04/04/2026
Issac Newton and the pet door:
The Outside: The Cat Who Mastered The Cat Flap – Kate Shrewsday Legend says Isaac Newton invented the cat door (or cat flap) to stop his cats from interrupting his light experiments at Cambridge University by scratching at the door. According to the tale, he had a carpenter cut two holes: a large one for the mother cat and a smaller one for her kittens, humorously forgetting the kittens would use the larger hole.
Key Aspects of the Legend:
The "Two Hole" Tale: Newton, a renowned genius, was reportedly mocked for not realizing the kittens did not need a separate, smaller hole.
Context:
The story suggests his cats were disrupting experiments by allowing light into his darkened room, necessitating a self-closing passage.
Evidence:
Mathematician John M.F. Wright reported in 1827 that two plugged holes, attributed to Newton, were still visible in the door of his room, though this is likely a long-standing academic urban legend.
Alternative Origins:
While popular, the story is considered more myth than fact, as similar "cat holes" existed in buildings centuries before, including one at Exeter Cathedral from around 1600.
Regardless of whether he created the very first one, the invention of the cat flap is widely, albeit informally, attributed to Isaac Newton.
