PetPorte cat flap - opinions please!

Hi everyone,

We've started letting Oscar and Smudge have time outside during the day, and think that we need to consider getting a cat flap put in now. I'm uneasy about them wearing collars as they love to climb bushes and would hate for them to get caught, we've tried them on quick-release collars before but they come off within minutes! So, this kind of puts infra-red cat flats out of the question. There are other cats around as well, so this puts a normal cat flap out of the question.

I have found something online which works by scanning the cat's microchip and only letting the microchips programmed into it in. (if that makes sense?) there's lots of information on this on www.petporte.com - I was just wondering whether anyone has had any experience with these before? It seems like quite a good solution. It also has a day/night sensor so when it gets dark it only lets the cats in, and stops them going out. Which eliminates the issue of us not wanting the cats to go out at night too.

I'm basically quite keen to get one of these but my boyfriend is going to be a bit harder to pursuade, as it's 100 pounds worth of catflap. So I thought I'd best do some investigation as to whether anyone has had one/heard anything good/bad about them?

Thanks in advance!

A couple of people on another forum I use have tried this and had success with it. I think it's a good idea as the magnetic flaps will admit any cat wearing a magnet but these will only admit a cat whose chip has been programmed in. I have no personal experience as my cats don't go out, but if they did I'd try it. Remind your boyfriend about how many collars and magnets you'd end up replacing when they lost them if you went for a conventional flap!

I know you are from the UK and the norm is to let the cats roam as they wish. You are even willing to spend hundreds of dollars to put them at risk. Why not keep the kitties inside where it is safe, and much more economic in the long run? Be different from the rest of the bunch.

I appreciate your advice gail, but it's not a decision we've made lightly. Both my boyfriend and I have talked about it a lot, and we know how happy the cats are when they can go exploring outside. It improves their quality of life no end, and it's not something we're really willing to reconsider.

We've decided to call the company tomorrow and ask them a few questions we have about range of signal etc so we'll see! I'd appreciate any feedback if anyone has one still though! Thanks

Originally Posted by gailuvscats

I know you are from the UK and the norm is to let the cats roam as they wish. You are even willing to spend hundreds of dollars to put them at risk. Why not keep the kitties inside where it is safe, and much more economic in the long run? Be different from the rest of the bunch.

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Many UK shelters will not adopt to people that do not have a catflap and allow their cats outside. While it may be soemthing you do not agree with, it is a cultural difference and needs to be respected. We recently had a member that was denied adoption for this very reason.