Hmm; not certain whether this idea will work as I intend, but I can't think of another elegant solution.
Basically, I'm starting to have real trouble with at least one of the kittens bringing little visitors into the house through the microchip cat-flap. To be blunt, Rîna is becoming an absolute little sod for doing it! Her last effort, two nights ago, just before midnight, was a huge Norway Rat (well over a foot long), still very much alive.
I was up half the night trying to find the damn thing (actually managed to catch it by the tail at one point, but it got away again). Of course, after bringing it in, she proceeded to hiss and snarl her way all over the house at something invading her territory, beat the living tar out of it, then left it half stunned in the sitting-room, where it crawled and hid away, where I had no hope of finding it until it ventured out next afternoon. Needless to say, I didn't get any sleep that night, wondering when it would come out, and what damage it might do before being found. Also, frightened half to death, it had messed all through the house. Although I was far from happy, I ended up actually feeling sorry for the thing; it was whimpering, terrified, and didn't deserve that.
Although not yet quite so bad, I suspect her sister Tällia is going to start the same caper; she's already bringing in worms, beetles etc., so I imagine her own compliment of rats and mice aren't going to be far behind. And in any case, I imagine Rîna will teach her. Clearly, I've two real little genetically predisposed hunters, and probably there's going to be no way easily to stop them doing what comes naturally.
The Sureflap door does include a curfew mode, but that helps little, as both are just as happy bringing prey in during daylight hours.
As things stand, the microchip flap is installed in the back door, which leads directly into the laundry, on the opposite side of which is another door leading into the rest of the house. So, my idea is to install a second, far simpler manual flap on this inner door. It won't stop them bringing things in, but they do appear to be content to keep their catches in the laundry. At least, it's worth a try. At best, I can rodent-proof the laundry, so an escaped rat or mouse won't have anywhere in there to hide (by very good luck, its design means it's almost proofed as is). At worst and if nothing else, it will mean that I don't have to leave the laundry's inner door open, and waste heating or air-conditioning on a room that doesn't need it.
What I'm looking for is a good-sized manual flap (large enough to accommodate large cats), with an excellent seal, and sturdy enough to make it difficult for e.g. a rat they might bring in simply to push its way through. The only other consideration is that, if possible, it must be symmetrical. My older cat, Nimrod, is unwilling still to come in through the Sureflap, even though he's happy to go out. He won't try to push the door open from the outside, no matter what I try.
Price doesn't matter (I'm happy to spend what I need), but, of course, I don't see the point in installing anything other than a manual flap, with the microchip Sureflap already installed.
I'd be happy with any suggestions, or for another solution. To be honest though, this does seem to me the most likely to work.
Basically, I'm starting to have real trouble with at least one of the kittens bringing little visitors into the house through the microchip cat-flap. To be blunt, Rîna is becoming an absolute little sod for doing it! Her last effort, two nights ago, just before midnight, was a huge Norway Rat (well over a foot long), still very much alive.
I was up half the night trying to find the damn thing (actually managed to catch it by the tail at one point, but it got away again). Of course, after bringing it in, she proceeded to hiss and snarl her way all over the house at something invading her territory, beat the living tar out of it, then left it half stunned in the sitting-room, where it crawled and hid away, where I had no hope of finding it until it ventured out next afternoon. Needless to say, I didn't get any sleep that night, wondering when it would come out, and what damage it might do before being found. Also, frightened half to death, it had messed all through the house. Although I was far from happy, I ended up actually feeling sorry for the thing; it was whimpering, terrified, and didn't deserve that.Although not yet quite so bad, I suspect her sister Tällia is going to start the same caper; she's already bringing in worms, beetles etc., so I imagine her own compliment of rats and mice aren't going to be far behind. And in any case, I imagine Rîna will teach her. Clearly, I've two real little genetically predisposed hunters, and probably there's going to be no way easily to stop them doing what comes naturally.
The Sureflap door does include a curfew mode, but that helps little, as both are just as happy bringing prey in during daylight hours.
As things stand, the microchip flap is installed in the back door, which leads directly into the laundry, on the opposite side of which is another door leading into the rest of the house. So, my idea is to install a second, far simpler manual flap on this inner door. It won't stop them bringing things in, but they do appear to be content to keep their catches in the laundry. At least, it's worth a try. At best, I can rodent-proof the laundry, so an escaped rat or mouse won't have anywhere in there to hide (by very good luck, its design means it's almost proofed as is). At worst and if nothing else, it will mean that I don't have to leave the laundry's inner door open, and waste heating or air-conditioning on a room that doesn't need it.
What I'm looking for is a good-sized manual flap (large enough to accommodate large cats), with an excellent seal, and sturdy enough to make it difficult for e.g. a rat they might bring in simply to push its way through. The only other consideration is that, if possible, it must be symmetrical. My older cat, Nimrod, is unwilling still to come in through the Sureflap, even though he's happy to go out. He won't try to push the door open from the outside, no matter what I try.
Price doesn't matter (I'm happy to spend what I need), but, of course, I don't see the point in installing anything other than a manual flap, with the microchip Sureflap already installed.
I'd be happy with any suggestions, or for another solution. To be honest though, this does seem to me the most likely to work.
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