Catflap company say I have a defective cat. Vet says I have a defective catflap - who is right?

[Stupiddriver1]

If anyone can solve this mystery which has been plaguing me for months I would be very grateful.

We have one middle aged cat and for years have one of those microchip catflaps which only let recognised cats in. It worked fine, including for our previous (now deceased cat).

Then we got a new cat, who is to remain a house cat. The cat flap lets any cat out so obviously this wouldn't do. We purchased a new 2 way microchip one and programmed it so only the older cat could go in and out.

Apart from she can only come in, she can't get out.

We have tried resetting it so many times and it just doesn't recognize her when she tries to leave. Is fine coming in. DH has a keyfob for work with an rfid chip in so we programmed that to the cat flap and that works in both directions.

I contacted the cat flap company who sent me another rfid chip in a ruler widget to measure how far away the range is and it's 26cm both sides so they say their cat flap is fine. I said it can't be and to shut me up they sent me a new one.

We have exactly the same problem.

I took the cat to the vet to get another chip fitted and vet wouldn't do it. She scanned the cat and the chip shows up fine. Vet says the cat flap must be faulty. But if it was faulty why would it work for 2 X Non cat inserted chips. And why would both flaps have the same issue?

It's been 4 months now since cat could let herself out.

I have no cat, no cat flap and no useful advice, but I'm over-invested in this thread and I have to know how it ends. Good luck OP!

If I had a guarantee that the Sureflap Connect model would work I would buy one. But with it being the same company I’m worried the technology is the same and it wouldn’t work and I’d have wasted (another) load of money. They’re £129 on amazon at the minute which is a lot if it doesn’t work.

The previous one way only Microchip cat flap was Sureflap and that worked fine.

Maybe I’ll risk it.

If you buy it from Amazon and it doesn't work, you can return it. They're really good about returns.

We bought a fancy beans to cup coffee machine from them, used it for a few days, decided that it was too faffy, took up too much space and the coffee wasn't any better than the stovetop espresso maker and returned it. I got an email saying the refund had been processed before I'd left the shop where I had dropped the parcel off. I wonder what they would have done if I'd sent them back a box of bricks?

Right, think I will ask dh to buy me a cat flap for Xmas.

The bloody kitten cost £500 and has been a non stop expense ever since. He doesn’t appreciate it. He did a shit on the utility room floor last night right in front of his litter tray!

I got the first catflap from amazon....do you think it’s too late to send it back after 5 months!

Oh my goodness me! Your kitten is GORGEOUS 😍

No, not if it’s stopped working.
I sent a kettle back after six months recently. They picked up it next day and dropped me a replacement at the same time.

Your DH might need to reassemble it first though

Thanks, I’m going to send one back then and then buy the connect model.

Oh bollocks, I didn’t buy it from amazon. I remember now, found it £5 cheaper from some company I’d never heard of before.

Fetch.com. Who are part of Ocado. I’ve emailed them.

I’m opposed on principle to pedigrees, but oh my goodness, that kitten is ridiculously cute!!

I’m also opposed to pedigrees but it was a present for my chronically ill dd who has wanted one for years and has been really poorly the last year.

Kittens are the BEST therapy!

I am opposed to pedigrees so hot some from rescue 😂😂😂

Yeah all my other cats have been rescue cats as have all my dogs apart from 1.

Well I’m glad I started this thread. Fetch.com have agreed That I can return it so I will get a refund. Then will order the all singing, all dancing version with the app.

You know how kitten keeps hiding and trying to escape??? One of ours became expert level, dropped herself from 1st floor windows, hid when someone touched the coat cupboard and so on. She is now allowed outside... her brother was chill and not bothered but now allowed out he wanders and spends loads of time out whilst little Madam does a a small perimeter check and lives indoors 🤦🏼‍♀️

But but but. Those of you with a cat flap - I have cats but never had a house with a cat flap thank fuck reading this thread so I don't fully get it, I think.

If you have a cat flap on the back door, how does that help you when the cat wants to come in through the back door (that bit's covered obvs) but then go straight out of the front door? You have to get up and go and open the front door anyway, surely?

And if they want to go out, do they just open the flap and go out, without you standing there in the cold air for five minutes assessing the weather and other cats and assuring them you'll be there to let them in?

And if the cat manages to let itself in, don't they come and find you straightaway anyway to get you to do stuff for them? Like dry them, or give them treats or reassure them that Bastard Cat next door can't get them?

I think my cat thinks I am her concierge rather than just a door opener as I have to perform these services upon entry/exit. I don't think a cat flap in one door would cut the mustard with her and she would kill me in my sleep

Thinking about it, I can get that in theory it gives the cat more independence, and cats are renowned for independence, but clearly my cats have been defective as they don't want independence, they want someone following them about opening their doors and checking the coast is clear and drying their paws and making sure they aren't bringing live mice in.

If I am asleep, the current cat doesn't want to go in or out just on her own, we have to get up and perform all the above services for her. A cat flap wouldn't cut it. If I'm out, she wants to lie on my pillow and wait for me to get back and perform all these services for her rather than get up and do them herself.

So either all my cats have been defective or I have been doing the cat equivalent of co sleeping for oooh fourteen years and have just created a load of PFBs

Um.... all the cats I've owned just come in and out through the flap with no fuss. One flap into the back garden. If they want to go out the front they can hop over all the fences,

Kitten is utterly gorgeous.

@WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles you have been fooled and very well trained...

You ignore the wailing at the back door and eventually they stomp around the front (in our case) and they come in through the cat flap.

It's basically a stand off that you usually win! No holding the door open, they have 20 seconds to go in or out of open door or that can f*ck off and use cat flap.

Mine are shut in overnight 3 doors away, they learnt that bed time is bed time and they have a BIG sleep with no service for 8 hours, there is food, water, litter tray (rarely used), choice of sleeping spaces but no slave on hand. They just sleep and if you get up unusually early get glowered at for disturbing them also get glowered at if you are late putting them "to bed"

😂

So I've made a rod for my own back and
created monsters, basically

Maybe I need to get a kitten and start again, just to test this theory, you understand....

@WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles. You definitely have PFBs. Defective cat was happily independent until the new cat flap.

Well I feel a bit stupid now, especially as my parenting of actual human children was from the school of benign neglect (when people didn't really co sleep and weaned at twelve weeks). Yet my cats are allowed to sleep on my head and I get up at 3am to let them out, and if they don't eat their tea, they get a second choice

This thread has been a revelation thank you OP I hope you sort out your defective cat flap out, and take comfort in the fact you aren't a defective owner like some other muggins