Cat & outside access question.

milkydrink

Mt cat is 5 & I've just returned to full-time work.

I leave at 7.50am & get home about 4.30pm, I'm the first home.

I don't like leaving him locked indoors all day (saying that he is a lazy laid back persian). But I don't want to lock him out all day either.

He can climb over the 6 foot fence into in & out of the back garden, but dogs & kids can't, so if he was being bothered its a safe spot for him. Other cats can get in, be hes one of the "big boys on the block", so I'm not too worried about him & other cats during the day. Hes not allowed out at night though.

I don't want to put a cat flap in my nice new french doors (mainly drafts, but would spoil the look too), nor would I like one in my front door (mainly looks). Even IF I did get a cat flap I would have to get a magnet one as other cats could come in otherwise & hes never worn a collar (long hair & collars doesn't mix).

Should I just not worry & leave him locked in? But hes a bit thick & naughty, sometimes he won't come in before I leave for work:mad: , but hes mad a hell when hes stuck out all day. He gives out to me for ages:rolleyes:

Any bright ideas?
I can't see any:o

tanith

I had the same problem when I was working but am retired now so here all day at their beck and call... do you have an outside shed or garage you could give him access to? I had an open sided box , bit like a dog kennel but open on one side and at least he could shelter in there if it was wet... maybe if he's left out a few times he will learn to come in when you call... also let him out as soon as you are up but don't feed him so he gets a longer time outside before you leave... and is hungry so more likely to come when you call...

milkydrink

tanith wrote: »

I had the same problem when I was working but am retired now so here all day at their beck and call... do you have an outside shed or garage you could give him access to? I had an open sided box , bit like a dog kennel but open on one side and at least he could shelter in there if it was wet... maybe if he's left out a few times he will learn to come in when you call... also let him out as soon as you are up so he gets a longer time outside before you leave...

Ops, yes I meant to put that in.
We have two sheds, one is a concrete one with a proper roof, so very snug.
I've suggested to hubby that we put a cat flap in that one & a warm bed & blanket in the shed. Would still have to put a special magnet type cat flap & collar on him, but he might get used to the collar.
Be better than being cold, or locked in.

You wouold think he would come when called after getting locked out, no hes a bit stupid. But very angry when I get home:rolleyes:

Everytime the door is opened he runs out, he wants to come back in 2 minutes later, if you let him out 5 times before work, he will want to go out when you leave. Hubby says the "great outdoors" is like a drug to him. He knows he shouldn't but he can't help himself when the door is opened:rotfl: :rotfl:

spookylukey

I know you're not keen on a cat flap but if you could be persuaded thay actually do cat flaps that only let certain cats in by reading their microchips. They're expensive but a great idea if you don't want your cat to wear a collar or the other cats have magnetic collars too! You can also get insulated cat cabins with catflaps....

http://www.petporte.com/

http://www.katkabin.co.uk/

Peter_Pan

We bought an electronic cat flap with key collars as we have a problem with everyone elses cats coming in cos my two are softies, but one kept losing the key and collar and it costs £12 a time to replace it. When we went on hol last year he must have lost it and as my parents were only coming down 2x a day to feed them he must have got fed up and found his own way in. We weren't sure when we got home how he did it until OH heard the cat flap banging and went to look.

Our clever cat uses his claw to hook the cat flap open from outside (opens it the wrong way to the way it should go to get in), it takes him a few times to do it hence the banging. He isn't successful every time but more times than not hes out when we go to bed and hes back in by the time we wake up.:D
Saves us a fortune on replacing the keys.

Just hoping none of the other cats in the area see him and try it;)

milkydrink

spookylukey wrote: »

I know you're not keen on a cat flap but if you could be persuaded thay actually do cat flaps that only let certain cats in by reading their microchips. They're expensive but a great idea if you don't want your cat to wear a collar or the other cats have magnetic collars too! You can also get insulated cat cabins with catflaps....

http://www.petporte.com/

http://www.katkabin.co.uk/

Great cat flaps. Do you have one?

I see they need a power supply & you fit in a door. How do you get a power lead to a catflap in a door that is opening & closing. Do you have the lead slack to allow the door to open, is this not dangerous?

spookylukey

kimevans wrote: »

Great cat flaps. Do you have one?

I see they need a power supply & you fit in a door. How do you get a power lead to a catflap in a door that is opening & closing. Do you have the lead slack to allow the door to open, is this not dangerous?

Haven't got one myself but there's a few people on a cat forum who have one and are pretty impressed with it...

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php?topic=7865.0

Just read the FAQ and it can be fitted into walls and glazed panels of glass as well. I guess with the wire you can have it flush against the door, then crossing the hinge flush and going flush against the wall until you reach a socket so no slack required. It says it has a low voltage adaptor so the voltage is only 12v which wouldn't harm an animal even if they did take an interest in it and chew it.

catw75

Cats need to get in and out and need a cat flap if no-one is in during the day.

System

our cat doesnt like to be indoors so we got him a cat kennel, basically its a plastic kennel ,we have put it somewhere protected from the elements and he seems to use it a lot.

milkydrink

catw75 wrote: »

Cats need to get in and out and need a cat flap if no-one is in during the day.

Hmmmmmmmm, how do housecats manage:rolleyes:

My cat does not "need" to get in & out.

But it would be nice for him to.

Do not even go there with the "I'm not treating him right", hes the most spoilt mollycoddled cat in England.

milkydrink

CHRISSYG wrote: »

our cat doesnt like to be indoors so we got him a cat kennel, basically its a plastic kennel ,we have put it somewhere protected from the elements and he seems to use it a lot.

I've though about that, but I'm not sure a kennel will really impress mine, hes a fussy sod :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

If we don't go for the catflap, then I think a catflap in the shed with a bed inside that could be good.

TBH most of the mornings he does come back in before I go to work, but hes mad as hell when I get home if he hasn't:o