cat flap?

[BroadRipple]

can't believe I'm even having to ask about this. I wanted a dog! but er, we now have a cat, and I need advice re: buying a magnetic as opposed to a microchip cat flap...
Microchips = ridicu. expensive BUT we're surrounded by cats here, and I don't know how likely it is that other cats with magnetic bits on their collars will come into our house...any thoughts? wd much rather not have to pay for one if unnecessary - magnetic kind are expensive enough, sheesh...
p.s. he's called Hercules. Cool name eh? when I think what else the RSPCA person could have called him...Fluffy...Chanel...CLARKSON...

[Jeanied]

Have a look at how many cats you can see with the little magnetic barrel on their collar - I have loads of cats round here but none of them with magnets so mine is the only one with a key to the door! And it has saved her many a time from the scallywags that lurk round outside - not least the urban foxes.
Make sure the flap is properly sited - the workman that put mine in cut a crooked hole and made it a touch too low - which means the cat has to crouch a bit to hop out. And finally find out how easy it is to get replacement magnets - they usually supply two with the flap, but you may need to get more if the cat slips its collar.

Ps you can see Maisie's magnet in my avatar.

[veggiechicken]

Good on you for giving Hercules a home. My cats and dogs have always had their own entrance with the cheapest of cat/dog flaps (?Staywell). Other cats have come in but only a few. The same ones used to come in through an open window or door. Try to keep your cat in at night and lock the flap from the inside to stop other cats coming in then. I just put a board across it as the little sliding pegs are a bit fiddly.
I hope you'll all be very happy together!!

[Alison]

We got one of those when we first got our oldest cat as he seemed to have friends coming in on a regular basis. Unfortunately it didn't work at all for him as he doesn't open cat flaps with his head like a normal cat - he sort of pushes with his paw and then follows through. As the magnet is on his collar it isn't close enough to activate the cat flap so he had to sit outside. Don't know if our cat is unique with this but they don't do them on wrist watches . He also eats wet food with his paw like Felix the cat so that could be something to watch out for. Funnily enough after the first few weeks of everbody's cats visiting it died off and we haven't noticed one for ages - maybe they were just having a nosey and found it wasn't that interesting.

[Hazel at the Hill]

If you're fitting a mag. operated cat flap in a upvc door, you have to put an insulating later round (I think) or the metal in the door jigs with the mechanism, and it will only operate within a very short range i.e. when the cat's face is squashed sideways against the flap - or that's what I found when I moved to a house with one fitted.

As my cats objected to this, I swapped the catflap for a non-magnetic one which meant that the local cats invited themselves round for tea. When I had a new back door, I bit the bullet and got a chip-operated one, and we are all very pleased with this (except the neighbourhood cats, anyway), although I appreciate it's pricey.

[polo]

I wish I could have seen this thread when I was trying to decide! We have a microchip type prompted by night time visitors, fighting and spraying - not nice at all.

Weighing it up, we went for the chip type becasue our cats refuse to wear collars. Very happy with the chip flap. It takes a litte while for them to get properly used to the 'click' it makes when unlocking and the battery life is great (we have two cats in and out)

Polo

[salome2001]

the microchip catflaps are the only way to keep unwanted visitors out. BTW there are 2 types- mains connected (Petporte) or battery operated (Sureflap). Which is better will depend on where you want to site the catflap but make sure the batteries don't run out
also, although the flaps say they only work for 8-16 cats, they will work with a larger number. the trickiest thing is getting the chips activated on the flap, can be a bit annoying for the cat. But strange cats eating their food and peeing in your kitchen is worse...

[morverngirl]

My 2 sit and look at doors/cat flap and wait for me to open, think they are royalty not a simple moggy.

[Oli]

These are brilliant

Automatic Cat Flap - Cat Mate Elite Super Selective - White | eBay

[pipkins]

I have bought a chip one and it was lots of money, still in its box at the moment as we previously had a dog and a dog flap is bigger so need to replace the panel in the door more lots of money. I will be glad when we have done it as we have two big intact toms coming in.

[elizajay]

"p.s. he's called Hercules. Cool name eh? when I think what else the RSPCA person could have called him...Fluffy...Chanel...CLARKSON...

I have a friend who loves cats and they are all called Hercules whether male or female. His daughter was allowed to give her cat a different name!

[donnakebab]

I have 3 cats 2 of which regularly slip their collar. Unwanted visitors are usually dispatched with verbal abuse from said 3 or a stiff broom from me if I'm around. Daughters dog chewed the outside of cat flap so that it now looks like a 3D promotional poster for Jaws 5 (or whatever number). He's gone now but a few years ago before the dog largest cat demolished the cat flap while we were away for a couple of nights (neighbour phoned me in distress. We were away for sons wedding). He's a very big, strong cat. If he wants to get in/out he will so i'm not going to spend huge amounts of money on sophisticated cat flaps given that it's probably my cat that will demolish it.

Love him though. He pats my head with his paw when he wants a fuss, or uses my hair as dental floss when I try to ignore him. Daughters named him Kurt after Kurt Cobain.

[piskieinboots]

I have a microchip flap as I'm of the 'cats should not wear collars' school (don't shout me down, the birds cope fine here) - it is pricey but truly worth it

[donnakebab]

I like my 3 to have collars with bells so that I know where they are let alone the birds!