Catflaps!

[Sheetmaself]

Hi, we have just built a Catio for our indoor cats.

We have also installed an absolute piece of crap catflap assuming they were all the same. This thing doesn’t seal, is difficult to lock it is garbage!

So the question is what cat flap would you recommend?

Doesn’t need to be a microchip one as nothing an get into the catio from the garden.

We want a nice seal to be as draught free as possible, easy to lock, and easy for the cats to use.

Needs to be large as well as we have Maine Coons and Ragdolls.

Thanks for all the advice.

[Simpo Two]

I like Cat Mate ones: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pet-Mate-Lockable-Flap-Wh...

Easy to lock/unlock and a nice finish.

See if you can find the large version in stock somewhere.

[Sheetmaself]

That was so similar to the one i have i had to have another look at it.

Anyway it turns out the magnet was installed at the factory the wrong way so it was repelling the door as opposed to attracting and therefore causing it to stay open!

I have fixed this, I do however need to make it easier to lock and if I can’t achieve this it will need replacing.

[WelshRich]

At the risk of teaching you to suck eggs, the lock/catches need to be depressed a little before they slide from side to side - You can force them without pushing down first, which makes it seem that this is how it’s supposed to work, but crap…

(Ask me how I know? I had my wife moaning at me about the locks on ours until I realised that she wasn’t pushing them down first)

[Sheetmaself]

I suspect that may be the issue!

I probably should’ve read the instructions, will trybit in the morning as they are all shut in for the night.

The magnet was definitely a manufactured fault though, just saying this to make myself feel less stupid!

[Arnold Cunningham]

We’ve got sure Petcare. It does have all the bells and whistles, but we like the curfew function, along with being able to track who is in and out via the app.

[Sheetmaself]

Hopefully one last question!

Am i right in thinking the tabs to lock are on the wrong way round? It looks as though the other side has a long section which would enable me to push it down as suggested.

[WelshRich]

I may have led you down the garden path! Looking at your photo it’s a different locking mechanism to the ones I’ve had (all different makes, but variations of the same design)

With mine, you press down and slide a single tab from side to side. Yours appears to have two separate tabs that you squeeze together or split apart. (sorry)

[Sheetmaself]

Mine allows to have open, locked, so they can only come in, so they can only go out.

That is probably the reason for the four vs two tabs.

[Simpo Two]

Is something the wrong way round? If that's the side you're trying to work the locking tabs from, the word 'OUT' is backwards.

[Sheetmaself]

I think it has all been done backwards.

The front plate is installed, from this the magnet on the frame to keep the door shut is the wrong way so it keeps the door open. Fixed this by removing magnet and turning it round.

The door like you say is the wrong way round, cant fix this though due to the way it interacts with the tabs.

Pretty confident the tabs are on the wrong way round as i can see the section to push down but this is inside the cat flap. Tried to re-install these the right way around but brittle plastic and they just break.

I’ve ordered a new one which should hopefully fit the wacking great hole i made for this one and hopefully Amazon returns policy will come through for the first one.

[Simpo Two]

Don't bugger up the second one

[Sheetmaself]

Could easily of been me if I had of installed it but my mate did it and he is one of those pricks who can do anything!


New installed with a turny wheel to lock so all sorted now.