Cat door training

ethiope

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I have two cats, Pumpkin, who's about 8 or 9 years old, and Aspen who's 3. I put a cat door in between my house and my screen porch a year and a half ago. I couldn't get them to use it with the flap down, so I just taped the flap up and they go in and out of it with no problem.

Well, a couple of days ago a mole got in my house. Of course the cats killed it, but I really don't do rodents so it freaked me out. I've now closed the cat door and they will not go through it. I've tried taking Aspen's paw and pushing the door with it to show her that she can open it. I've also gently pushed her through it to show her that she can go through it on her own, but she doesn't seem to be catching on or she just refuses to do it. Pumpkin's a little less cooperative, so I haven't even had the chance to show him.

Has anyone had the same situation where their cats wouldn't go through the flap at first but learned to do it later? Any tips on how to train them to go through the door with the flap closed?

Thanks.
 

kristykitty

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I haven't had this situation before, but have you tried putting some yummy food (something they love that smells really good) on the other side of the door, and then calling them to come get it? Maybe they will be motivated by the food to get through the kitty-door. Or you can open it just a teensy little bit for them, and hopefully they figure it out. Then doing this over and over again, they may get the hang of it. I suppose you could also try catnip instead of food.

Sorry, I just have to laugh at the mole getting inside your house!
That must have been quite an adventure for your kitties
 

kluchetta

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We have a flap in the door that leads to the basement, so I have had to teach each cat to use it. I put them on the other side of the door and open the flap and they come through. This must be repeated more times than you would think
....Then get on the other side and call them. Some figure it out, most don't. So you open the door about halfway and let them get partway through it and let it go so they can feel it across their back. Repeat ad nauseum...

Finally just barely unseal the magnet with your finger and call them. They should come through, and then the last step, where they push it open themselves, usually happens soon after that.

Whew!
 
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ethiope

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Thanks for the replies. At least I know that my two aren't the only stubborn little ones. I've been doing the open it halfway and then letting it fall against her back thing with Aspen, but Pumpkin's having none of it. Every time I'm down there near the door he looks at me as if I have something up my sleeve and just walks or runs away. I'm determined though because I don't want anymore moles in the house.

Unfortunately, neither of mine are very motivated by food. Aspen only a little and Pumpkin not at all. Aspen does like cat nip, but I wonder will she come for it when it's on the other side of the door and she can't smell it.
 

fluffee

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we have two doors, as some of mine go outside during the day. Dakota will play with the flap. Squirel(she won't go outside) will stop someone from coming back in by slapping the flap. Try putting them outside on the pouch after you have push them through and just wait a bit more, to see if they get hungry/thirsy enough to try on their own. Just keep and eye on them and let them learn they are safe using the door.

good luck
 

stephanietx

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I'm with kluchetta on this one. We put one in our door to the enclosed sunroom. My older kitty freaked out! We had to put a stick in it to keep it open for about a week, then did what kluchetta mentioned. Now she goes in/out without any problems and all is well in the world.
 

kluchetta

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Originally Posted by stephanietx

I'm with kluchetta on this one. We put one in our door to the enclosed sunroom. My older kitty freaked out! We had to put a stick in it to keep it open for about a week, then did what kluchetta mentioned. Now she goes in/out without any problems and all is well in the world.
Cats need a LOT more repetition than dogs when learning things, in my experience. A dog would probably learn it after 2 times or so, but cats take several times a day, for several days...
 
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ethiope

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I've wimped out and taped the door open again after the vet informed me that one of them probably brought the mole in and it wasn't the taped open cat door that allowed the mole in. One of them also brought a dead bird in. It's what you gotta deal with when your kids have fur.

Question: are you guy's doors the rigid plastic kind or the floppy kind? Mine is the rigid kind and I wonder if that makes a difference.
 
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