How to train cats to use a cat flap?

This is a bit of an odd one.

My two 1 year old kittens/cats (like my children I'm not ready for them to grow up yet!) will come IN through the recently installed cat flap. Yet refuse to go OUT - we have to leave it propped open for them!

Any idea's how to encourage them?

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6 replies since 26th April 2011 • Last reply 26th April 2011

Reply #1:

If they know how it works then just leave them. When they wish to go out they will.

Otherwise, you can go on the opposite side and lure them with treats.

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Reply #2:

Maybe put there front paws trough the flap and then encourage them with a little treat at the other side. Try that a few times and after that with only a treat at the other side.

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Reply #3:

Thanks, food is usually the answer!

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Reply #4:

We had to train our cats to use a flap so we could keep the basement door closed at my mom's house. We would "help" (gently push) them through the door and then praise them and give them a treat then repeat from the other side (two people is helpful). Pretty soon they got the idea and began using it themselves. What was funny was when they'd go through it and look up at us like "where's my treat?" Once one cat has the idea others will follow too.

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Reply #5:

if they ask to go out try and coax them towards the flap and show them by opening it a bit and easing them towards it so they learn thats how they get out and leave tempting treats outside the cat flap and they figure out that its a good thing to go out aswell as in x

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Reply #6:

Thanks for the tips - they seem to be getting the hang of it now - when they want to!!

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