Cats can be very manipulative. But as you know he CAN use it, ignore him, and you will soon find he can magically do it all by himself x

 

Ha thank you. He definitely knows I'm soft and will always be so pleased to see him that I'll let him in. I just don't know why he seems to adverse to using it to come back in. x

 

Is there a step up outside whereas the inside is level like mine? Maybe he needs a box or something outside to make it level until he gets used to it. That's the only reason I can think of, if its not the case then he probably is just doing it for attention.

 

I've made him some steps out of bricks so he can reach it from the outside and he's perfectly happy to step up them and put his head in. It's really just the pushing of the door that he seems to have a problem with. He just tends to hover around with his head and body in but then wiggles backwards rather than pushing himself through it.

 

Could you prop it open on a day that you are home?
When our Daisy was first in the cattery they had cat flaps to go into the heated sleeping area and she wouldn't use it however once they had propped it open for the first day she started using it!

 

This reminds me of my cat, when I was trying to train him to use the cat flap. It took him a year........ and he still isn't that keen.

I found what worked was at tea time, put him outside or encourage him out, then make his dinner right in front of the door. even open it and waft the food in his direction. Walk away. Wait.

After two turns at this, Snaf would be in in a flash.

Cats can train you really well to open the cat flap for them when they sit there and mournfully meow. x

 

This reminds me of my cat, when I was trying to train him to use the cat flap. It took him a year........ and he still isn't that keen.

I found what worked was at tea time, put him outside or encourage him out, then make his dinner right in front of the door. even open it and waft the food in his direction. Walk away. Wait.

After two turns at this, Snaf would be in in a flash.

Cats can train you really well to open the cat flap for them when they sit there and mournfully meow. x

I'm definitely going to try this - thanks for the tips. I've left the catflap a little propped open today and some biscuits down in front of the flap so hopefully that will help him come in. He's definitely trained me to feel sorry for him! But it's only him that will suffer if he doesn't get used to using it for when I'm out/working late and he needs to come home for his dinner so I need to enforce some tough love now for the greater good! x

 

Big P won't come in through the cat flap if he knows we are in. He would rather wack it to let us know he's there and wait for us to open the door. When I'm out at work or during the night, he has no issues with using it... Funny that

 

I think it might be a case of this. I unlock the cat flap in the morning and then tend to call him back in around 11 (if I'm home) when he'll come for some fuss/a snooze inside. Otherwise he's happy to stay out for most of the day until someone lets him back in for his dinner. We need to be strict I guess and allow him to let himself in. Just concerned as he's only done it once and I've come home late a few times to find him still outside with his food untouched until I call him in

 

If you have the standard Sureflap cat flap (as opposed to the Dual Scan) then it is the same as an old fashioned ordinary cat flap when he uses it to go out, i.e. the scanner does not read the chip and the flap can be pushed open without the cat needing to wait for the click.

Coming back in, the cat has to wait for the chip reader to read his chip, and then unlock the flap for him, which makes a click. Some cats can find it hard to judge the exact point when the flap is open for them to push. Two of my cats often seem think the flap will open for them automatically when they come back in, without them even having to push it. Whereas going out they know they have to push it.

The other thing is the standard Sureflap is too small for large cats, or cats with long legs, making it uncomfortable for them to use, and causing them to ask for the door to be opened instead if there any humans around.. So if you have a large cat you are better off fitting a Sureflap Pet Door which is slightly larger than the standard cat flap. And as Jannor has mentioned you may need to put a step outside to help the cat use the flap when he comes back in.

 

If you have the standard Sureflap cat flap (as opposed to the Dual Scan) then it is the same as an old fashioned ordinary cat flap when he uses it to go out, i.e. the scanner does not read the chip and the flap can be pushed open without the cat needing to wait for the click.

Coming back in, the cat has to wait for the chip reader to read his chip, and then unlock the flap for him, which makes a click. Some cats can find it hard to judge the exact point when the flap is open for them to push. Two of my cats often seem think the flap will open for them automatically when they come back in, without them even having to push it. Whereas going out they know they have to push it.

The other thing is the standard Sureflap is too small for large cats, or cats with long legs, making it uncomfortable for them to use, and causing them to ask for the door to be opened instead if there any humans around.. So if you have a large cat you are better off fitting a Sureflap Pet Door which is slightly larger than the standard cat flap. And as Jannor has mentioned you may need to put a step outside to help the cat use the flap when he comes back in.

Thanks for the advice - size wise - he seems to be fine with getting through it without much issue. It's mainly the coming back in by himself that is causing the trouble.

I think it must be the click and understanding what he has to do to get back in. Although he has managed it. I think he might be getting a bit confused that he has to walk along a slight path before pushing his head through to get in whereas going out, it's a lot more straight forward. I've sat with him outside and coaxed him through it by pushing my hand through. I've also sat with my OH on the other side pushing it open for him and coaxing him with chicken/food. He's just still quite hesitant about it.

I've tried propping it open for him today slightly to see if that helps and put his food bowl within view so he has more of an incentive.

Any other tips would be appreciated!

 

@chillminx that makes sense, I didn't realise it might be different as I have the dualscan, plus I have it set on "in" only.

To get mine used to the click I sat outside with her and pushed her gently towards it, when it clicked I pushed it with a stick and she soon got the idea.

 

Thanks - I have tried this a few times and he has gone through it. It just seems he's not happy using it on his own yet and would rather wait for me to let him in. Just wondering if there were any magic tricks to help ha

 

I have a microchip cat flap where it just reads the chip coming back inside. My female cat wasn't interested in using a cat flap until the time when I had a male cat for three years he started using it and then she magically decided that she could use it. Then I had this microchip cat flap installed as I kept on having uninvited feline visitors coming in and apart from just learning to wait a little longer she took to it like a duck to water.

 

Have yet to hear anybody say what to do in the meantime, while the cat is learning. Litter box? Open the human door? Both would seem to sabotage the learning process, not to mention confuse the cat. I'm moving this week and had a cat door installed in the new house. I took my cat over there today for a session. Going out went OK with the flap propped open, but coming in was a no go. She dislikes the click. I don't want to give in, but I don't want to stress my cat either.

 

@Yam Erez This is an old thread ,it may be a better idea to start a new one with your concerns.
In the mean time although I have never had free roaming cats nor would I want too, your cat will have to be confined indoors for at least 4 weeks ,possibly longer before being allowed out so the litter tray isnt an issue .That said a cat should always have an indoor litter tray which can be used in an emergency or bad weather and not have to rely on going outside to toilet.
Hopefully others will be along with some advice regarding using the new cat flap.