Anyone have any experience of microchip cat flaps

[BeaufortBelle]

Just that really. Are they worth it. Have moved house and need to have a new one fitted but having done some internet research the reviews seem very mixed. At our last there were a lot of local cats and we had one determined marauder - as far as I can see there is only one other local cat and only DH has seen it.

[WalkingThePlank]

We have a sureflap one. Often see neighbours' cats trying unsuccessfully to get through it.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

We've got a Sureflap as well and it's definitely worth it. We went for the pet door rather than the cat flap as it's bigger and easier for H to get through. He's not a huge cat but the cat flap looked tiny!

[purplesprings]

I've got the Sureflap one. We had some issues setting up but the customer support was excellent. Turned out that one of the cat's microchips had gone AWOL so we were able to go back to the vet and get it redone. Without Sureflap' s help we would never have known.

Wouldn't be without now - we are no longer the open all hours diner for the local act population

[purplesprings]

cat

[Rollypoly100]

We've got a Sureflap and bought it from Amazon so it was a bit cheaper. We love it and it means Rollycat doesn't have to worry about being let out or let in. He can come and go when he likes. The reason we bought it was because other cats were coming in through the manual cat flap at night. They are expensive but worth it.

[Orangeisthenewbanana]

We've got a Petporte smartflap. It's been great, especially as there was a big ginger tom that would tend to bully our cat a bit. He bounced off the cat flap several times after trying to chase her in! I love the fat that random cats can't get in and that ours can have complete freedom to go in and out. It's also easy to secure them inside if for some reason you don't want them to go out (severe weather, post operatively etc).

[Poledra]

I read this title as 'Anyone have any experience of microchip flat caps ?' I wondered if you needed to fit a tracker to your grandad

[Archfarchnad]

Yep, the Sureflap is great, we've never had a problem with it, and the chip mechanism always works. And the customer service does seem to be fab. It is technically possible for cats to overcome the flap by hooking their claws around one side and pulling it towards them, but very few can do that. But if you find that happens and strange cats get in, Sureflap can do a free retrofit to the flap which prevents even that happening.

[SecretSquirrels]

Ours is brilliant.
Enemy cats stick their head in and cannot open it.

[givemushypeasachance]

I've got a "thumb-proof" Sureflap - one that's been specifically designed so it can't be opened from the inside when it's locked. Basically it's got a small plastic hood over the locking mechanism operated by the chip - to open inwards from indoors you'd have to press that lock down, and the hood prevents this. It's great, I've never had any problems with it and I've seen other cats looking in from the outside but they haven't got in. I quite like that the click of the lock being deactivated as one of my boys sticks their head against the door is like an early announcement of "cat coming in!". Not cheap when compared with a bog-standard flap but worth it for containing my escape artist and nice to know we won't have uninvited visitors.

[FranBrodie]

Yes, sureflap here and it's brilliant. We had magnetic and Infra red ones before that kept breaking, the sureflap was definitely worth the money. The batteries last for ages too.
We did once have a ratbag cat follow ours indoors so closely that the flap didn't get a chance to lock, but it never happened again (I think the intruder was traumatised too)

[kathryng90]

Sure flap here too. 4 cats loads of use. One of mine flew through it this morning and the local bully cat bounced off it behind him. After sales is fab too. Mine had an electrical fault after a year. Quick phone call and they posted a replacement and I returned faulty one when new one fitted.

[ClaudiaNaughton]

Another vote for Sureflap and their excellent customer service. Not expensive when it buys peace of mind and a good nights sleep.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Sure flap yet another one where the bully bounces off.

[Crosbybeach]

Petporte cat flap (fits our humongous cat) - had one for 7 years, only had one problem where they immediately sent out a replacement no questions asked. It runs off the mains (they may have a battery one now) and has a back up battery for powercuts.

I got it because my cats were using a magnetic one, then one of the cats got his leg tangled in his collar and nearly had to have his leg amputated. And the cat safe collars would last just long enough for them to get out of the house and take them off.

Cat is really secure and happy with the PetPorte one. And I've seen other cats try to get in an they can't, even if following fairly close behind.

[BuggersMuddle]

We have a SureFlap. BuggersMoggy (a.k.a. 'sir') would much rather the humans servants get up and open doors / windows for him, but he gets on fine with it and no invaders.

I too like the click that says 'incoming', particularly at peak mouse / rat hunting times

[SecretSquirrels]

Ours seems quite small and he cannot seem to get in with dead creature in mouth. Thankfully.

[wanderings]

I have Petporte, which works fine, but it's a little tricky to programme and set up: lots of "press green button for two seconds, then press red button repeatedly until three beeps are heard", etc. You have thirty seconds to put the cat under the sensor (easier said than done, depending on the cat). You only have to do all this once, but it took a lot of... doing!

[Orangeisthenewbanana]

Yes, programming the Petporte can be interesting. In the manual they use a stuffed toy cat in the pictures which DH and I found hilarious at the time

[ThrebnellBlewitt]

V useful to avoid local thieving varmints hoovering up senior cat's breakfast. Be prepared, however, for potentially slightly stunned moggy/ies though, as it takes time for them to get used to the delay before the wretched thing opens, post micro chip scan.
Have painful memories of sound of thundering paws across the garden and patio preceding the sound of cat's forehead impacting at speed with the cat flap, followed by the slight click as the mechanism opened the cat flap and a disorientated cat sliding gracelessly to the floor in a heap. Lots of scrambling into a corner and frantic paw washing along the lines of, "I meant to do that".
NB it does not prevent the delivery of presents, including the live variety, still shuddering at the thought of small bunny squashed flat against the cat flap whilst senior cat waited for the necessary click to open..
Plus local rivals have learnt to lie in wait just around the corner for senior cat to exit and then swipe her round the nose. Current effect is rather comical picture of senior cat half hanging out of the cat flap to check the coast is clear or trying to frantically reverse, to the sound of multiple clicks, back inside before the inevitable nose swipe.

[TheOldestCat]

Ha ha Poldedra!

Our Sureflap has been worth every penny. No intruder cats and although it says it's for small-medium cats, our obese moggy can get through (albeit gingerly).

[ipadmad]

Yes, used to have one but my cat got her paw stuck in it whilst we were at work and needed emergency veterinary treatment as her paw ended up very swollen. Ended up getting compensation from the manufacturer so would never have one again.

[ipadmad]

Actually, reading through earlier posts, I think ours was a magnetic one, not a microchip one.

[BeaufortBelle]

Sureflap seems to be the way to go. My cat I half BSH and quite large - 6.75 kilo. His old flap was normal size and he managed but do you think a door might be better than a flap please?

[Pipbin]

We have a sure flap pet door. BinCat has been chased full pelt by local nasty Tom and its clicked shut after her and nasty Tom has been locked out.
The best thing about the pet door size is that you can set a timer. Our house has an odd layout and the cat flap is outside, the curfew timer means that I can keep her in overnight without fuss.
We have had a problem with it but they replaced it without any fuss.