Hello all
I have a gorgeous cat called Serafina Pekkala ; my cat flap is in the back door, which is a double-glazed unit. It's one of those standard 4-way cat flaps with a magnetic seal.
I have always left it open (from both inside and out) so that Serafina can get access whenever she wants.
In the last 4 months, a new black tom has arrived - and boy, has he arrived! At first, I thought Serafina was eating more than usual because her wet food plate was licked bare (which she didn't usually do). Then I started smelling that distinctive musky odour of cat pee - again, not hers.
I then started catching Black Cat watching my garden from next door's shed roof, and making a racket. The first time he thundered through the cat flap at 3am gave me the heeby-jeebies! Serafina was on my bed at the time so I knew it wasn't her.
Anyway, he's been visiting day and night. Today when I got home from work he was actually in the house - he scarpered as soon as I came in.
Now, I don't like the idea of locking my cat flap to keep him out because poor Serafina will also be locked out.
I'm thinking of buying an infra-red cat flap but before I pay to have a new double-glazed pane cut to size etc, I wondered if anyone had tried these and whether they actually work to keep out intruders?
The alternative is an electro-magnetic one with a collar etc ; but because the frame of my door is (I think) UPVC-covered metal, I'm worried that won't work.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Any recommendations for cat flaps?
Any recommendations for cat flaps?
Yavanna wrote: Hello all
I have a gorgeous cat called Serafina Pekkala ; my cat flap is in the back door, which is a double-glazed unit. It's one of those standard 4-way cat flaps with a magnetic seal.
I have always left it open (from both inside and out) so that Serafina can get access whenever she wants.
In the last 4 months, a new black tom has arrived - and boy, has he arrived! At first, I thought Serafina was eating more than usual because her wet food plate was licked bare (which she didn't usually do). Then I started smelling that distinctive musky odour of cat pee - again, not hers.
I then started catching Black Cat watching my garden from next door's shed roof, and making a racket. The first time he thundered through the cat flap at 3am gave me the heeby-jeebies! Serafina was on my bed at the time so I knew it wasn't her.
Anyway, he's been visiting day and night. Today when I got home from work he was actually in the house - he scarpered as soon as I came in.
Now, I don't like the idea of locking my cat flap to keep him out because poor Serafina will also be locked out.
I'm thinking of buying an infra-red cat flap but before I pay to have a new double-glazed pane cut to size etc, I wondered if anyone had tried these and whether they actually work to keep out intruders?
The alternative is an electro-magnetic one with a collar etc ; but because the frame of my door is (I think) UPVC-covered metal, I'm worried that won't work.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
The magnetic one with the collar should be fine - it releases when the sender is within a couple of inches so the door frame should not cause a problem.
Also, active dicouragement of the black panther should help - if it has positive feedback (food) it will keep coming back, negative feedback (pepper? / shouting?) sound keep it away.
I have a gorgeous cat called Serafina Pekkala ; my cat flap is in the back door, which is a double-glazed unit. It's one of those standard 4-way cat flaps with a magnetic seal.
I have always left it open (from both inside and out) so that Serafina can get access whenever she wants.
In the last 4 months, a new black tom has arrived - and boy, has he arrived! At first, I thought Serafina was eating more than usual because her wet food plate was licked bare (which she didn't usually do). Then I started smelling that distinctive musky odour of cat pee - again, not hers.
I then started catching Black Cat watching my garden from next door's shed roof, and making a racket. The first time he thundered through the cat flap at 3am gave me the heeby-jeebies! Serafina was on my bed at the time so I knew it wasn't her.
Anyway, he's been visiting day and night. Today when I got home from work he was actually in the house - he scarpered as soon as I came in.
Now, I don't like the idea of locking my cat flap to keep him out because poor Serafina will also be locked out.
I'm thinking of buying an infra-red cat flap but before I pay to have a new double-glazed pane cut to size etc, I wondered if anyone had tried these and whether they actually work to keep out intruders?
The alternative is an electro-magnetic one with a collar etc ; but because the frame of my door is (I think) UPVC-covered metal, I'm worried that won't work.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
The magnetic one with the collar should be fine - it releases when the sender is within a couple of inches so the door frame should not cause a problem.
Also, active dicouragement of the black panther should help - if it has positive feedback (food) it will keep coming back, negative feedback (pepper? / shouting?) sound keep it away.
- Bill Sikes
- Posts: 5515
- Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2004 2:21 am
Any recommendations for cat flaps?
Yavanna wrote:
(interloper)
Any suggestions?
Thanks
A large string bag.
(interloper)
Any suggestions?
Thanks
A large string bag.