Cat Flap in a cavity wall

Doozergirl

At the monent I can only find tunnel extensions that are tiny and clip together, meaning I need to pay £50 odd for enough plastic to go through a cavity wall. None of it is even going to be seen.

Any other solutions, please?

Put one in a brand new composite door?

jrrowleyws

These aren't that expensive http://www.catflaps.co.uk/White-Staywell-Tunnel-Extension-For-Walls-REL310 probably about 20 quid to go through a cavity.

I'd wonder if a cat would be happy using a flap with such a long tunnel?

I'd just use an appropriate diameter waste pipe to line it.

DaftyDuck

I've certainly had one in a cavity wall, but it was there before I moved in. Reason not to do it; it, and the wall, got filthy, and it was extra-difficult to keep clean.

When I put one in a new glass door, I replaced a pane with wood, and fitted it there. Much easier to keep clean, and elderly (very) and infirm (you try telling him that!) found the shorter passage much easier to use.

I'm not sure, but I imagine it might be much more difficult to convince a cat not used to a flap already that a long-tunnel one wasn't the work of Beelzepup, leading to certain maceration.

Having said that, I'm also sure that I have seen cheap extensions for some catflaps. Have you tried Zooplus, where I get a lot of pet stuff from. Mind you, my wife might have got it herself, and she's a vet, so would have gone straight to the wholesale suppliers. Handy one to have about, she is.


Edit: just browsed Zooplus, and they don't sell the extensions alone. jrr above seems to have found something.

Doozergirl

jrrowleyws wrote: »

These aren't that expensive http://www.catflaps.co.uk/White-Staywell-Tunnel-Extension-For-Walls-REL310 probably about 20 quid to go through a cavity.

I'd wonder if a cat would be happy using a flap with such a long tunnel?

I'd just use an appropriate diameter waste pipe to line it.

I was thinking both of those things. Waste pipe is cheaper but might freak the cat out!

flashg67

I cut the hole myself then lined it with large cheap ceramic tiles

Doozergirl

It’s about £50 more to out it into a new french door, so I think that’s the best idea. I can’t imagine going to the effort of a tunnel and then the cat turning its nose up at it!

EachPenny

Doozergirl wrote: »

It’s about £50 more to out it into a new french door, so I think that’s the best idea. I can’t imagine going to the effort of a tunnel and then the cat turning its nose up at it!

Probably the best bet, you can never please cats

If it absolutely had to go through a cavity wall I'd suggest a much larger diameter than 4 inch would be needed. Personally I'd be on the look out for some offcuts of 6 or more likely 9 inch rigid polypipe as I pass any conveniently located construction sites - obviously seeking permission from the foreman, and hoping they are an animal lover.

DaftyDuck

Doozergirl wrote: »

It’s about £50 more to out it into a new french door, so I think that’s the best idea. I can’t imagine going to the effort of a tunnel and then the cat turning its nose up at it!

Whatever you spend £50 on, the cat will turn its nose up at it.


It'll love the wrapping it came in, though!

Slinky

A friend put one in where there had previously been a warm air heating duct venting into the house. They'd got a square hole about a foot square, lined it with wood through the wall then the cat flap set into a piece of wood on the outside.

We've just had a new patio door fitted in our new house and have had upvc panel as part of a side panel where we will eventually fit a catflap when we move into that house. A side panel with upvc at the bottom, a glass panel above plus a fan light window was £140 inc vat extra than the ordinary sliding doors that were there before.

z1a

flashg67 wrote: »

I cut the hole myself then lined it with large cheap ceramic tiles

That is what I did.

mpet

We also made a wooden ‘tunnel’ I think from conti board. We then screwed the cat flap itself to the wood - flush to the brickwork.
The cat didn’t have any problem using the ‘tunnel’, but if you have a cat that is used to a ‘normal’ cat flap it may need some re-training!