A couple of weeks ago I installed a catflap and left it open with a peg and shoelace for about a week while he got used to going in and out. After that I left it closed and whenever he wanted to go out/in I coaxed him through whilst holding it open, gradually reducing the gap so that now it's just off the magnetic strip. But it's been at that stage for days now, whenever it's fully closed he just claws and sniffs it, if he does try to push it it's with his paw (although when I hold it open he goes head first).

Today I decided to just leave him to it, he knows how it works and perhaps desperation will drive him to figure it out. He wants to go out but is now just curled up on the sofa looking sorry for himself.

He's very much an outdoor cat and I need to get this sorted soon. Does anyone have any suggestions please? I'd really rather not scruff him (the only way he lets me pick him up) and push his head through it but if that's the only way . . .

I've got a cat like that and she's nearly three years old and the cat flap has always been there. She prefers coming in through a quite high up window, than use the cat flap. However since the weather turned cold and the window has been shut I have noticed that she has been using the flap. Not when I might see her though! I put her in the porch last thing at night and first thing in the morning she is outside in the garden wanting to come in. I therefore think that if you ignore your cat and if it thinks you are not looking, he will use the cat flap. For god's sake don't 'catch' him at it, think of his pride.