Microchip controlled cat flap

[VanillaImpulse]

We've just got new kittens and already have two adult cats who regularly use their cat flap. Eventually they will all be together but obviously the kittens won't be allowed out for a long while. Would a microchip cat flap work so the older ones can come and go but the kittens can't?
I'm not sure how quickly it locks, could a kitten sneak out as well? Does the cat flap unlock when a microchip is just nearby? Otherwise it's going to be a long 4 months of keeping the kittens upstairs!!

I've got a Sureflap and the microchip is only needed to enter the property. Any cat could get out, microchipped or not.

My kitten sneaked between mums legs to get out and was up a tree and fell, broke his hip bone.

Plus mum bolted in followed by a large Tom - because the flap swings before it locks - he was trapped in the kitchen and knocked all the cups plates etc off the drainer - Christmas Eve if all nights.

Hi.
We've got a SureFlap Dual scan micro chip cat flap. It reads your cats chip on exit and entry, so would prevent the kittens getting out. All you do is programme the kittens when they are old enough to go out.
To programme them, you press a button and post the kittens through the flap until the flap clicks to show it has registered the chip.
The hard part is getting the little darlings to use it.... 😻😅

Like @Clarich007 says, don't programme it for them until they are ready to go out.

I suppose a kitten could sneak out after a big cat if they got their head through before it clicked shut.

Sorry should say it locks as soon as the cat enters so a second or so. It's great for keeping other cats out.
My friend just has a magnetic one, and regularly finds random strange cats lounging about in her house😅

That's true MagpiePi, never thought of that.
We've only got one cat.

Check the specifications carefully so you get one that requires a chip for entry and exit.
We did this with one adult cat and 2 kittens. Kittens never got out, the timing on the swing of the flap is very short and the magnets work quickly to secure the door. It's probably not 100% kitten proof but ours never managed to break out.
It did mean by the time we did activate their chips they had seen the other cat using it and very quickly learned what to do.
You can get very fancy ones which are app controlled so you can select which cats can come and go and it tells you if your cat is in or out!

We have a long history of microchip catflaps and multiple cat/kitten households due to fostering.

You want one with selective exit, otherwise you can't keep the kittens in without locking the flap completely.

If you can afford it, get the cat flap connect with hub as it will give you information about when each cat last went through the cat flap, which is good if you have any that go out a lot - it's not 100% accurate on whether they're in or out as they can confuse the cat flap if they piss about near it, but it's good for peace of mind to answer the 'have we seen X today' question.

https://www.surepetcare.com/en-gb/pet-doors?gclid=Cj0KCQjw4s-kBhDqARIsAN-ipH3FmGgqZCELWRRSxI0CAv46X38XE5zrjlQDAoDJseWgQzGPeST9oagaAuIKEALw_wcB

We don't generally have a problem with 'sneak outs' but like a PP says, a kitten could squeeze out at the same time as another one, or if one sits on the outside the flap will open and a kitten could get out, but the risk is much reduced compared to a standard cat flap.

You can programme the kittens to be 'in only' which means that if they do get out, they can get back in again, if they actually want to that is........

We've found that kittens almost always learn very quickly to use the cat flap.

We've probably had well over 50 fosters use ours as well as our own and we've only had a couple of adult cats that haven't taken to using it, but in at least one case it's 'won't' rather than 'can't'. Because why go through that little door provided for you that you've watched dozens of other cats use without issue when there are two humans in the house that are perfectly capable of opening the big door or a window for you?

The newer more expensive sureflaps manage both indoor and out cats.

Like PP I've got a sureflap that checks on entry and exit!

It's fab apart from when it's windy and sometimes doesn't lock itself back down, it flaps about wildly until the wind dies or I click it into place. A local visitor has figured out if he puts his head up the bottom of one of mine he can sneak in - I'm sure they're in cahoots about it as they're best friends!

We've never had any unwanted visitors make their way in, and the best friend can't get in without help - even when he sits there batting it with his paws! It does lock quickly so unless they're literally conjoined then it doesn't let two in or out.

I have one that controls both exit and entry. It's very good and there isn't much gap before it locks. But yes, getting out by being right by an older cat is definitely a risk.

Our cat sneaks into our neighbours house following their cats through! So definitely a possibility.

We had one but we're bemused to find a large black cat inside the house on more than one occasion (we eventually adopted him).
Turns out our girls were sitting next to the flap to allow him in! This wasn't an accident, they really loved him and had worked out how to let him into the house. They never sat there at any other time than to let him in. 🥰
Got him his own chip so he could come and go as he liked (although it was mainly coming and rarely going!). 😁

If it's a Sure Flap one you could try emailing them and asking for the version with a stronger magnet. We bought a entry & exit one and it wasn't locking properly. Ours is through a wall so has a tunnel, cat likes to lounge inside the tunnel for a bit before exiting so wasn't getting the force to make the magnet hold. I emailed to explain and they sent out their super strong version which they seem to just dole out to annoyed people rather than make standard.

Thanks for all the replies. We spoke to the vet and they didn't recommend it as said they can easily sneak out behind the older ones when they go through it. Shame as it would've been an ideal solution

To cupcakequeen. Hello does your cat flap activate both sides? On entrance and exit. There's a cat that keeps attacking my cat and coming in the house to do that or steal her food. So I'm thinking of a cat flap but it's a glass back door to the garden, so she likes to sit and look outside. If she sits at the back door will the other cat be able to get in? If that makes any sense...lol