Pet doors are a great way to allow your furry friends to go in and out as they please. No more constantly running up and down stairs to open and close doors or seeing your forlorn feline sitting patiently by the front door after a long day out. Cat flaps are one of the most common types of pet doors. Cat flaps can come with a few problems, though — your cat may be reluctant to use the door or you might find that other animals start making themselves at home. These issues are easily solved, and we've given you all the details below.
Your cat refuses to use the cat flap
Cats are creatures of habit and can take a while to adjust to new routines. If your cat has been used to calling you to open the door for them, they might be reluctant to use a cat flap at first. You should make sure that there's no practical reason why they can't use the flap. For example, make sure it is not too small or doesn't have rough edges that hurt your cat.
Once you're sure that the cat flap is fully functional, you can start training your cat. Try sitting outside and coaxing your kitty out with treats. They'll learn to associate using the cap flap with getting a reward. If your cat calls for the door to be opened, try leaving them alone. Most cats will give up and use the cat flap once they're realize you're not giving in, but it might be a battle of wills.
Other animals come into your home
If you live in a neighbourhood where there are lots of cats allowed to roam free, you might find a few unexpected visitors coming in through the cat flap. A microchip controlled pet door is a great solution to this problem and works with individual or multiple cats. These doors work with your cat's existing microchip, so there's no need for them to wear a collar, which can present a risk of injury or simply irritate your cat. The door will let any cat exit your house but will only let your cat come back in. This is a great way to make shy cats feel safer, and it ensures you won't have a problem with other cats stealing food or damaging furniture around your house.
Your cat goes out when it shouldn't
If you keep your cat in at night, then a cat flap might not seem like a viable option. Many models of cat flap are fitted with a timer function to limit your cat's access. This can be set for each individually micro-chipped cat, so you could let one cat out at night while keeping the other in. This option can also be handy if you live near a busy road — you could set it to keep your cat in until rush hour is over.
