Frozen cat flap

They were all in when I got back from the pub, hardly surprising as it was bitterly cold, and after feeding them and myself I settled down on the sofa with the gas fire on full to listen to a few cds. I woke up at just gone 1.30am with not a cat in sight but didn't think much of it, tho' thought I'd open the door to see if any of them were about.

It's as well I did as Bola, Fudge and Max were sat on the doorstep while Buddy was sat there in the freshly fallen snow.......the others must have pulled rank on him and claimed the snow free doorstep for themselves

I knew I hadn't locked the flap so couldn't understand why they hadn't come in but when I checked the flap it was frozen, at least the bristles around the edge to prevent draughts were, the flap would open outwards but not inwards. I don't know how long they'd been out but it's as well I checked before going to bed else they would have been locked out till I got up today, and as it was too late to thaw the flap out I had to hope they'd stay in after I'd gone to bed.............thankfully they did.............and of course they all looked at me as tho' I'd locked them out on purpose

Luckily I found an old hair dryer in the junk room so a quick blast this morning was all it took to thaw the flap out and normal service has resumed, they've been in and out ever since I don't remember the flap being frozen like that before and it shows just how cold it was.

'EDIT'

8am, I've just checked and it's frozen again

Ian

Amazingly, after the forecast severe overnight frost, the flap wasm't frozen today

I'm tempted to get some vaseline to put on the flap bristles, but as they're bound to get some on their coats when using the flap, I'm not sure if there's any risk in them licking it off. Anybody know?

Iam

vaseline is basically petroluem jelly, now we can use it on our lips, but whether it's harmful to cats, I just don't know, sorry.

Hi Kath,

A quick google and seemingly vaseline is not a bad idea for helping cats get rid of fur balls, rub a bit on a paw, they lick it off and bingo, so perhaps using it on the flap won't hurt.

Ian

Sorry ggun but we don't need/want porn wedsites on this forum so I've edited your post. Post anymore porn sites and I will have to ban you.

Ian B wrote:Hi Kath,

A quick google and seemingly vaseline is not a bad idea for helping cats get rid of fur balls, rub a bit on a paw, they lick it off and bingo, so perhaps using it on the flap won't hurt.

Ian

I had a feeling it was safe, we use it on babies but glad you made sure.

Teddy wrote:

Ian B wrote:Hi Kath,

A quick google and seemingly vaseline is not a bad idea for helping cats get rid of fur balls, rub a bit on a paw, they lick it off and bingo, so perhaps using it on the flap won't hurt.

Ian

I had a feeling it was safe, we use it on babies but glad you made sure.

Hi Kath,

It isn't recommended, just suggested as a help for furballs. The catch is they might not be getting much if I use it on the flap, but the amount would accumulate.

Ian

would rubbing ordinary cooking oil around the flap be just as good?

I don't know tbh, does cooking oil freeze? I want something to put on the bristles to stop them freezing up. They slightly overlap the flap opening to stop draughts when the flap is shut, but once frozen they stop the flap from opening and/or closing.

The more I think about it the more I seem to recall it happening before, and I think I solved it by trimming the bristles slightly. I might give this a go, I've got a spare flap and a old broken one if it all goes pear shaped.

Ian