Cat flap issues

Flick216

My nine year old cat Butters has suddenly started to avoid coming in through the cat flap. It's a sureflap microchip cat flap and I know it's working with his chip because he will go out using it.

He just sits by the door and miaows until we let him in. I'm getting a bit fed up with being woken in the night by piteous mewing with an accusatory undertone. I swear the neighbours think I'm trying to keep him outside!!

Has anyone else encountered this issue? Am I just making the problem worse by giving in to him?

fierystormcloud

Is it a new catflap, and did he have no problems with the old catflap?

If so, you may have to change it back.

Cats are funny creatures!!!

Mupette

Gizmo and Georgie do this to go out, I think it's just them thinking they are far too superior to be going through cat flaps when there are humans to open the door.

You say the cat flap is working as your cat goes out.

Just check you haven't accidentally locked it down to let out but not let in.

Slinky

I discovered our catflap wouldn't let the cat back in as the peg had got stuck (dirt around it) so he could get out but not back in again.

Flick216

fierystormcloud wrote: »

Is it a new catflap, and did he have no problems with the old catflap?

If so, you may have to change it back.

Cats are funny creatures!!!

No it's not new - they have been using it for ages!

Mupette wrote: »

Gizmo and Georgie do this to go out, I think it's just them thinking they are far too superior to be going through cat flaps when there are humans to open the door.

You say the cat flap is working as your cat goes out.

Just check you haven't accidentally locked it down to let out but not let in.

I guess I can try and reset his settings just in case....

Slinky wrote: »

I discovered our catflap wouldn't let the cat back in as the peg had got stuck (dirt around it) so he could get out but not back in again.

My other two still come in using the cat flap.

Twice last night! I will clear his microchip from the flap and re enter it and see if that makes a difference.

Thanks.

Sagz_2

The sensors might need cleaning, soapy damp cloth usually does the trick.

Lorian

Does the little white knob in the middle of the inside sit at the top of its travel and move easily downwards if pushed, then spring back up?

Have you replaced the battery?

Flick216

Ok - there is definitely no problem with the cat flap. Yesterday evening he sat at the patio door glaring at us - we ignored him and he eventually came wandering in through the cat flap.

Looks like ignoring him (I have been letting him in through the patio door and front door when I have seen him so it's my fault) until he realises that it's the cat flap or nothing is the way forward.

Flick216

Sorry to revive this but I am hoping someone can give me some advice....

I know he uses the catflap - I watch him do it - so no problem with the cat flap, no problem with him using it...except....at certain times (for reasons only known to Butters, and possible not even known to Butters) he insists on yowling at the front door in the middle of the night until I cave and let him in. He will come in, have a bit of food, go out - USING THE CATFLAP - go back round to the front door and start meowing again.

He employs a variety of meows, from the pitiful and plaintive to full throttle yowls. There are times I have wondered if it is more than one cat but it appears not. It went on for over an hour last night (about 2am) until I eventually gave in and opened the front door for him.

If he was point blank refusing to use the catflap at all, I could understand this but he seems to have no issues with it at other times. He doesn't even do this every night. Sometimes he yowls for a bit then comes in - through the catflap.

I am at my wit's end - I am having trouble sleeping anyway due to night sweats and now I am just waiting for it to start. He has always been a bit odd and very highly strung - I just wonder if he is going a bit senile? He is only 9

nicter

Take him for a bloodtest
Cats often do the "yowling" bit when they have thyroid problems .
good luck x

no1catman

When you 'let him in' do you open the door, or (if it's the same door that the cat-flap is attached to) hold open the flap for him to come through - thereby getting him used to it as an entry point, not just an exit.

I'm in the opposite situation, mine has got the hang of coming in, apart from one time when the sensors got clogged up with her fur! The trouble is, she likes to go out through the French doors, rather than the back door where the cat-flap is. So it's difficult to 'train' her! Sometimes she looks through it, and I'm waiting hoping, then she turns away.

Hopefully she'll have a 'light-bulb' moment when she realises that it's an exit as well as an entry.
Meanwhile, it's 3.30 or 4.00 am to let her out, back to bed, with her coming back in with a bang about ten minutes later.