Best microchip cat flap 2024: Keep your home safe for your moggies
Our roundup of the best microchip cat flaps will have your cat purring in approval
If you want to keep your kitty safe, the best microchip cat flaps are a particularly clever invention. They give your cats free access to the outdoors while preventing any neighbourhood moggies from sneaking in. These cat flaps have a built-in sensor that recognises your cat’s microchip, meaning only they can go in and out of the flap. This puts them at a huge advantage over a normal, non-chipped flap – particularly if your cat is being bullied or you have a greedy, six-dinner Sid living nearby.
Cat flaps in general are a godsend for those of us who are servants to moggies, meaning we don’t have to get up and down every five minutes to let a cat in or out through a window or door. Allowing cats access to the outside world, in a safe environment, gives them the best life possible, so it’s worth investing in a good cat flap to let them come and go as they please.
We’ve put together a buying guide below to answer your questions about microchip cat flaps, but if you’re already set on buying one you can scroll down to view our recommendations.
READ NEXT: The best cat flaps to buy
Best microchip cat flaps: At a glance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Best for those on a budget | Cat Mate 360W Microchip Cat Flap (~£60) | Check price at Amazon |
| Best for multi-cat households | SureFlap DualScan Microchip Cat Flap (~£100) | Check price at Amazon |
| Best for keeping out draughts | PetSafe Microchip Activated Cat Flap (~£67) | Check price at Amazon |
| Best for keeping an eye on your cats | SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap Connect and Hub (~£215) | Check price at Pets at Home |
How to choose the best microchip cat flap for you
How does a microchip cat flap work?
Microchipping your cat by inserting a tiny chip into your pet is one of the easiest ways to keep it safe. The chip can then be read by a portable scanner, should your cat ever go missing and end up at a vet practice. It’s not harmful to the cat and takes very little time.
Microchip cat flaps use a similar scanner, inserted into the cat flap itself in the form of a sensor. Setup is extremely easy: you simply introduce your cat’s microchip to the sensor and the cat flap will store its information. Most flaps will also let you register multiple cats.
Do make sure that your cat’s microchip is one that’s recognised by the cat flap you choose. Some older microchips and foreign chips may not work with a microchip cat flap.
Where should I install my cat flap?
Cat flaps can be installed into doors, windows and walls, although not all cat flaps are suitable for all materials. Make sure you check the requirements for your chosen cat flap before buying. Moreover, don’t forget that the size of the hole required for installation will be larger than the size of the opening in your cat flap. Expect to calculate between two to six centimetres more than the stated dimensions and around five centimetres in depth.
If you’re installing a cat flap into glass, you will most likely need a mounting adapter. You can expect to pay around £12 for these. If you’re installing the cat flap into a wall, you might need a tunnel extender (sometimes called a door liner). Each tunnel extender adds five centimetres to the overall length of the tunnel and you can stack them together to create a tunnel of any length. These will generally set you back around £6.
Finally, remember that your cat won’t want to reach up too far to get in and out of the cat flap. Make sure you install it at a suitable height for their legs.
READ NEXT: The best cat food for indoor cats
How to train a cat to use a cat flap
Those of us who are already servants to our feline overlords might be laughing at the idea that you can train a cat to do anything. However, there are some simple tips you can try to make your cat use a new cat flap with ease.
- When your new cat flap arrives, take it out of its packaging and let your cat have a good sniff. Encourage them to scent mark the flap or take a cloth, wipe it around their face and then wipe over the cat flap. If you’re installing a microchip cat flap, programme your cat’s chip into the flap before you install it.
- Try to install your cat flap into a wall, door or window that opens out onto an enclosed or sheltered space. Cats feel more vulnerable in open spaces, so may hesitate to use a cat flap that doesn’t provide them with security. If you have no choice but to install it in an open space, try to position objects around the cat flap such as plant pots. This will give your cat places to hide.
- Prop the cat flap open with a peg or strong tape. Give your cat time to get used to going in and out through the hole and lower it slightly over time so that they have to start pushing it a little. If your cat is reluctant to use the flap, try enticing them through with their favourite treats.
- Be patient and remember that it may take your cat days or weeks to get used to using a new cat flap. Don’t give in and open the door for them or you will be back to square one.
READ NEXT: The best cat toys to buy
The best microchip cat flaps you can buy in 2024
1. Cat Mate 360W Microchip Cat Flap: Best for those on a budget
Price when reviewed: £60 | Check price at Amazon
The Cat Mate 360W is a simply designed microchip cat flap that doesn’t cost the earth – in microchip cat flap terms, that is. Made by PetMate, which is known for its reasonably priced cat flaps, this model works with either your cat’s implanted microchip or a unique ID disk that you can fit to a collar.
It’s a really simple cat flap to programme, with just the push of a button and an LED indicator that flashes to let you know the microchip has been registered. You will need four AA batteries to power the cat flap, but users report that these last for around a year, making the Cat Mate even better value.
