Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

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

Original poster

Microchip cat flaps but multiple entrances?

31 replies

bellac11 · 11/07/2023 07:11

I seem to be overun with cats coming in through our cat flaps and eating our cats food.

In particular, minding my own business last night, one of them came in the front room and sprayed up our cats scratching post, in front of me

It doesnt smell for some reason, I think he might be very young but I cant have that happening, thats worse than the cat food getting stolen.

So Im now forced to think about a microchip cat flap but there are two problems with this, one is that we have 3 flaps for the cat to roam as she likes and come in to which bit she likes etc (although this could be just 2) and the other is that she will not use a collar

What to do, what options do I have?

OP posts:
EversoDetermined · 11/07/2023 07:14

They don't need a collar, it works off the microchip, we've had one for years and it works very well. The only slight issue is that if the neighbouring cats are very fast they can tailgate yours in before the flap drops but that has only happened here once or twice in 10 years.

ForTheSnarkWasABoojumYouSee · 11/07/2023 07:16

Microchip cat flaps, as the name suggests, use the cat's microchip, not a tag on the collar.

On the other question, you have two choices: fit two/three microchip cat flaps or shut the other two and only let your cat out one way. Your choice.

Original poster
bellac11 · 11/07/2023 07:21

Ok, this is helpful, so how does her own chip register with the flap? Does it come with a scanner?

does this mean that I could have 2 flaps and register her chip with both of them, that would solve the problem if so?

OP posts:
BarrelOfOtters · 11/07/2023 07:26

Yes you could have as many cat flaps as you like and register her on each one. You pass the cat through the flap before you fit it and it registers the microchip. You can buy ones that work while plugged in (with battery back up) or just off batteries.

Clymene · 11/07/2023 07:27

Yes. You wet the flap to learning mode by pressing a button and post your cat through. The the flap learns your cat's microchip. It's very easy.

Original poster
bellac11 · 11/07/2023 07:36

So I could do this on a number of flaps then?

I really didnt realise they used the internal microchip, I thought they came with those massive collars!

This is going to cost me a fortune but I think is the only way I can do it.

OP posts:
ForTheSnarkWasABoojumYouSee · 11/07/2023 08:18

If you've got existing cat flaps you can replace them yourself because they're a standard size. A basic microchip cat flap is seventy quid, so yes it would rack up if you wanted three of them

EversoDetermined · 11/07/2023 08:23

Yes, we replaced a basic catflap with one very easily, IIRC one person had to press a button while the other posted the cat through to learn the chip. The batteries in ours last at least a year at a time and are easy to replace.

LMNT · 11/07/2023 08:26

You put the cat flap in “learn” mode and literally push your cat through so the chip gets scanned by the flap. It’s really easy.

We have 4 cats and this is the best way to keep track of who is in, who is out and how long they spent outside etc.

Original poster
bellac11 · 11/07/2023 08:27

ForTheSnarkWasABoojumYouSee · 11/07/2023 08:18

If you've got existing cat flaps you can replace them yourself because they're a standard size. A basic microchip cat flap is seventy quid, so yes it would rack up if you wanted three of them

Well its worse than that, one of the entrances is actually a dog door (we no longer have a dog) so its massive and will be expensive.

Need to think carefully about the logistics of this

OP posts:
NotAMissionPriority · 11/07/2023 08:34

Our microchip cat flap suggests one "post" rather than "push" the cat through so it learns the microchip. There's a hilarious diagram 😂 If you get a Sure one with the hub you can set curfews and some flaps to in only, and track where the cat went in or out of.

ponygirlcurtis · 11/07/2023 08:36

If it's a dog flap in a door could you get a new panel for the door and replace that instead? I have the Sureflap one with hub where you can track everything on your phone, their customer service is great - just replaced a worn door for free, we've had it 3.5yrs.

mondaytosunday · 11/07/2023 08:58

With mine you just place the cat near the flap and it registers it. You have to press a button for it to do this. I have two cats snd they go in and out and it locks a few seconds later. Batteries run out after two months though!

