Cat Flaps

[MrsLadyBug]

Does anyone have experience of cat flaps operated by cat chip?
I have installed one recently to stop nieghbour's cats helping themselves to free bed and breakfast, and lunch and dinner...
My problem is I have a nervous ginger tom who will not use it. Maybe because of the click when it unlocks.
He was always reluctant to use the other flap and would rather sit on window and cry to be left in if possible. But at least he did use it when nobody was around to let him in.
I had already installed a larger one to accommodate him when we got him as he was too rotund to go through the usual size.
Any advice as to how I can get him used to it?

[Hopkirk]

Perhaps prop it open with a stick for a while and encourage him to go through. He might get used to going through. You could put a treat the other side to tempt him.

You could then gradually shorten the stick so he gets used to pushing the flap a bit.

Good luck though, cats are so stubborn.

[ladybirder]

When he's hungry, try putting a dish of food the other side of the flap to tempt him in.
Good luck MrsLB, you're gonna need it;-)

[mumstheword1]

The way we did it was to have me inside and hubby outside and passed Sox back and forth for about 5 minutes. Still took her a while and we didn't open the door for her and she soon got the gist.

[Old_Geezer]

Was going to suggest gently pushing him through untill he was used to it. Once he knows he can go through ok, sooner or later surely he'll decide going through is better than staying out.

[MrsLadyBug]

Hopkirk, you don't know stubborn till you meet this fella....
Mums and OG, ...I value my ten fingers and my arms to even attempt it...
He was a stray when we took him in and still has trust issues. Daughter got torn a bit when putting him into travel cage for vet visit.
Will try the patient approach with treats maybe and the dish of food.
Trouble is I will have to watch for him as too many other cats around to get the food.
LB you sound as if you have experience.
I am sure it's the click of the flap putting him off

[ladybirder]

Isn't your flap one that only your cat can use?
I do have experience. I remember many years ago sitting at midnight waving a dish of food in and out of our cat flap while a very hungry moggy sat watching me from under the hedge. Eventually he did come and get it and after that he was fine thank goodness.

[wolf63]

My two were indoor cats and I felt good treating them to a lidded cat litter tray with a flap.

I am not saying that the dearly departed Princess Merlin was stupid but after a few weeks of her going into the tray and not being able to work out how to get out again, I caved in. I took the doors off.

I understand your frustration - it is a test of intelligence and of your powers of persuasion (aka bribery).

[MrsLadyBug]

With the warm weather just lately,( much appreciated,) the doors and window are open a lot so will wait till it gets colder again before I try.
At the moment he is quite happy out all day and don't see much of him.
But he has been known to sit outside in the pouring rain, waiting to be let in rather than use the flap.
My other cat has no bother with it at all and happily , although very quickly, will jump through

[MrsLadyBug]

Wolf, sorry I had to laugh. I can just picture it.

[MrsLadyBug]

Meant to add , it reminded me of the time when the lock broke on my bathroom, and I was a locked in with nobody hearing my cries for help.

[Hopkirk]

In my experience one of the few things that can motivate a cat is hunger.

[bobbie22]

My cat eventually got used to the cat flap, but shortly afterwards, she started bringing in live mice. If you had to get up in the night, there would be mice running around the kitchen. So guess what? I had to put the lock on the flap, and go back to the old way.