If you are a cat parent, you probably know how much your cats love the world outside. Dogs also enjoy the time they spend outside, though cats are keener to go outside. Sometimes, cats find friends when they go outside. At times, they can be seen chasing mice on the ground. Since these animals are known for their hunting habits, pet parents should let them go outside and spend time in nature. Installing a cat door ensures that your cat finds easy access to the outside world.
So, you have installed cat doors in your house. Now, the biggest concern is teaching the cat to use the cat door perfectly. Cats and dogs are intelligent animals who love learning new things. Cats are particularly curious about various things. Therefore, it should not be challenging to teach them to use the cat doors properly. The following section will provide a systematic guide to teaching your cats how to use the cat doors.
The Planning and Preparation Process
Training cats on using the cat doors should start with the planning and preparation procedures. You need to plan to purchase some props for training purposes. Another important thing before you start training is understanding the cat door. Training should be planned according to the type of cat door that you have installed in your home. Additionally, following the tips discussed below will be more convenient for you and your furry friend.
- Reward Your Pet: The training session will be enjoyable for your cats if you reward it after the goal completion. The reward couple is your cat’s favorite cookie.
- Short Training Sessions: You need to divide the training into multiple sessions and goals. Keep the sessions short to make things easier for your furry baby.
- Check Body Language: The last thing is understanding the cat’s reaction from time to time. Make sure that you do not frustrate your cat.
Steps to Teach Your Cat to Use Cat Doors
In the following section, a step-by-step guide has been provided to render effortless training to your cat on using the cat doors.
- Step 1: At first, you need to introduce the pet door to your cat and see how it naturally interacts with the pet door.
- Step 2: Allow your pet to build a positive association with the cat door. You will see your pet sniff the door and may remain hesitant in the beginning.
- Step 3: Encourage your cat to use the pet door as much as possible. You can keep the flap open to help your cat get familiar with the pet door.
- Step 4: Once your pet looks comfortable with the cat door, install the flaps again. Now, encourage your cat to use the pet door with the flaps.
- Step 5: If your cat is hesitant to use the pet door, you can place a few treats around it. This will encourage your cat to use the pet door.
- Step 6: When your cat goes outside, you should call him softly to get them back to the home again. This is an important habit for cats to follow when using pet doors.
- Step 7: Make sure that you encourage the cat to use the cat door for a specific period of time. Cats going outside at any time is not good for their safety and health.
- Step 8: Practice daily since practice makes things perfect. You should not give a gap during the training session to ensure seamless training for your cat.
Bottom Line
So, these are some simple steps that you need to follow to ensure your pet uses the cat pet door seamlessly. Installing the cat door is important, though it is equally important to make your pet familiar with the pet door. Otherwise, having a pet door will not serve the cause. Hope this article helped you with precision in training your cat to use the cat door that you have installed in your home recently.
