Cat escaping out of locked catflap

SkintMonkey

I just saw this thread and thought I should post because we had exaxctly the same thing happen with our cat. What we've done is measure the surrounding of the cat flap, go to a hardware shop and get a piece of hard board cut to the size of the outside of the flap, buy some heavy duty velcro - and when we shut them in at night, we lock the cat flap, attach the hard board/velcro and put the kitchen bin infront (which is tall). The cat's haven't managed to get out since.

There are scratch marks on the hard board where it looks like they've had a go, but they've not been successful as they can't shift the board off. A bit of a faff, but at least it works.

Hope that helps someone.

patchwork_cat

Yes we have had this too. One of our cats worked out how to get her claw in so she could get out when it was locked in only. And another completly wrecked one, we have a new one, but this is worse and they can open it when it is completley locked too. Maybe we should be complaing to Staywell as if we all have this problem it is clearly a design flaw.

ms.prong

yep we have this problem too, both of my cats can still get out.

Saslt

[FONT=&quot]Hello I purchased and fitted the Staywell Manual 4way yesterday.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I let my 9 month kitten out for the first time; I rehomed him at 7 month ish and had to get him vaccinated ECT. As it was about 7pm I locked him in for the night….[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]But he managed to Brake out!!!!:mad: He broke the casing on the bottom of the flap…[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]So a Warning to all Staywell 4 way owners…Get another cat flay I am…[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Oh Marley came back ok as I was fixing the flap…:T[/FONT]

Mankysteve

We've always had staywell cat flaps and even our big ginger Tom didn't mange to break the control catch the few time we need them locked either in or out(usually out).

At 5 mounths hes not going to major threat to the local female cat population so I wouldn't loose too much sleep over him getting out.

snapping_crocodile

I have a staywell infra red catflap and no amount of headbutting by my two will open it when it was locked.....not so far at least

louisdog

I have had the same issues with the 4 way locking Staywell :mad:

I end up moving a small chest of drawers or similar in front of the flap when I have to keep them in.

frivolous_fay

I know what you all mean about hooking the flap - my two got to grips with that well before the concept of pushing it open! Luckily I don't need to lock it.

Annoyingly, my problem with the '4-way' is that occasionally my ginger boy will hit it at speed and dislodge a spring on one side of the flap. This means the flap won't swing freely anymore... so you have to remove the magnetic strip... at least til I get the toolkit out on a sunny day and dismantle the thing and re-seat the srping, AGAIN...