Random question for you all

We've just moved into our new house and are currently keeping our cat under house arrest to allow it to get used to the new area etc. However our long term plan is to install a cat flap so it can enjoy the level of independence that it is used to.

Unfortunately our new house appears to have v strong doors, steel plates etc, which will make installing a catflap v hard to do (and compromise the security/weatherproofness of the doors). Does anyone have any other solutions for cat access that they've used? eg windows etc?

My solution of getting rid of the cat didn't go down too well 😉

We had the same problem, in the end we just had a chat with our pussy and gave him his own key! 🙂

You can put them through walls! And I've seen them in windows. You can apparently get you local glazier to produce a sealed double glazed unit that you can fit a flap to. Either in the window, or in a conservatory door.

Not that I'm pondering the same issues or owt!

Tips here – http://www.double-glazing-web.co.uk/cat-flap.htm

We just let ours out the back door whenever we were around, though he never really wanted/wants to go out much compared to the new cat so it worked ok.

We had the same problems. We put a tunnel through the wall with a cat flap on the outside, and something similar on the inside. Got the bits quite easily from cat flap suppliers. Seems they are fitted quite regularly. Cat soon got used to it.

We have got a patio door at the back & a UPVC front door with glass top & bottom.
We just stuck a cat flap in the shed. If we are around, then we just let her in via the patio door and if we're out, she can just go into the shed. She's got a old towel in a box luxo-bed in there, so she doesn't get cold.

Didn't really fancy putting a cat flap in the front door & no way I was sticking one through the wall!

We have a "cat tunnel" through the wall of the porch.

The builders though it was a little odd but warmed to the idea and ended up building a couple of steps outside from matching stone to make up for the height difference.

Cats soon get used to it,

Dogflap here through solid wall into utility room.

seems like the through the wall option may be the way to go. It seems very permanent though, at least with a door you can replace the door if you no longer have a cat.

Same issue here…fully glazed UPVC rear door with no bar across the middle, windows all double glazed, no wallspace to make a tunnel due to kitchen units and bath = no cat 🙁

I'd strap it down with an elastic band under the chin, though to be honest you shouldn't really be riding without a helm… oh, cat flap solutions, not flat cap solutions…

Dont like cats Put a new door on

at least with a door you can replace the door if you no longer have a cat.

And with a wall you can replace the bricks if you no longer have a cat? Probably cheaper than a door too.

Who's the boss? Cat wants out, open door for it. Cat wants in, open door for it.

attach helium balloons to your cat and leave an upstairs window open.

when we had our conservatory built a few years back, we got the builders to build a tunnel into the wall, rather than trying to fit a catflap to double glazed full height glass doors.

There's a model of catflap from Staywell for which you can get extension pieces for the tunnel.

half of flap fastens to outside wall, glue extension pieces together to make the tunnel the correct length, then fit the other half to the inside wall. Sorted.

Or buy a litter tray & keep the cat indoors. Won't get run over anyway