Colleen has recently installed a cat flap for her cats, and wants to know how she can train them to use it. Is using food as an incentive the only way?

Question

Dear Glynne
We live in a neighbourhood where there seem to be an inordinate number of cats who spend their lives making our cats’ lives miserable - perhaps it is important for me to say that my cats are treated like queens - they have the best food, cat nip and cat mint abound in the garden and they are loved to bits. I also have bird feeders - as I love birds in the garden - which my cats are completely unconcerned about - so I guess the neighbours’ cats are interested in all the luxuries provided.
In a desperate attempt to try and keep them all out I never leave food out when I am not there and have installed a brand new kitchen door with a factory built cat flap - the question is, how do I train my cats to use it without using food as an incentive all the time?
Thanks for a great column
Kind regards
Colleen

Hi Colleen
Unfortunately it’s not the cats who are the problem but their owners who never seem to take responsibility for their own.
I really don’t know what it about these cat people but they think it’s their birth right to allow their cats to kill precious birds and wildlife, as well as to invade other people’s homes and beat up the resident kitties.
I always offer sensible solutions to these problems but it seems most cat owners have doctorates in Cat Psychology, because you can’t tell them a thing as they know it all. All I can say is ‘denial’ is not a river in Egypt!
You watch this space and you’ll see a tirade of objections to what I’ve just said. And then to justify their rightness, these irresponsible and inconsiderate cat owners will accuse me of being a ‘cat hater’! I suppose it’s their way of creating a sort of ‘smoke screen’ to detract from their failure to control their animals.
Now that’s off my chest… Congratulations on your kitties which is living proof that cats don’t have to be serial killers and house invaders.
And now for your question: I’m afraid food is the only incentive of I can think of. But the good news is once your cats are conditioned to using the flap, it will become second nature. Please continue with food and patience – I promise it will pay off.
Good luck
Glynne