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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Anyone have any experience of microchip cat flaps

50 replies

BeaufortBelle · 12/07/2015 21:24

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.

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Original poster

BeaufortBelle · 15/07/2015 22:46

It's all very well them replacing faulty ones but do they pay the glazier/fitter as well if the product is faulty?

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cozietoesie · 15/07/2015 22:52

I should imagine that unit replacement is sufficent, surely? The hole or whatever would already have been cut and fitting looks doable with only a minimal amount of handyness.

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 15/07/2015 22:53

I haven't yet needed to activate the microchip thingy (no annoying random cats here) but one of my cats (the dim one, oddly) knew from day one how to open it from the inside when locked to in only.

So, if I program it for microchips, will she not be able to do that any more?

cozietoesie · 15/07/2015 22:59

Maybe have a look upthread to Arhfarchnad's post? I think I'd give it a try - you never know when a new cat might arrive on the block and it would be as well to run it for real, I think.

cozietoesie · 15/07/2015 23:01

PS - are you sure his 'dim'ness isn't a carefully cultivated ploy?

cozietoesie · 15/07/2015 23:01

*her

NameChange30 · 15/07/2015 23:04

We have a SureFlap too and it's been great so far (about 6 months). One kitten got the hang of it straight away, the other took a bit longer (bless!) but both use it very happily now! There are quite a few cats on our street so I'm glad we have it.

I think activating the microchip feature might stop your cat opening it from the inside (even when locked) because she wouldn't be able to pull it towards her - it's locked unless there is a microchipped cat outside coming in.

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 15/07/2015 23:04

Thanks, cozie

DH has just announced that one of the others (a smarter one) can also hook it open from the inside now too!!! She must have been taking lessons from the dim one...

I will speak to Sureflap & see what they say

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 15/07/2015 23:05

hm. maybe microchip coding is the way to go. I'll have to find the instruction book first though!

cozietoesie · 15/07/2015 23:13

If it's a Sureflap and you can't find the manual quickly, have a look here. They have a downloadable version.

NameChange30 · 15/07/2015 23:14

Pretty sure there are instructions on the SureFlap website (if you can't find the instruction book).

If I remember rightly, I think you press the button and then get the cat to put its head in (a treat does the trick!)... but do check in case I've missed something!

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 15/07/2015 23:27

thanks again, cozie & Emma

I will have a go tomorrow

(during the winter all the cats are happy to stay in overnight, but since it stopped raining constantly they keep disappearing. It would be lovely to know they're safely in!)

givemushypeasachance · 16/07/2015 14:27

TheOneWith - sounds like you want a thumbproof one; hooking it inwards is what Rolo used to do with the basic flaps, he used to hook it that way even if it wasn't set to entry only the daft thing! Since getting a thumbproof Sureflap with the hood over the locking mechanism I've had zero problems with it, when it's entry only and he comes in then he's shut in. I can't see how any cat would be able to open it inwards - maybe if they were very determined they could force it open by bashing into it, but guess that would be a risk with any sort of plastic door.

Just Sureflap customer services and they should give you details of how to get one if you decide to go for it.

Anyone have any experience of microchip cat flaps

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 16/07/2015 17:06

LOL at thumbproof. If they had actual thumbs how dangerous would they be?

Thanks for that, mushypeas. I think I'll try initially going with the microchip coding on the one I've got; if Brains can still manage somehow to open it from the inside then I'll consider the thumbproof one, I didn't know those existed. Presumably it's the same size as the standard one & will fit in the same hole?

Tobiasfunke · 16/07/2015 17:11

We have had a sureflap for 5 years- it's brilliant. One of our cats is massive- I'm sure he's the black cat people think is a panther on the loose and it's plenty big enough for him.

PestoSwimissimos · 16/07/2015 17:29

Another vote for SureFlap here. T'is marvellous

Archfarchnad · 16/07/2015 17:55

"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?"

That's very much at the limit of what's manageable for the normal-sized flap. Archcat is 6.3 kg right now and gets through OK, but in winter he got up to over 6.7 kg (he ate as normal but moved very little) and at that point it was a bit of a squash. I really think the 7kg claimed as the maximum weight would be quite uncomfortable to squeeze through. It's a massive incentive for us to keep Archcat's weight down! Bearing that in mind, you might be better with the larger door.

givemushypeasachance · 16/07/2015 18:47

The little white button on Sureflaps is the bit that goes up and down when the microchip is detected - so cats push the flap outwards, but then to come back in the little white button needs to go down which it does when their microchips activate as they put their head in the tunnel outside. A cat on the inside with the flap set to entry only can't just hook their claw in the edge and pull the flap inwards - they'd need to hold the button down as well, or it would catch. The 'thumbproof' hood is an extra measure which prevents the button being held down, but your cats would need to figure out the extra button holding down step to get past a regular Sureflap flap. So a regular one will probably work with most cats - the thumbproof is just an extra high security measure for the Colditz-wannabes!

givemushypeasachance · 16/07/2015 18:58

Oh and yes the thumbproof one is exactly the same as a regular Sureflap except for the little hood. You could probably DIY a similar fix by supergluing something on to the door; if mine ever broke I'd consider that as you can get regular Sureflaps from 3rd party websites cheaper than ordering direct - though I can't fault the customer service of the manufacturer.

Original poster

BeaufortBelle · 16/07/2015 21:02

Archfarchnad. I have been drawing squares based on the flap measurements today and have ordered the Pet Door size. Thank you so much for your post, it was very reassuring.

I worried for a bit that a fox might get through a bigger one and then the penny dropped that it was microchip activated. It'd a been a bit of week and yes, that was a very dopey thought.

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WixingMords · 16/07/2015 21:07

Can I piggy back on this thread - i'm getting a new back door soon but I won't have the time to get a sureflap (I think) is it regular sized?

What I mean is if they put in my old cat flap can I just replace it with the sureflap one?

Original poster

BeaufortBelle · 16/07/2015 21:17

Why won't you have time. Is soon tomorrow? I've just ordered a sure flat from Amazon and it will be with me by Tuesday. I could have ordered express and had it here tomorrow. I wouldn't pay to have the old cat flap fitted and then replace. Could you manage with a litter tray for a couple of days whilst the flap gets sorted?

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purplesprings · 16/07/2015 21:59

wixing if you can get hold of a sureflap quickly and get your door fitter to install it for you, that could save your sanity. I fitted one into my existing upvc door and getting through the metal layer in the middle was a total pain. Though I did borrow an industrial jigsaw from a neighbour and had a short spell of channelling Lara Croft

givemushypeasachance · 16/07/2015 22:35

The Sureflap fitted in the same hole as the existing basic cat flap my landlady already had - and it literally takes undoing two screws to remove the basic flap then doing up two screws to install the Sureflap. I'm DIY-inept and I managed it no problem - though I did defer to my Dad when it came to cutting a hole in a PVC door when I moved so the flap could come with me to my new house where there wasn't one before!

WixingMords · 16/07/2015 22:42

I'm not in the UK so there's no express delivery off Amazon unfortunately.

Also it's more a financial time period than a logistical one. Pay day isn't for a week.

It made sense in my head!!!

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