BarrelOfOtters · 11/07/2023 10:16

mondaytosunday · 11/07/2023 08:58

With mine you just place the cat near the flap and it registers it. You have to press a button for it to do this. I have two cats snd they go in and out and it locks a few seconds later. Batteries run out after two months though!

I'm getting one of those next time - the 'posting' the cat through after it had been fitted didn't go well.

hilariousnamehere · 11/07/2023 10:19

I have the microchip flap - put it in learn mode, hold the flap open and put it over your cat's head briefly to register it before you fit it into the door - much less stressful for everyone! It can take them a little while to get used to the clicking sound it makes as it opens.

Yes you can have more than one and they do a dog sized door too which I have for my chonky floofs 😂

Yarnorama · 11/07/2023 10:25

The setting it to recognise the chip is easy, press a button, put a treat under the chip reader bit, cat eats treat, chip recognised. No need for posting or holding flaps open!

BarrelOfOtters · 11/07/2023 13:16

Yarnorama · 11/07/2023 10:25

The setting it to recognise the chip is easy, press a button, put a treat under the chip reader bit, cat eats treat, chip recognised. No need for posting or holding flaps open!

Tried that, cat knew we wanted him to do something so point blank refused the tastiest treat on offer. Little git.

Yarnorama · 11/07/2023 13:30

BarrelOfOtters · 11/07/2023 13:16

Tried that, cat knew we wanted him to do something so point blank refused the tastiest treat on offer. Little git.

Show quote history

😂

Cats are such arseholes.

Mine doesn't even like treats but she's bloody nosy so went for a look at it, which was enough.

ArmyOfSkanks · 11/07/2023 13:37

We use the Sureflap one for ours; it works well to stop others coming in but they wear collars with tags as well because the microchip they have inserted in them can be unpredictable. It’s because it can move around in their body as they grow.

We didn’t want them to get stuck outside if their own chip didn’t read at any time, so added a rfid tag which is very light. They wear tick collars anyway so they don’t mind the tags. They often need to enter at speed as they defend their territory from other invading cats and do get into altercations…

PerrinAybara · 11/07/2023 14:00

When I got ours fitted I needed to get a new panel in the door as the previous design wasn't suitable. It wasn't expensive.

You can get ones that use the microchip to control in only (any cat can go out); microchip control for in and out (which is the one we have); and fancy ones with a hub that allow timed locking and track which cats are in or out.

I have also seen one advertised that automatically locks if the cat tries to come in with a 'present'. Which is tempting <eyes decapitated mouse on doorstep>

Original poster
bellac11 · 11/07/2023 20:38

Can people give a few more pointers about what models/makes you have

Im looking on amazon and its a bit overwhelming, I dont think we can afford the one with the hub!

OP posts:
Yarnorama · 11/07/2023 20:41

Mine is a basic Sureflap microchip flap.

Oldnamechangeyetagain · 11/07/2023 20:44

bellac11 · 11/07/2023 20:38

Can people give a few more pointers about what models/makes you have

Im looking on amazon and its a bit overwhelming, I dont think we can afford the one with the hub!

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/sureflap-microchip-cat-flap-white

They can even be fitted in patio doors

I have both of these

https://petflapsuk.com/installation/sliding-patio-doors/

Picture is before it was fitted

Microchip cat flaps but multiple entrances?
Chewbecca · 11/07/2023 20:52

We have the basic sure flap one when we had visiting cats and even a badger coming in! It was great for years then the battery started going really quickly. We taped over the sensor when we were going away once (to prevent puss getting locked out, they don’t get locked in) and never got around to removing it. It seems the years of it being a locked door trained all the local animals not to bother!

Original poster
bellac11 · 11/07/2023 20:56

Yes Im worried about references to batteries running out quickly, cant remember which reviews I read now which said that

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread