Anyone used an electronic catflap?

[Acinonyx]

Last year dh bought one of those catflaps that you can program to only open for your cats, by recognising their microchips. I was anxious about it because sometimes one of the cats comes though at top speed and I wondered if it would act fast enough - I had visions of her splatting on the catflap like something from a Tom and Jerry cartoon.

Well today our old catflap flap fell apart. Evil fuzzy is getting increasingly bold and pinching thier food - and dh wants to put in the new catflap.

Anyone used one? Any words of advice? Are my fears basless?

Hi Acinonyx,

We have an RF one, where there is a tag that is put on the cat collar, that has a unique frequency to open the flap. Because they are unique tags, if needs be you can choose for one cat to be allowed out and the other to stay in (handy for vet appointments!)

It can be programmed as well so if you want to keep them in at set time (like at night) then you can set it to lock between particular times. think you can programme upto 8 cat tags as well.

There is a slight delay in unlocking, but it's quicker than the magnetic ones and it beats having to chase all the neighbourhood cats out of your kitchen!

It's a cat mate super selective, it was about £80 but worth every penny.

I looked at the microchip ones, but they had a "hood" on the outside to scan the chip, so when you opened the door there would be a hood thing sticking out.

Bit of an essay but i hope that helps! We had the same problem last year choosing which one would be best.

HI, we have a petporte installed in our wall (our doors are glass). It was expensive to buy and to install but it is brilliant as it works with the microchip and your cat doesn't need to wear a collar. You can still lock it at night.

Our neighbour has one for her cat (the one triggered by the cats microchip). It wasn't cheap from what she said

However it isn't fool proof as our dumb-arse cat (who couldn't even open her own cat flap) can get through it somehow . We think she actually opens it towards herself, so pulling rather than pushing IYSWIM.

We have two cats and the flap can be programmed for both cats - so yes - multiple chips. Dh has just put the new flap in the door but we ahven't programmed it yet (I think it cost 70-8- quid). The instructions hint at difficulties with this saying that it isn't enough to wave the cat around near the flap - they have to go through at the appropriate time. Therein I forsee difficulties.

Our hand has been forced. This new-fangled thing has been on the window ledge for over a year while I have mithered and dithered about it. But now, with the arctic winds blowing through the collapsed old flap hole -and Evil Fuzzy stalking ever more eagerly - we are bound to try it out. Dh will program it at the weekend. I will report back....

I've got the basic magnet type - even our idiot cats aren't dumb enough to run into it and knock themselves out, so I doubt yours are.

We have one of these - no problems at all for our cats and the evil spraying tom can't get in.

We have the chip kind

Evil Fuzzy has been in my laundry basket of clean laundry - just put it all back in the washing machine

This Means War...

We have the magnetic kind and it works a treat. We have lots of ferals around, but they can't get in and our little princess can come and go as pleases. No good with a 'quick release' collar though - she lost 4 collars and magnets in 2 weeks, before we reverted to trad type of buckle collar. Now no probs.

we have just this minute had a PetPorte flap fitted for our two RSPCA cats. I have no idea if they have used a flap before. How do I get them to use it. I've registered their chips and checked that it will work but what now?
Will they work it out for themselves if they are cold enough/hungry enough do you think?

Plus, Socks is rather large (currently 6 kilos but on a diet so losing some). Will he get through it okay?

TIA