How to Train Your Cat to Use a Cat Flap

To encourage your cat to use the cat flap, start by playing and eating near it. This will help them become familiar with the sound of it closing and opening. You can also add the scent of your cat to the flap. Next you should open the flap a little to give your cat a sense of movement. Try to lure them in by grabbing their favorite food or a toy. Some plants (such a cat germander valerian, clarysage and clary sage) are enticing in scent that many cats enjoy. Installing the cat flap A cat flap enables your cat to come and go as it pleases without having to open the door or window. This will help you save time, and decrease the chance of your cat getting involved in something it shouldn't. Even novice DIYers can install cat flaps on windows or doors. The same can be done for walls, as well as in the wall. To fit a cat flap, first determine the height of your cat's belly from the floor. Then, mark this point on the door you want to install it in. It is important to use this measurement, because different cats have different sizes of their belly. The opening of the cat flap must be at a minimum of 10cm higher than your cat's waist. The next step is to drill the screw holes. You can use the template that comes with most kits to make sure that your holes are in the correct location. It is also an excellent idea to drill circular holes rather than a square one to reduce the risk of glass cracking later on. Once the holes are drilled and the holes are drilled, you can begin to attach the cat flap. It is important to be careful to align the edges of the cat flap with the door's edge. Once the cat flap is installed it's an ideal idea to seal the inside of the front door as well as the back flap. This will protect the flap from water damage and also prevent cold drafts. There are a variety of cat flaps, each with their own advantages and drawbacks. Some are more expensive, but they all should be simple to use by your cat. If you wish to restrict access to certain individuals, you should consider installing a secure flap that requires an RFID chip or microchip to be activated. Another option is to put in a cat flap that is magnetic, which can be activated with magnets. This is more expensive, however it is more secure and is less likely to be activated by stray cat. Teach your cat to use the cat flap The cat flap is a great method to introduce your pet to a new world. It gives your cat greater freedom and control over their foraging and bathroom visits. Persistence is key to getting your cat to use their new door. Follow these steps to teach your pet how to use their new flap, and you'll have a cat that is awed by its freedom! It's crucial that your cat gets used to the noise the flap makes when it is closed and opened. If your cat is afraid of this sound, it may be reluctant to go through the opening in any way. Practice it a few times per day, and offer your cat a treat every time they pass through the opening. Once your cat is comfortable with the noise, it's now time to teach them how to walk through the flap. Start by placing food treats within the flap opening and urging your cat using their paws or head to go through. You can also try dragging a toy attached to a piece of string through the opening, or simply putting your hands through the flap to catch their attention. As your cat gains confidence, you can lower it so that only a small part of the opening is left. This will encourage your cat to push on the flap using their head or paws to open it. Some cats prefer using their paws to open the flap, while others prefer to use their heads. cat flap installers should then close the flap and wait for your pet to come through it and offer them treats in the event that they do. Repeat this process every day for an entire week and your cat will then be allowed to walk through the flap even if it is closed. It is important to remember that you should not force your cat to using the flap. This can lead to anxiety and stress. Some cats will get used to using the flap on their own, while others may require patience and encouragement. Get your cat to use the cat flap It might take a while for your cat to get comfortable with the flap. It is recommended to teach your cat to use the flap slowly. This will increase their confidence, and they'll become more comfortable with the concept. Positive reinforcement is a useful method in which your cat will be rewarded with toys or treats as it approaches the flap. This method is highly recommended for cat training as it can encourage desirable behavior. Begin by luring them into the cat flap by using their favourite toys or food. This will make them more attracted to the flap, and will make them more inclined to explore it. Once your cat is confident in moving towards the flap, they can begin to move the treats or toys closer to the opening, until they are within the reach of their feet. Continue to praise them for navigating through and gradually lower the flap so that your cat will only use their head. Some cats have trouble transitioning from a fully-open flap to an enclosed flap difficult, so you could aid them by putting the binder or a clothes peg clip on the cat flap to ensure that it doesn't close completely, but remains open. You can then entice them in by placing a treat on the other side of the flap opening and call their name. Once your cat has become accustomed to entering and leaving through the flap, remove the peg, clip or other device and let them play with it with their paws or their heads. You can do this for a few days, and continue rewarding them for entering and exiting through the cat flap, then you can open it a bit and encourage them to enter with a treat on the other side of the flap. Continue this practice for a few days and your cat will be able use the flap by themselves. If your cat isn't using the flap after some time, it is likely that they're not happy with it, or that it has become inconvenient for them. You may need to move the flap to a different location or alter its the sensitivity, or even have to replace it completely. Fixing the flap on the cat Cat flaps let your pet come in and out of the house without having to open the door or get up to let them in. This allows them to leave whenever they'd like and not only when you're around and it means they won't be pestering you to take a stroll around the block or meowing in the middle of the night if they need to leave. It's not as difficult as it seems to install the cat flap to your door. Just follow the instructions included in the kit. Once you've mapped out the door's opening and used a jigsaw cut it out you can use caulk for decorators to make the joint water tight. It's also recommended to paint what will be the timber sections that aren't bare inside the cutout with some wood stain to stop them from absorbing water and causing decay. When you're happy that the flap is exactly where it should and that there are no gaps (it's recommended to check this frequently during the process), it's time to mark the areas on your door where screws will be. Again, this is fairly simple to explain and should be mentioned clearly in the instructions for your particular cat flap. The last thing to do is to secure the flap of cat to secure it. This is also pretty easy and is a very simple task for anyone who has done it before. The only problem is when fixing into an UPVC or glass door since they tend to have different thicknesses and can cause some problems when trying to fix the cat flap to them. With a little patience, your cat will soon be using the flap and enjoying the advantages it brings. They will be more relaxed and healthier if they can let themselves inside and out on their own, instead of having to nag you to let them in.