What You Should Know About Cat Flaps

Cat flaps are cat sized windows that are fitted about 6 inches from the base of a door. The most practical design is one that is gravity loaded so that the door automatically closes after entry or exit and with a clear plastic window so that the cat can look through it before venturing outside.

Flaps are a boon to the indoor or outdoor cat that is not afraid of operating the flap and whose owners are not always home to obey the cat’s every whim.

They allow both cat and owner a degree of independence from each other. The main disadvantage of cat flaps, particularly when there is no such feline control, is that neighbors or feral cats will soon learn to use them, particularly if delicious food is known to be available on the other side of the flap.

This could lead to disease or infection being brought into the home, or territorial fights, or both.

One way of overcoming this is to have an electronically operated flap that allows entry only to cats wearing the appropriate collar and gadgetry, usually in the form of a magnetic tag that doubles as an identity tag.

Alternatively, you can allow your cat limited freedom, and, for example, lock the flap at night when you are unable to keep an eye on unwanted visitors.

It is useful to buy a flap that can be locked to prevent your cat from going out on certain times, or other cats from coming in. Your cat will soon become used to whatever routine you set.

When you introduce your cat to the cat flap, spend some time encouraging it with your voice and showing it how the door works. Put the cat on one side and call encouragingly from the other.

After a few tries, it will know exactly what to do by itself. However, it is not unusual for some cats to steadfastly refuse to use a flap, particularly if the flap was introduced after the cat. The same goes for flaps on covered litter trays or pans.