Cat Flap Recommendations

[torthecatlady]

Hi there,

I currently have a very old cat flap which needs replacing and I'm hoping to get one which is operated using special collars. We have a stray cat coming in the house and obviously want to stop this.

Is there a particular brand I should be looking at? Do they come in different sizes? Also, do I need someone in to fit it or is it something I can do myself?

Any suggestions welcome! Thank you!

We have a SureFlap, I can absolutely recommend it. If you cat is chipped - which it should be as an outdoor cat - it will work via the chip, but you can also get a transponder that attaches to a collar.
There are two sizes, the normal cat size, which goes up to about 7 kilos, then a larger Pet Door for larger cats and small dogs.
The battery lasts for ages - nearly two years with a single battery for us.
Ours went through the wall, so we got a handyman to fit it for us, but if you already have a hole from the existing flap, I'd say you can fit it yourself. Don't take my word for it though! I think the SureFlap website has a video about the installation.
SureFlap also have remarkably good customer service (I promise I don't work for them). If your cat is one of the clever few who can outwit the chip mechanism by pulling it inwards with a claw, SureFlap will retrofit it. My moggy is a long way from working that out, though, he's thick as mince.

Both of our cats are chipped. Presumably it needs to be programmed to their chips? I would prefer that to a collar if that's an option! Our cats are 5 kilos so the regular size should be ok.

I'll have a look at the SureFlap website now and see what they have! Thank you!

Yes, and it's really easy to Programme - you put it in programming mode and then 'post' your cat through the flap and it reads and remembers the chip number. I think it has capacity for 32 chips, so two is easy enough. One advantage I believe of the Pet Door is that you can Programme it so for instance, Cat 1 is allowed out but Cat 2 isn't because they're on meds etc. the normal flap doesn't have that, but we've never needed it.
The SF is one of the more expensive on the market, but I think it's worth it, when you bear in mind the huge amounts spent each year on food and vets.

Hi, yep I've just see the dual version which is a great idea. We may actually be getting a temporary house guest who isn't allowed outside, so that would be perfect. I love the expression "post your cat" through the door I think I'm sold!

We have the chip cat flap! Our cats hate it when we have to program it And post them through it but that takes 5 seconds! However stopped the strays and don't have to worry about lost collars etc. Dh easily fitted it into the hole from the old cat flap.

One of our cats in particular is awful with collars, he's like Houdini and can get out of them in seconds! So I think the microchip cat flap is right up our street.

Also Sureflap customer service is absolutely brilliant should you ever have any problems (which you probably won't).

I haven't been this excited since I bought my cordless Dyson fluffy! I just hope it fits! I'll get the tape measure out in a minute!

We have the sure flap and it is excellent, the battery has lasted over a year. Although Gcat far prefers to have his servants open the doors for him, and posting the cat was a bit traumatic for all concerned.

Sureflap here as well and it's brilliant, easy to programme. Well worth the money as I had squirrels and another cat coming in at one point.

Sure flap here too. Our cat is chipped but the chip position is too far away from the cats head to open the door. We can program the flap but once it's locked, door won't open for our cat! You can buy collars with microchip for the sure flap (from amazon) and that's what we have done.

We had problem with another car coming in. That's why we had to change the cat flap.

Another vote for the Sureflap with microchip control... It wouldn't work for one of my cats, headdreamer, so I took her to the vets to be scanned. Her microchip had somehow come out, they chipped her again for free.

RueDeDay it's still definitely there for our cat. We can program it when she walked through. We heard the click and the lights flashed etc. And also if we hold the door open, her moving through it will trigger the latch. However, it just won't open when her head is in the hole. We figured it must have moved down, so it's too far away from the head?

The dual version has been ordered and I am taking delivery of it on Saturday. I am way too excited! 😬

Just wanted to update everyone on the thread. We bought the dual sure flap. Managed to fit it in the hole where the old one was, just needed to drill a couple of extra holes. We're really happy with it!

Managed to register Mozzie's chip first, then dh "accidentally" reset it. A few brief words were exchanged. Consequently, there was a lot of hanging about waiting (open armed with treats) for both cats!

Gilbert (7 year old ginger boy) had a bit of trouble getting used to it. He's always been nervous about entering / exiting the house. He's figured it out though.

Mozzie (2 year old black boy) pawed at the flap for a bit, within a minute or so was happily wandering in and out.

Since having the flap, we're going through lots less cat biscuits / wet food as we aren't feeding the tabby cat which kept making itself at home!