Which cat flap? Microchip?

[Tarrarra]

We will soon be letting our cat outside, and wanted to get a cat flap. I was looking at the microchip ones as it will mean we won’t have other cats strolling in but also our lovely Poppy won’t need to wear a collar. We have a local cat who is well known for entering other homes!

Has anyone got a microchip flap and can recommend or advise on the pros and cons?

Or will a bog standard lockable flap suffice?

There’s just too much choice and I’m bewildered... help!?

We have a microchip flap by surechip. Bought it in argos. Only cats that are programmed in can use it. Great if you get a newer kitten.

PetSafe, we've been using one for nine years. Think it comes with a three year warranty too

Thanks for the replies. Can you leave them open? I think I might need to peg it fully open whilst training as her previous owner kept her indoors.

Yes the PetSafe can be left fully open. You can also adjust how long it stays open if you have a cat that likes to fanny about instead of come straight in

There's loads of different modes. I haven't tried most of them. There's only two buttons and cycling through the modes can be awkward. There's also a battery inside so if there was a power cut the cat flap still works. I would never have a non microchip cat flap as other cats WILL come in at some point, it's a sure thing. It's nice knowing they can't come in. The only thing I can fault it on is that if it's windy it sometimes doesn't close fully but your's may be located more out of the way

We have a microchip cat flap. I set it so that they can come in at night; but can’t go out. It stops the whirlwind effect in our bedroom at 4 am, when one of them has brought a mouse in to play with! Mice are toys, not prey in his mind!

DarkMintChocolate does yours have a timer? I'm searching for one that I can lock at night but will unlock at 6am so I don't have to start my slave duties at an ungodly hour!

www.viovet.co.uk/SureFlap-Microchip-Cat-Flap-Connect/c39959/?quick_find=253321&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh9GD-rn46gIVFeztCh0cyAMxEAQYAyABEgJm5PD_BwE

This one can have permissions set for each cat. I have the more bog standard one where you turn a dial to lock or unlock it. Ours is left unlocked now

would I be unreasonable to ask if commenters on this thread might also pop over here to let me know about experiences of cats learning to use a microchip flap?

op, ours is a Cat Mate Elite and it can be programmed for the times when cats can come in and out at will, and when they will be restricted, with different times for each cat if needed, and an LCD icon to tell you whether each cat is in or out. so great functionality but it does make loud clicks when it recognises a cat which freaks one of ours out.

Yes, ours can be set to a timer.

I chose to teach one cat how to use it, by putting his head up to the plastic flap, to show him he could push it open - but he was terrified and ran away! A couple of days later, his sister (who is untrainable, in that she only does what she wants) was going in and out by herself - I had never shown her what to do! She must have worked it out, just by watching what I did with her brother!

I have a Sureflap microchip catflap and it's brilliant

I have a Sureflap one with the hub and the app so you can get notifications on all the comings and goings. You can set curfews and set different rules for different cats, and I can unlock it from my bed when one of them starts inevitably scrabbling to go out at 4.30am. Was pricey, though, but worth it because I love a gadget.

We recently upgraded to a microchip one after having a magnetic one.

It's brilliant! Slightly smaller flap so a bit of a squeeze for my beast.

It's so much quieter than the old one.

Ive had the catmate 360 for a year an no problems so far. I think there’s a ‘training’ mode on it which doesn’t require a microchipped cat. On the non training mode there a various locking modes operated by a dial. The reason I got that one is that it looked to be good in terms of keeping wind out (there are furry bits all round the flap), otherwise I would have liked one with an app that lets you know when mig has gone in/out. I think it was about £40 from amazon.

Thanks all. Have a SureFlap arriving tomorrow so hope it is acceptable to my cat! Not looking forward to cat flap training

Imo, Dreamies could be a big incentive!

I’ve got several packets ready! Good thing I’m not working at the moment... 😊