You can programme up to 30 different microchips into the cat flap, making this a good choice for a multi-cat household. The flap itself is transparent and made from extremely tough polymer, plus there’s also a weatherproof brush seal to help keep out drafts. A rotary four-way lock allows you to control how or if cats can come in and out of the house. What’s more, it can be installed in most doors, as well as walls and glass panels with the relevant adapter. This is a well-made, simple design that should give you many years of use.
Key details – Size: 11 x 20 x 25cm; Weight: 930g; Power: 4 x AA batteries; Colours: White, brown
2. SureFlap DualScan Microchip Cat Flap: Best for multi-cat households
Price when reviewed: £100 | Check price at Amazon
If you’ve got more than one cat, the Dual Scan from Sure Petcare could be just the cat flap you’re looking for. It works with both microchips and the SureFlap RFID collar tag, but allows you to programme it for individual cats. This means you can keep specific cats inside – for instance, if they have a dreaded vet appointment and you don’t want them sneaking off – while the rest of your feline clowder can keep going in and out at will. The cat flap can be programmed for up to 32 cats and is powered by four AA batteries that should last up to a year.
There’s one-button programming and a manual four-way lock for security. Moreover, it has a safety mode to allow any cats that escape through a window or door to come back in. It can be installed in doors, windows and walls, although you may need some accessories such as tunnel extenders. It’s not the prettiest cat flap, as it’s quite solid and chunky, but for those living in a multi-cat household it’s a brilliant invention.
Key details – Size: 14.8 x 21 x 21cm; Weight: 1kg; Power: 4 x AA batteries; Colours: White, brown
3. PetSafe Microchip Activated Cat Flap: Best for keeping out draughts
Price when reviewed: £67 | Check price at Amazon
If you don’t enjoy the draughts that can often accompany cat flaps, the PetSafe cat flap is the one for you. It’s extremely energy-efficient, with two magnetic closing points that increase insulation and act as a draught excluder. There’s also weather stripping to help protect the flap from extreme rain and snow, making it a product that should last through even the most horrible winters.
Setup is easy, with one-button programming. However, this flap is marginally slower to open than some others and this may take your cat a little while to get used to, so be patient. The cat flap has a green light that appears when a chip is read successfully, and the LED light will also indicate when the battery is running low. Powered by four AA batteries, battery life is impressive at around 12 months.
The PetSafe cat flap comes with a cutting template to help with fitting, but note that for doors made of metal, glass or PVC, or to put the cat flap in a brick wall, you will need to purchase the PetSafe installation adapter and tunnel extension. This is another well-made cat flap and is reasonably priced compared to competitors.
Key details – Size: 12.2 x 22 x 23.9cm; Weight: 744g; Power: 4 x AA batteries; Colours: White, brown
4. SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap Connect and Hub: Best for keeping an eye on your cats
Price when reviewed: £215 | Check price at Pets at Home
Gadget-lovers will adore the SureFlap Microchip Connect, which comes with a hub that connects the cat flap to the accompanying Sure Petcare app. You get all the usual features of a microchip cat flap – it works with one-button programming and has a manual locking system – but there are also lots of extras accessible through the app.
You can lock or unlock the cat flap remotely when you’re not at home, and there’s also a curfew mode to allow you to lock or unlock the cat flap at specific times of the day. The app also lets you check if your cat is at home and will even “meow” when a cat goes in or out. If you’re going to be out, you can share permissions with your friends so that they can keep an eye on your cats and control their comings and goings.
However, you won’t get all these features without the hub, and this needs to be plugged into your router with an Ethernet cable as well as into the mains. You will also need four C cell batteries, which you should expect to last a maximum of six months.
If you would like to learn more about this cat flap, read our full SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap review.
Key details – Size: 12.5 x 26.2 x 28cm; Weight: 1.3kg; Power: 4 x C cell batteries; Colours: White
5. SureFlap Microchip Pet Door: Best for larger cats
Price when reviewed: £116 | Check price at Amazon
If you own a larger cat, such as a Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon, or have a cat that’s just a bit more generously proportioned, you will want a slightly larger than normal cat flap. At 26.2 x 28cm, the SureFlap Microchip Pet Door should accommodate even the largest moggy, as well as small dogs. You can store up to 32 pet microchips in the memory and, as well as microchips, the flap is compatible with the SureFlap RFID collar tag – there’s even one included in the box.
As well as the usual one-touch programming button, the pet door has a curfew mode that allows you to set the door to lock and unlock at various times. There’s also a four-way manual lock to secure the flap and override the microchip lock if necessary. The pet door runs on four C cell batteries, which should last around 12 months and can be fitted into doors, as well as glass and walls with the relevant accessories. A larger cat doesn’t mean you have to forgo the flap.
Key details – Size (cm): 12.5×26.2×28; Weight: 1.49kg; Power: 4 C cell batteries; Colours: White, Brown
