cat flap - recommendations?

november

Ours is open all the time as well. I think if they are going to wander they can do that as well in the day as at night. Our male cat doesn't wander but the female did - we found out that one of the neighbours was feeding her as she was turning up and meowing and looking at them pathetically. A little word soon put a stop to that :rotfl:

The only time we lock it is e.g. bonfire night when they are happy to be indoors hiding under a bed.

ailuro2

Ours is under review- it has always been open 24/7 but lately a neighbours cat has been coming in and eating our cat's food.

don't mind that, but I think it is the same cat that came in and sprayed in the kitchen while we were out (could smell it as soon as we opened the door:eek: )

so we are considering shutting it of an evening to discourage the other cat if it makes a habit of it...:rolleyes:

oldandhappy

Up until 3 years ago 24/7...then Boyze arrived...a natural hunter Cat from a kitten, who could stay out for 15 hours regulary at one stint, so we took the decison to lock him in once home and so he has never been out at night-time. We got Girlze a year later and it changed Boyze so much thankfully that now he is around us most of the time but we still lock the catflap at night and I would not have it any different. The pleasure of having your pets around and not having to worry about them if they have complete freedom is priceless. Mrs Happy

eira

Our cats have always broken the locks-or undone them. In extremis the cat flap has gone as well and they come and go through the hole in the door-so I now get the cheapest flap and replace it. The small dog ones are apparently more robust-but I suppose it depends on the size of the cat.

I would suggest that cats are microchipped, ours have collars and ID tags too but the Siamese keeps losing his collars. The Siamese was stolen a few years ago and was found two months later miles away from home. He was returned because of his microchip. We also had our pet ferrets microchipped and they found their way back !

Kimberley

I wouldn't let a cat out after twilight hours to be honest, this is the time most cats can suffer a RTA. Leaving a cat flap open all night is asking for trouble, cats are most active at night.

superpup

Kimberley wrote: »

I wouldn't let a cat out after twilight hours to be honest, this is the time most cats can suffer a RTA. Leaving a cat flap open all night is asking for trouble, cats are most active at night.

I agree. Our cat flap used to be open constantly but after my cat dragged himself in at 1 in the morning with his pelvis mangled and one of his back legs completely without fur on the inside, it is now locked as soon as it gets dark.

Fortunately, I had taken out pet insurance for him 2 months before the accident. After a few days of worry when we had to wait to see if he regained bladder function and a month of cage rest, he is now back to his old self (apart from a dislocated hip which he copes very well with, and a tail with 3 kinks!). The vet bill was around £500.

He has now adapted to the new regime. If he manages to sneak out after dark (we have 2 dogs), he's soon back in. We also have a 4 way cat flap. It's only £9.99 in Argos which is just as well as one of my dogs rips it off when she gets caught short, trying to get out. I just use my nectar points to buy a new one (about 4 a year :eek: )
x

MATH

Our cat flap is open 24/7 (as they say). I'm very uncomfortable with 'making' cats house cats or locking them in for for that matter out at night. Cats are not naturally indoors only animals and their natural time for prowling about is at night. If you love your pet why would you wish to take this funa and natural behaviour away from them? It may be mind easing to knowing they are safe but it is at the expense of the animals freedom. You never really own a cat, you're board and lodging and if they give you the odd cuddle and lick as thanks you're doing ok out of the deal IMO.

In the last 35 years I have only lost one cat to a RTA despite them all roaming free and a I had a couple of cats that used to go off for 4-6 weeks every summer and come back full of fleas and almost ferral!

My oldest cat is always out up the woods or over the field despite being 22 years old and full of arthritus, which makes her look like she is goosestepping! My youngest is only 6 years old but never leaves the garden (out of choice)

daphne_descends

Thanks everyone for all your input.

I am still a bit unsure what to do. Like MATH says I do feel uncomfortable forcing our cats to live to our schedule - that night time is for sleeping. And I don't believe you can 'own' a cat, they are simply staying for as long as THEY want. But then I look at these two and think, underneath all that cupboard love they are sensitive little things. Louis especially is demanding of attention.

I don't like magnetic cat flaps - if the magnet thing comes off then your cat is stuck outside. And if you're trying to keep other cats out - well what's to stop yours from simply sitting near the entrance and letting his mates in? Then walking away and leaving a stranger trapped in your house!

So it's either open, or closed.

Think I need to get over my soppyness with this one...

superpup

Hi again

Since my RTA survivor cat lost his night-time privileges, he pesters me once it gets to around midnight, to let me know he wants to go to bed. He may look at the back door longingly occasionally when I'm in the kitchen, but he certainly doesn't hold it against me as he follows me to bed and collapses next to me purring which usually is enough to send me straight off to sleep.

I lost my first cat to an RTA 2 years ago (again, at night) and after the second one got run over (same road), I vowed never to let my cats out at night again. He's very contented and probably more loving now than he ever was before his accident. Partly due to the lengthy time spent convalescing but more so since he's starting snuggling up with me rather than sleeping with the dogs! He was never out all night anyway so I've only curbed a couple of hours at most (and the hours he was usually out are the times when our rural roads were quieter so cars went faster (long straight stretch near to where we live).

At the end of the day it's the owners' choice based on where you live and level of risk. Dogs adapt whether they're kept inside or outside and cats adapt very well to new regimes so long as they deem them fair, lol.

My rules:
No cats on the kitchen worktops
Don't pounce on my feet when I'm walking upstairs (this one's still under debate)

His rules:
Feed me.
Change my cat litter frequently so it's spotless.
Feed me.
Stroke me but if I hit you with my paw or bite you, you have to stop right away. If I don't do that, you have to keep stroking me until I do get to that point or I'll get cross anyway.
Open any door the very second you hear me scratching or crying to get in (or I'll just get louder or wreck the paintwork).
Feed me.
Once I've got comfortable in the night, don't move, even if anything is aching or you have cramp.
Feed me.

x

Angelraesunshine

My cat is now 10 years old she is locked in to a side room that has the cat flap on it and it is open 24/7 she come sin and out as she pleases and will often scratch at the door or window at the front if she cant be bothered to go round the back to the flap little minx.

She is gonna get a schok the extention is being finshed by the end of the year and the cat flap will lead to the new bathroom and not outside any more and the new back door will not be having a cat flap. She will just have to get used to it either stay out all night or to stay in.

Her 1st year she was a house cat and never allowed out as i lived in a top floor flat.

Cats can look after them selves they will scratch and mew at you to come in at the top pf they mewing voices should they wish to be inside or they will be happy outside just see what best suits you both then stick to it.