How to train cat to use cat flap - 2 yr old cat

PennyForThem_2

OK going out but not coming back - coming back means sticking head in 'tunnel' whereas she uses paws to open cat flap going out.  Cat flap is flush here.

All suggestions appreciated.

sheramber

Leave the flap off or secure it open until she is using it confidently.

itsanne

sheramber said:

Leave the flap off or secure it open until she is using it confidently.

This ^^^^

Brambling

My cat was five when I got him and obviously had never used a cat flap before I did tie it up for awhile and when the weather was warmer so not an issue left it down so he had to use it to come in. It was slow but he did learn although he still prefers me to open the front door for him even after four years  

How food orientated is she, what happens if you are inside with chicken or tuna?

kazwookie

My 3 had never seen a cat flap either, I have two cat flaps, one into the kitchen from conservatory, the other conservatory to the outside.

So the one from kitchen to conservatory was propped open, kitchen roll and a tin on top, they got use to that, when they are ready to go out, I just left it open the conservatory to outside  and waited, cats 1 & 2 got the hang of it very quickly, cat 3 it took a further 3 or 4 weeks.

Every time they went in and out using the outside one, they got 2 cat treats when they returned, they soon got the hang of it.

TripleH

In our last owned home we had a balcony so used a window as a cat flap. Sadly it worked for our younger 2 but our then eldest had no chance of jumping up to get in or out.

Where we live now, once we get shelves sorted, we intend to use a window again as a 'cat flap'. Our 4 are young enough to jump in and out via the garden furniture and the window can be set to only open so far. Our yard is secure and our cats are indoor though.

SensibleSarah

I taped the flap open for a few days (literally gaffer taped it to the door so fully open) until cat was used to going through from both sides. I also turned off the beep (mine was a microchip flap that originally beeped when it detected a chipped cat - bit offputting for timid cats) and that seemed to do the trick.

PennyForThem_2

Thanks all - I have seen her use flap to come in to the house when she did not 'see' me.  So I think she has got the idea but as is the way with cats, if she sees me she expects help!

Will use the treat idea too.

Brie

PennyForThem_2 said:

Thanks all - I have seen her use flap to come in to the house when she did not 'see' me.  So I think she has got the idea but as is the way with cats, if she sees me she expects help!

Will use the treat idea too.

She obviously has trained you well to be her slave and open the door as often as possible.  

Our 2 kittens were fine using the cat flap after a few tries but usually yelled before entering on the half chance someone would open the door for them.  When we moved when the remaining kitten was a mere 13 she was pleased to have a cat flap installed in the kitchen door for her benefit but her preferred method of entry was to sit outside the lounge doorA and make meowing faces at me through the glass. 

I'm sure she'd check there first to see if someone was available before going to use the kitchen flap.  And she was so confident in her ability to get us to do her bidding she would meow outside the open lounge door so we would have to get up and open it an extra inch - just to keep us in training I think.

Virgo19

2 people stand each side of the cat flap with a piece of chicken, cat soon gets the idea  smiley:

Brambling

Brie said:

PennyForThem_2 said:

Thanks all - I have seen her use flap to come in to the house when she did not 'see' me.  So I think she has got the idea but as is the way with cats, if she sees me she expects help!

Will use the treat idea too.

She obviously has trained you well to be her slave and open the door as often as possible.  

Our 2 kittens were fine using the cat flap after a few tries but usually yelled before entering on the half chance someone would open the door for them.  When we moved when the remaining kitten was a mere 13 she was pleased to have a cat flap installed in the kitchen door for her benefit but her preferred method of entry was to sit outside the lounge doorA and make meowing faces at me through the glass. 

I'm sure she'd check there first to see if someone was available before going to use the kitchen flap.  And she was so confident in her ability to get us to do her bidding she would meow outside the open lounge door so we would have to get up and open it an extra inch - just to keep us in training I think.

The first year I had mine most days I had to explain to some one that the poor cat sitting on the front door step all day did in fact have a catflap around the back he just liked to sit on the door step and wait for his slave.  I knew he was coming in via it and he will still linger in the front as he knows when I'm home I'll occasionally open it to check if he's there.  I'm a enabler 🙄