Cat flap advice (London)

[Sandrine1982]

Hello.

We have a 5-month old kitten and he's expressing iterest in going out so we would like to get a cat flap. However, this is all new to us and we don't even know where to start.

He's been chipped and we've heard there are cat flaps that can be programmed to work with the chip (i.e. only let the given cat use it).
Is that true? And are these better than generic cat flaps?

Also we have a double-glazed glass door in the kitchen where we'd like to get the cat flap. How does that work? How much would it cost?

And can anyone recommend a reputable company?
We are in East London.

Thanks so much in advance for any advice.
x

Bumping for you because I have similar questions! Although I have a local glazier (am in the south west, not London). Hoping to adopt a cat who needs outside access and only have double glazing panels in which to fit a flap.

We have a local Bengal who is a master cat burglar and a bit of a bully (although sweet with humans) and I need to keep him out, not least because the cat I’m hoping to adopt is timid.

You will need a new panel of glass for the door with the hole for the cat flap already made in it. Any glazer should be able to order and fit this for you. Get a flap with the microchip access unless you want every cat in the neighbourhood getting in and possible spraying on your house.

Definitely get the smart catflap which keeps other cats out (Sureflap). Plenty of bully or opportunistic cats about! Even if there isn’t one now you never know if one may move in.

You can put catflaps through a double glazed panel. You can also make a hole through a wall (you can get tunnel shaped sections if it’s a thick wall) if you have a spare spot in an external wall and you’d rather not spoil your glass.

We used these people (we’re SE London), we were happy with them. Installation cost was £165 but that was in a UPVC door, I’m guessing installing into glass might be more? We had to provide the cat flap, bought the SureFlap microchip one from Argos.

In theory, they are supposed to be great because it’s activated using your cats microchip so you don’t get all the neighbours cats wandering in and out. In practice, ours turns her nose up at it and waits for us to open the door!

https://huntersglass.com/services/cat-flap-fitting

Oh thank you all for your advice! That's really useful.

@edwinbear haha I'll be so mad if this turns out to be the case. I don't want to spend so much money on a cat flap for it not to be used? Lol...

Get the microchip sure flap, and consider the pet door
rather than the cat flap. My 5kg cat is a tight fit through the cat flap - I should have got the pet door.