Outside Cats - Magnetic Cat Flaps

Hi,

Just wondering if any of you have had experience with using a magnetic cat flap for you cat/s?

I have been thinking of purchasing one for a while to stop other cats coming into the flat and just wanted some feedback from people with experience of these.

Thanks

(oh and if this is in the wrong place, feel free to move!)

Thank you Gilly for posting about this product. It's the first time I heard of it. I looked it up and it's like kitty's own house key. I hope there are members here who have used it. I also want to find out if it works well.

I have always used magnetic cat flaps - I think they are wonderful. Only they are not good for cats who keep losing their collars with the magnets on! Fortunately most large pet shops sell replacements.

I brought one to Bosnia and everyone was amazed - they are not available here. But as people here normally don't have cats in the house at all, there is no demand. In my experience it is very easy to train a cat to use one - just put the magnet on the collar (make sure it is the right way round) and hold the cat right up close in front of the door till you hear a slight click, which is the magnet releasing the door catch. Then push the cat through. Do this a few times and the cat quickly gets the idea.

I think these are a great idea. I wish my boy Elmo would use his cat flap, but when I was trying to get him to use it I got his foot stuck and now he is scared of it.

Originally Posted by jennyranson

I have always used magnetic cat flaps - I think they are wonderful. Only they are not good for cats who keep losing their collars with the magnets on! Fortunately most large pet shops sell replacements.

I brought one to Bosnia and everyone was amazed - they are not available here. But as people here normally don't have cats in the house at all, there is no demand. In my experience it is very easy to train a cat to use one - just put the magnet on the collar (make sure it is the right way round) and hold the cat right up close in front of the door till you hear a slight click, which is the magnet releasing the door catch. Then push the cat through. Do this a few times and the cat quickly gets the idea.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply.

Guinness has never really had a collar (I never felt he needed too as he is microchipped) but I am sure he will be able to adjust to having something round his neck. That pushing him through the flap etc is exactly what I did when I was training him how to use the cat flap that I have now! At first he would go out but he didn't understand that the flap worked the other way as well to let him in! lol He is now a pro and I hear the cat flap rattling all the time when he runs in to see me!

Is your cat pretty used to using it now and have any other cats still managed to get in?

Also, I have a cat flap already fitted on my door (Staywell) I assume that if I purchase the Staywell magnetic cat flap it is easy to swap them over?

Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

I think these are a great idea. I wish my boy Elmo would use his cat flap, but when I was trying to get him to use it I got his foot stuck and now he is scared of it.

Click to expand...

Awww You could try and make a game of it so that Elmo gets used to using it? Maybe put catnip on the outside to tempt him! hehe

I think Guinness was scared of the first cat flap that I had as it was an old version and he couldn't see outside. The swing action was too powerful and used to hit him in the face. I got a new back door on the house so I got a new cat flap put into the door when it was fitted - it has a clear plastic door so he can see if other cats are outside etc.