How to Train Your Cat to Use a Cat Flap
How to Train Your Cat to Use a Cat Flap
Blog Article
Many cat owners have experienced the feeling of waking in the middle night to let out their cats and then to change their mind and want to return later. A cat flap can help solve this issue.
It is operated by scanning your cat's microchip to allow access to only authorized cats, and denying access to others. A cat flap has a variety of benefits, such as:
Peace of Mind
Cat flaps can help keep your cat secure and safe by letting them in and out whenever they want. They can be in the dark if they prefer, which reduces their chances of being attacked by feral cats or other cats who may be out hunting at late at night. These animals could carry deadly diseases that your cat might contract if out at night.
Conventional cat flaps also let other cats in and out - this is a major concern for some pet owners who do not want neighbour's cats harassing their pets, marking their home as theirs, consuming their food, or getting into fights with them. A microchip cat flap will keep other cats out by reading your cat's unique microchip and unlocking only for your cat is the only one who can get in and out.
A microchip cat flap can provide security when you are not home for instance, when you are going out for dinner or on holiday. It links to a hub and an app, which tracks your pet's movements inside and out of the home and allows you to regulate the time they are allowed to come out and in via a smart curfew feature that you set. You can also share your app access with family members and friends to ensure that they monitor your pets whilst you are away.
A microchip cat-flap with magnetic collar keys or an infrared collar can add an extra layer of protection to your cat's safety by only allowing them to use it when their collar is within certain distance. You should spend some time teaching your cat how to use the flap. This is especially crucial if your cat isn't familiar with using one. Start by leaving the flap open so that they can see the outside world and smell it. Holding out a favourite toy or food item from either side of flap you can give your cat praise and a reward each time it puts its head through. When they feel confident you can gradually close the flap.
Safety
There are many different cat flaps available on the market. Many of them offer different features. You should select one that is the right size for your pet so that it can enter and out easily. Also, you should look for a durable product that is able to withstand paws, claws and rain.
Certain cat flaps can be locked in different ways to protect your home from burglars out. You can lock them manually using an appropriate peg that fits into the lock or opt for microchip-encoded cat doors that allow registered cats to enter your home. The cat flaps are simple to set up and easy to program, making them perfect for homes with multiple cats.
Microchip cat flaps are an excellent way to track your pet's movement inside the house, even if you're not around. Some models are equipped with smart technology, which allows you to monitor the movements of your pets from the window or door using an app on your smartphone.
This is a great option in case you're worried that your cat could wander away from home or are worried about them having access to animals that could be dangerous in the neighbourhood. You can remotely lock the flap for your cat and monitor your pet's condition using the app.
You can also opt for a four-way manual locking system that gives you more control over who is able to access and exit the door. This is particularly helpful for those with an aggressive cat or an older cat that may struggle with a standard flap. This is a great option to keep your pets from coming in when they are sick or it's raining outside.
Other pet owners choose flaps that read the microchip of their pet and only allow entry if the microchip is registered, thereby keeping other cats out. These flaps can be more expensive than other flaps for cats, however they are a great way to keep your neighbour's cats from getting into your home.
Convenience
Unrestricted outside access can help keep your cat mentally and physically active. It also helps reduce the number of accidents that happen inside the home. Cats are also attracted by the scent of plants like cat thyme, catnip (catmint) and clary sage. These can be placed on either side of the flap to help encourage them to use it even in case they are uneasy.
It's easy to teach your cat how to utilize the small hinged flap that can be affixed to a window or door. Place treats on the other side of the flap, and encourage them to walk through by using their favorite food. It may be difficult to get your cat through read more the first time, but once you do it should become a habit.
Another alternative is to opt for a magnetic cat flap that detects your pet's microchip and lets it to enter. They are more expensive, but work by using an electronic device attached to the collar of your pet to unlock the flap and grant it access to your home. These can be a good solution for multi-cat households and keep out stray cats out of the home.
Other models offer different locking options. You can set it to either closed or open, exit only, or entry only. These are useful when you want to control when your cat is in and out particularly at night, or when you're away. They are useful when you're away from home for a prolonged time and want to make sure that your cat is secure.
You can also opt for an intelligent cat-flap that's connected to your smartphone, and controlled through an app. This allows you to control the entrance and exit of your cat with ease. These cat flaps are more difficult to install than traditional cat flaps however they provide more peace of mind and are safer for your read more pets. Some of these smart flaps even come with video monitoring and can be accessed from any location connected to the internet.
Training
If you have a kitten or cat who has never used a flap for their cat, it may take some website time for them to get accustomed to the idea of going outside on their own. Depending on their nature, some cats are naturally curious and adapt to the new environment quickly. Others may need to be gently encouraged and need time to learn how to open the flap by using a paw or a head. Observing your cat from both the inside and from the outside can help you decide what training methods to use. However, remember that every cat is different.
Instead of yelling at your cat to go through the flap, try to encourage them by giving them treats. Place treats on the opposite side of the flap (but not in a way that allows you to see it) and then prop the flap open. Make your cat a call through the flap while maintaining an ebullient, calm voice. This will help your cat learn how to go through the flap by noticing that it leads them closer to their reward on the opposite side of the flap.
When your cat starts to lick the flap or use their head to open it, you can let them out in the open and have fun in their new freedom. It is important to watch your cat and ensure that they are secure outdoors, as some cats can be vulnerable to the elements as well as other animals such as cats that are here in the vicinity.
If you're unsure whether your cat can cope with the outside world you can always lock them in at night or just leave the flap open website so that they have constant access to their litter tray, puzzle feeders and toys. This lets you make sure that they're getting all the exercise and enrichment they require. It it also provides them with a means to escape any stressful situation in the house, for instance when you're cooking or cleaning. They will also be able to rest in the knowing that they can always come back home if they'd like to.