Many may be familiar with the term ‘cat burglar’ – a thief who gains entry to homes undetected.
Unlike regular burglars, cat burglars are stealthy and sneaky and don’t break windows or doors to get access to your most prized possessions.
One way that burglars can gain access undetected is via a cat flap.
Ahead of National Cat Day, David Joyson, Chief Customer Officer at Homeprotect, warns outdoor cat owners about what to be aware of if you have a cat flap…
The implications of having a cat flap
Many cat flaps or pet doors operate on a hinged, spring-loaded panel and can be fitted to non-standard doors. While this mechanism allows your cat to roam freely, there’s a risk that stealthy burglars could use it as a quick and easy way to gain access to your home.
Just last year, a prolific burglar was found guilty of entering a home in London thanks to a cat flap at the property.
By simply putting their hand through a cat flap, opportunistic burglars could reach inside and gain access to keys placed in the door or even a door handle of an unlocked property from the inside. Some may even use fishing rods or tools seen in ‘letterbox burglaries’.
While the police will deal with this type of burglary, unforced entry likely won’t be covered by your home insurance policy.
That’s because most home insurance policies only provide theft-cover where the thief causes damage while trying to get into your home/outbuilding or where violence or deception is used to gain entry.
With no evidence of entry, victims could be left with void policies and unable to claim on their contents insurance, potentially resulting in them losing thousands of pounds worth of valuables or damaged possessions.
How to protect your home
Invest in a magnetic or microchip cat flap
Plenty of modern pet doors on the market are manufactured to be accessible only to your cat.
Magnetic cat flaps require owners to place a magnetic collar key on their pet, so only your cat will be able to gain access. You can even get cat flaps which are able to read your cat’s unique microchip ID which means you don’t need a separate collar or accessory.
Both options mean the miniature door will only unlock when your cat wants to go in or out, stopping foreign pets or humans from accessing your home.
Position your cat flap in a discrete location
When choosing where to position your cat flap, consider how exposed and visible it is to people outside your home.
For example, placing it at the front door leaves no obstacles for thieves to overcome, and back doors are often visible from neighbouring gardens.
The ideal location would be a side exit, or if this isn’t possible, ensure you conceal entryways with plants or garden furniture to make it less easy to see.
Lock and remove keys from doors (particularly those near your cat flap!)
According to statistics, a large percentage of homeowners often leave keys in the door or forget to lock it.
Not only could this (alone) invalidate a theft claim, it provides burglars with more of an opportunity to access your home without forced entry.
So, while the door is out of use, whether during the day, overnight or while the property is unattended, ensure the door is locked and that keys are taken out and placed out of sight.
Keep valuables out of sight
Similarly, if your valuables are on show near your cat flap or windows, this may attract burglars to target your property.
Try not to place valuable objects within sight of entryways and place blinds or curtains in front to maximise security and minimise potential risks.
