Microchip Catflap Noise Scaring Cat

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I have three cats who have always been indoor/outdoor cats. They explore outdoors and use the garden to go to the toilet but sleep and spend most of their time indoors. We moved house last year and discovered that this is a very cat-heavy area. We were being visited by several neighbour cats who were eating our food and upsetting our cats. We got a microchip catflap to solve this problem. It took some time but two of our cats got used to the sound (it makes a loud clicking noise, for those of you who don’t know). The third, however, did NOT and after weeks and weeks of painstakingly trying to lure her through it with treats, taking the battery out, putting it back in, taping it open, etc etc etc we gave up and have taken the battery out for good so she can use the catflap again. The trouble is one neighbour cat is still coming in and out as it pleases. Our cats seem on high alert now even though they don’t fight with this cat and have more or less accepted its visits, still when the catflap goes their ears prick up and they seem uneasy.
I just can’t seem to find any silent microchip catflaps. Does anyone have any miracle suggestions I could try? I have even tried recording the sound on my phone and playing it for the scaredy-cat but she doesn’t seem frightened by the sound on the tinny speakers on my phone. Maybe we just need to resign ourselves to the fact she will not be able to go outside again, and put a litter tray out for her :(

It sounds like you have tried many different methods to get your third cat used to the microchip catflap, but unfortunately, it hasn't worked. Here are a few suggestions you could try:
Gradual Introduction: Start by taping the flap open and let your cat get used to the idea of the flap being there. Slowly introduce the sound by clicking it a few times a day when your cat is nearby. Gradually increase the frequency of the clicks until your cat is comfortable with the noise.
Positive Reinforcement: When your cat is near the catflap and the door clicks, give her a treat to create a positive association with the sound. Do this multiple times until your cat learns to associate the sound with something good.
Cover the Flap: If your cat is still scared of the sound, consider covering the flap with a cloth or blanket so the sound is muffled. This may help your cat feel more comfortable.
Consider a Different Type of Catflap: There are various types of catflaps on the market that may be less noisy. Look into magnetic or infrared catflaps as an alternative to microchip catflaps.
Litter Tray: If all else fails, consider setting up a litter tray indoors for your cat to use. This will give her an indoor option for toileting.
When it comes to the neighbor cat, there are a few things you could do to deter it from coming into your house. Consider using a motion-activated spray or placing a deterrent device near the catflap to keep the cat away. Additionally, you could try speaking to your neighbor about their cat's behavior and see if they can keep it indoors or in their own garden.

One of our cats was the same. Our solution was to tape it the flap open for ages with no batteries (perhaps several weeks in summer) until the cat is completely comfortable going in and out without the click. Then put the batteries in, still taped open so it clicks but they don't have to push in and out and can see directly through. Finally we used a clothes peg to hold the flap open at gradually lower angles so cat got used to pushing the flap open without seeing the other side.

It took him ages to learn but he did (despite the fact he'd used the old non clicky flap quite happily for several years.

Cats!

Thank you. We have tried these but maybe I wasn’t patient enough. The worst part is that the neighbour cat just comes in to hang out now! They lock him out overnight so he just comes in to crouch under our dining table to be somewhere warm :( Apparently he gets picked on by their other cat and they fight loudly at night. I better start the whole taping up process again :(