Should we fit a cat flap into the shed for when we go away as we only have patio doors...?

Question

We are moving house and wanted to fit a cat flap for our rescued cat however our new house only has patio doors and no back door to fit the cat flap to. We have a shed at the bottom of the garden we were thinking of putting into the door of that. My question is do i get our cat to eat her food from the shed at all times or keep the food in the house and move the food into the shed when we go away where we would have a bed etc for her?

Answer 1

We had the same problem - if only for a night we left the cat securely in the house with her food and water. Two nights I asked the neighbour to check on her in the house but more than this I always put her in a cattery as you never know what can happen - other animals stealing the food/ water being knocked over/ accidents and scrapes your cat may get into. For everyday - yes put a cat flap in the shed - you could also put one in a wall or a friend of ours has put one in the patio doors although this does cost money.

Answer 2

Littleso... there is a huge difference between a kitchen window and a patio door glass. The answer is simple No you cannot now fit a cat flap into your patio door glass, reason is simple toughened glass can only be cut when it is still hot,as part of the making procedure, any cat flaps in patio doors that anybody has seen will have been made into the glass when it was manufactured. Do not under any circumstance try and cut safety glass, you cant it will shatter.

Answer 3

You can get a type of cat flap that can be fitted into double glazed doors- speak to a window firm about it. However if you decide to go with the shed idea I'd keep it consistant- if you want her to eat from there when you're away you need to make sure she knows that the shed is her eating place and leave it there at all times.

Answer 4

We have two cats and glass patio doors - we put their food in the alleyway (which has a cat hole rather than flap!) and they seem quite happy with this.

However we have their basket there as well so they sleep there overnight so they are used to using that area as well as their basket in the house.

So if your cat is an outdoor cat you could encourage it to sleep overnight in the shed by putting another basket there?

Ours were about 8 years old when we changed to this regime and they took to it fine.

Hope it works for you.

Carol

Answer 5

by all means put a cat flap in the shed door, atleast somewhere to go when the house is locked up. the food should be in the house else any cat will eat it lol
and you said you were going away i hope you will have someone feeding and checking up on your cat while away

Answer 6

An outside haven is a nice idea for a cat, but I am not understanding what you mean about moving the food to the shed when you go away, you should not leave a cat for long periods of time (like overnight) without someone coming to check up on the cat and make sure it is ok. I am not preaching at you but I knew people who left their cats alone for 2 days and one of them got tangled up in their garden and slowly choked to death.

Answer 7

in other words u dont want ur cat 2 make a mess or smell in ur new home. If the cat wants 2 go out or come in, it will let u know. As 4 goin away and leaving it, get someone 2 feed and water ur cat. How would u feel moving 2 a new home and being chucked out into a cold, dark shed??

Answer 8

firstly, don't just leave her while you are away - anything could happen.. you could use the shed, but if this is going to be new to her, then it may not work out. If she is a house cat and use to coming in and out, she may feel rejected.. does she go to the front/ how about putting one in the front door?
p.s you can put cat flaps into walls too..

Answer 9

I prefere that the cat be restricted to the house alone and not in and out .. cats would eat somethig bad or be hurt like that ..
but anyway if you have no other solutin than having her out then keep the food inside and move it into the shed when you go away

Answer 10

Hi.....I have a cat flap in my shed too....the cats always go in there, sometimes when i'm in the house (usually when the kids are home! it makes a safe haven for a bit of peace and quiet i suppose.....
If you put a nice cosy basket in there your cat will find it.
I have a friend put their food in there when i'm on hols, but don't put it in there all the time....(too far to walk to the bottom of the garden, especially when it's cold and wet! urgh...