open from the top, hard to explain, there is no easy access to them for the cats.

I want to make sure we are as prepared as possible before we bring our new babies home.

TraceyH_3

Hi
We have several cats, and love them dearly, in our oppinion, cat flaps are a good idea, and the investment we made in the more expensive one with the metalic tag - to keep other cats out was a good one.
Ours takes some hammer and has been replaced, but I still think its a good idea. You can also buy replacement metallic tags if the collar gets lost.
Hope this helps
Tracey

Bean_Counter

lilmrsmullen wrote: »

I was advised from the re homing center to leave a window open for them to get in and out

Would there not be implications for your house insurance by leaving windows open while you are out?

I also knwo that when we had a cat flap in a previous flat, both my wife and my flat mates wife managed to crawl through the cat flap when we were locked out (albeit it was larger than normal size.) Cheaper than a locksmith!

Magenta_Wolves

Couldn't live without mine - the cats find it useful too!:rotfl:

Penny_Watcher

Bean_Counter wrote: »

I also knwo that when we had a cat flap in a previous flat, both my wife and my flat mates wife managed to crawl through the cat flap when we were locked out (albeit it was larger than normal size.) Cheaper than a locksmith!

:eek: :rotfl: :rotfl: I'd have paid good money to see that. :T

When I lived at home my Mum had a cat flap that had some sort of a lock on it, in so far as you could have it set to in & out, just out, just in or locked IYSWIM. If it was set to just out the cats could get out during the day, but couldn't get back in again (with the mice, birds etc) until someone let them in. It could also be locked to keep them in at night.

knithappens

Bean_Counter wrote: »

Would there not be implications for your house insurance by leaving windows open while you are out?

I also knwo that when we had a cat flap in a previous flat, both my wife and my flat mates wife managed to crawl through the cat flap when we were locked out (albeit it was larger than normal size.) Cheaper than a locksmith!

yes thats the reason i dont want to.

Thanks everyone for your replies, looks like we will be getting a cat flap. Do they fit easily on PVC doors??

eira

Our cats love the cat flap-but some warnings
1) None of ours last more than a few months. A cat breeder said that a better buy is the flaps for small dogs-or rubber door-ed ones
2) The lockable ones break easily and flaps can be easily broken
3- I don't have the magnetic ones as our cats lose their collars on a regular basisalso they have been known to stand by the flap and let in neighbourhood friends.
4) There can be an element of bullying in the local neighbourhood- especially where the other cat doesn't have access to its own house. Whether it gets in or not depends on your cat. We used to have a toothless,gerriatric., athritic tom (neutered late in life before we got him)-and nothing or no one ever messed with him.

But always a cat flap

Nicki

lilmrsmullen wrote: »

yes thats the reason i dont want to.

Thanks everyone for your replies, looks like we will be getting a cat flap. Do they fit easily on PVC doors??

When we got our cat from Battersea we weren't allowed to take her away until we had fitted a catflap and they came out and did a home visit to check!

We had a nice door which we didn't want to mess up with a catflap so we took it off and bought a cheap one, and had the cat flap fitted in that. When the cat died, we put the old door back on. If you don't want to run the risk with your PVC door you could do the same?

seashore321

Our cat flap has been in the door (Hard wood one) for twenty years and has outlived (unfortunately) the cat. It was bought from a pet shop in Ilkley for £5.00 quite a lot then it is just plastic but has a lock on it, so when they are in they are in etc., Do not leave windows open if a cat can get in then so can a cat burgler (aptly named) and yes your insurance could be compromised.

daphne_descends

Hello everyone

I just wondered how other people here use cat flaps - are yours left open all the time? Or do you keep your cats in at night?

We have two cats and for a while had the cat flap open 24/7 - especially useful while we were away and my mum was coming in to feed and play with them, but I felt it unfair to have them locked in from that time (7 pm) or to ask my mum to come back to get them in.

This worked okay until one of our little monsters went AWOL for a bit, he is back and fine, but it made us a bit cautious, so we've been putting the cat flap one-way from about 9pm, i.e. when they're in after that, they're in for the night.

However one of them managed to pull the cat flap inwards and get out that way! Cheeky, but determined - and clever!

So this has got us thinking, are they best off having unlimited access to the outside world? We do have a litter tray for use at night but it really is rare that they've had the need.

With the warmer weather closing in we thought they might want to be out more at night when it's cool, so I don't want to stifle them - but also want to keep them safe.

Any thoughts?

hjb123

Ours is open all the time. Its one of the 4 way ones, ie. it opens both ways, doesnt open at all, they can only go out or can only go in.