Microchip Cat Flaps Petsafe and Sureflap - have you used both?

[9GreenBottles]

In the past, I've used the PetPorte (now owned by Petsafe) microchip cat flap and been very happy with it because it had both a power cable and batteries. I've moved house, brought the cat flap with me and finally getting round to having it fitted on a new door.

However, since moving, we've acquired 2 new male cats who are bigger and chunkier and struggle through the internal cat flap we have so I'm wondering whether going for a Sureflap Pet Door would be better. As far as I can see, it is only powered by batteries and I have visions of the cats bashing against the door when the batteries run down and I haven't noticed.

Does anybody have experience of using both these types of microchip cat flap and have a particular recommendation? (Or use the Sureflap and wholeheartedly recommend it). We'll be having the door cut to fit the new flap so don't want to make a mistake.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

The sureflap has a red light that persistently flashes to indicate that the batteries are low, IME it flashes for at least 7 days before the batteries run out. Even my cobblers children cats get their batteries changed before they get locked out.

[0range99]

I've got this one - www.amazon.co.uk/Cat-Mate-Microchip-White-360W/dp/B00MIRNPHI?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 it is my second (not because it wasn't any good, just less hassle to leave it behind and get a new one when we moved.

IIRC when the batteries run out it just defaults to a standard flap and will let any cat in, so they would never be locked out.

[Scribblegirl]

We've got the Sureflap, works really well and we've never had an issue getting our boy through it. It always recognises his chip too. However.... it eats batteries. Absolutely canes its way through them. I keep meaning to get some rechargeable ones to save a bit of cash but it's something to be aware of.

[9GreenBottles]

Well, it's good to hear that the Sureflap works well, even if it does gobble batteries. Since I've got 4 microchip cat feeders too, I should probably buy some rechargeable ones *Scribblegirl".

I'm not sure why they don't appear to do electrically operated ones any more, and why they haven't got onto microchip dog doors either apart from the very fancy one I saw advertised which cost about £1000

[SaveFerris1]

We have the sureflap. Ours, when the batteries are flat, opens (as in the little bit that locks it and opens at your cats chip stays down). This means your cat can't get locked out but obviously any other cat can get in. We don't find it too bad on batteries either.

[OrchidInTheSun]

Sureflap only eats batteries if it's dirty. It works on reflection (has a little metal mirror thing on the brown one) and so the white one works better and uses far less battery power.

Also their customer service is amazing. I had a brown flap and my cats repeatedly scratched the reflector off so they sent me a white one for free!

[9GreenBottles]

Now that's really interesting Orchid. I've been tracking the price via CamelCamelCamel and the brown one costs less. This is maybe why.

[Scribblegirl]

Ooh, I didn’t know that orchid - looks like I’m scrubbing the catflap this evening then!

[Mentounasc]

Excellent tip, Orchid - I wondered why the first set of batteries lasted 18 months and the most recent ones were only 2 months! I was blaming the crappyIKEA batteries, but perhaps I should clean the thing instead...