Microchip cat flap.

[Izzabellasasperella]

After having some problems with a cat coming into the house, eating and terrorising our 2 adult cats we have brought a Staywell microchip cat flap. Our 2 haven't been chipped so I know we have to take them to the vets to have that done. Are there any hints or tips we need to know with the cat flap? How much roughly will the vet charge? Tia

Our 10 year old rescue girl was chipped at Pets at home (£15.00). We've got a Staywell cat flap and it's excellent. Also bought a Staywell microchip feeder as we are now a 2 cat household. The cat flap and feeder is easy to set up. Seems expensive but so worth it.

They're brilliant OP. No more strays!
Unfortunately CAT3 is not the brightest light in the harbour and hasn't worked out that she actually needs to push and go through rather than sit and look at it. Attempts to stand outside the door holding a dish of food and making noises did nothing apart from entertain the neighbours.
What I would say from when we had CAT2 is that if puss won't go through when the flap's on learn mode don't sneak up behind with the vacuum cleaner . The cat went through like a rocket- so fast the chip didn't read. And we had to do it all again with one very confused cat.
Good luck.

We had our two (adult adoptees) microchipped and bought a SureFlap microchip cat flap for them.

The microchip was about £22 for each cat (we are in Inner London, no idea what vets charge elsewhere).

As they are both older - and had never known a cat flap previously - they have struggled a bit. MadFruCat 'got it' within about 2-3 weeks, but DozyFruCat has taken about 6-8 weeks to get his head around it! He's just about getting there now!

Like you, we also have problems with various neighbourhood cats coming into our garden. They are not a major problem, as our 2 are OK (ish) with the others, as long as they are outside. But, to begin with, I think our 2 were concerned that the others could also get in 'their' cat-flap.

They do know, now, that the others can't get in. But we've had a long haul on this one. Also, the neighbourhood cats still come and 'sniff' our cat-flap - so our 2 don't like the smell of the other cats on their door!

Actually, every now and again, I wipe down the outside (and inside) of our cat-flap with an Ecover cleaner to destroy the smell of the other cats. But this, of course, makes ours a bit suspicious because they can't smell themselves. There's no winning!

But .... trying to teach them to get in and out ..... oh boy, that was a drama!

Thank you for your replies. Off to the vets this evening for the microchipping. Stage 2 tomorrow fitting the cat flap. Dh is doing it so I am expecting lots of banging,hammering and swearing! We have just moved to a house with a big shared garden, problem is the cat that was here first does not want to share! Will the fighting between the 2 neutered Tom's calm down over time? Our boy is not keen on going out they even fight through the glass patio door!

Well they have the chips in now it was a bit of an experience. They both hate the cat carriers and the car so holding on to a wee soaked cat whilst the vet attempts to stick a needle into his neck was not the best fun! Oh and both had a poo in the baskets on the drive back
The cat flap is not in yet either as Dh decided playing on the PlayStation was a better use of his time.