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Training your cat to use the
cat fl ap
Most cats will learn to use the cat fl ap almost at once but there are a few who
may be a little nervous at fi rst. The following tips will help your pet to take full
advantage of the outdoor freedom and indoor comfort – which you want for
your cat – and which your new cat fl ap provides.
The most important rule is to be patient with your cat. Don’t be in a hurry. Let
your cat work out for itself that it can go in and out of doors. Don’t force it
through the fl ap or it may become frightened.
Many cat owners install cat fl aps when they move house. If this applies to you,
make sure that your cat is familiar with his or her surroundings before you fi t the
cat fl ap. Take it on supervised trips outdoors on a lead and make sure it also
feels secure and comfortable in its new indoor environment. Cats can develop
long lasting fears in unfamiliar surroundings.
Once you have installed your cat fl ap, leave the fl ap open for some time. You
can do this by using a long strip of masking tape; open the fl ap and use the tape
to keep it held open by fi xing the other end of the tape to the surface above.
Make sure that the fi xing is secure so that the fl ap can not fall down accidentally.
Let your cat become familiar with it and go in and out freely.
Establish a motive for your cat to use the door. A good one is food. First feed
the cat near the door, inside and then near the door outside. Repeat as often as
you need to. Most cats, especially kittens, also have a strong urge for freedom,
perhaps to hunt. Cats are also social creatures – they enjoy the company of
other cats. This can be another reason for them to explore outside.
If this is something new to your cat, it may take some patience to teach your cat
how to use it. When your cat makes progress, give them a lot of praise - they’ve
earned it!
Training your cat to use
the magnetic collar key
Before allowing your cat to use the cat fl ap, it is wise to acquaint your self
with the operation of the magnetic lock. From the outside of the house take
the collar key in your hand and then move it to the bottom of the fi xed tunnel
attached to the inner frame. You should hear the lock mechanism “click”
(Please note that this will only work when the cat fl ap is fully assembled).
Leaving the magnet on the tunnel, push the fl ap using your hand. You should
note that the fl ap will not open if you hold the collar key against the fl ap in
your hand – only when leaving it on the fi xed tunnel. You can prove this by
trying to push the fl ap with your hand when the magnet is not on the tunnel.
Only when the cat is comfortable going in and out of the cat fl ap whilst the
fl ap has been propped open, (in line with the general training tips in the
previous section) should you fi t the collar key onto your cat’s collar. When
fi xing the collar to your cat, ensure that the collar key is positioned centrally
below your cat’s chin
(Please note that the magnetic collar key is required
only to enter the cat fl ap).
Some cats can take time to get used to the operation of the magnetic cat fl ap
- some learning more quickly than others. The emphasis here is on persistence;
try using a favourite treat to not only coax your cat through the cat fl ap, but to
encourage the cat to move their head, and therefore their collar key towards
the base of the tunnel.
