The 6 Best Microchip Cat Flaps In Canada
- May 27, 2023
- By Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Installing a cat door is an excellent method to give your cat the freedom to explore the outside and return when they're ready.
You don't even have to get up to let them in! However, if your cat can return at any time, so can other small animals in the area.
Raccoons and other cats are likely the most regular invaders, although snakes, coyotes, and squirrels have all been seen entering via cat doors in search of food.
Consequently, it is crucial that only your cat gets access to your house. A microchip cat flap is one of the greatest solutions for doing this.
This technology allows your cat unfettered access to and from your home while preventing other animals from entering.
BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has reviewed the best microchip cat flaps in Canada available, so you don't have to comb through all the possibilities.
We hope that this list will assist you in narrowing down your search for the ideal cat door for your cat and house.
Reviews
Cat Mate 360 Microchip Cat Flap — Best Overall
The Cat Mate 360 Microchip. Cat Flap is Canada’s finest microchip cat flap overall. It can read the microchip put in your cat, as well as the Cat Mate ID disc. After installation, it requires four AA batteries.
It has an LED battery indication that alerts you when it’s time to change the batteries and when the microchip has been correctly registered.
Transparent and fairly strong, the flap is secured with a magnetic clasp. It also offers four-way locking options and simple programming: If you have numerous animals, you may configure it so that only certain animals can enter and exit.
However, we discovered that clever cats (and other animals) may still be able to get access, thus certain models may not always be trustworthy.
Additionally, it is rather tiny and may only be suitable for little cats, so be careful to compare the dimensions to the size of your cat.
Pros
- Reads the microchip put in a cat.
- LED light for batteries and successful microchip registration
- Translucent, durable flap with magnetic clasp
- Four-way locking alternatives
- Simple to configure for several pets
Cons
- Some models may not always be trustworthy.
- Better for smaller felines
Best Value PetSafe Deluxe Selective Entry Cat Flap
The Deluxe Selective Entry Cat Flap by PetSafe is the most cost-effective microchip cat flap in Canada.
This device is not a microchip scanner, but it does read a “key” that your cat wears on its collar (which is also included). It features a “internal draught excluder,” which is a fancy term for an additional flap meant to keep cold air and drafts out.
It includes a four-way locking mechanism that allows you to manage when your cat can and cannot go outside, and it comes with installation templates.
However, it only comes with one key and collar, so if you have numerous cats, you’ll need to buy more keys and collars separately, which are not inexpensive.
Additionally, the flap is only put on the inside of the door, so from the outside it seems to be a gaping hole.
Pros
- Affordable
- Operates by reading a collar-mounted key (both included)
- Extra flap to keep out drafts
- Four-way locking mechanism
- 3-year guarantee
- Easy-to-use installation template
Cons
- If you have many pets, you will need to acquire more keys.
- Only connected on the inside; from the outside, it seems to be a hole.
SureFlap Microchip Connecting Cat Flap With Hub
The app and hub of the SureFlap Microchip Pet Door Connect with Hub provide convenience. Using the app, you can operate the cat flap even while you’re not at home and get notifications when your cat uses it.
If your cat does not have a microchip, RFID collar tags may be purchased individually. It can recognize up to 32 cats with microchips, and the mobile app allows you to lock or release the flap from anywhere.
A blinking LED light indicates when the batteries are going low, and there is a 3-year guarantee. However, the cost of this package is steep.
You may buy the cat flap separately for around half the price, but you will not get the app or hub. Additionally, it is relatively little, especially for cats of ordinary size.
Pros
- Includes the flap, an application, and a hub.
- The software allows you to program and monitor your cat.
- Identifies 32 cats with a microchip
- Can be locked and unlocked through the application
- Low-battery LED indication
Cons
- Expensive
- Small
Four-Way Locking PetSafe Interior & Exterior Microchip Cat Flap
The PetSafe Interior and Exterior Microchip 4-Way Locking Cat Door can recognize up to 40 microchips or RFID keys attached to collars.
It is equipped with a four-way locking mechanism, weather stripping, and two magnetic locking points to prevent drafts. It has a 3-year guarantee and may be placed on wood, PVC, brick, glass, and metal.
However, the cat flap may be sluggish to respond, and some cats may stop using it if the door doesn’t open quickly enough. In addition, it often closes with a loud click. This may discourage timid cats from utilizing the door.
Pros
- Can acquire up to forty distinct cat identities
- Four-way locking mechanism
- Contains weather stripping and two magnetic locks to prevent air leaks.
- Installable on a variety of surfaces, including wood, PVC, glass, metal, and brick
Cons
- Flap may be sluggish to respond, and some cats may abandon the fight.
- Clacking latches that may frighten away cats.
PetSafe Large Electronic Activating SmartDoor With SmartKey
The PetSafe Large Electronic SmartDoor Activated With SmartKey is a cat door that does not use microchips but rather a collar-mounted key.
You may program a maximum of five SmartKeys. It includes three programmed settings, including locked, unlocked, and automated, with accompanying LED lights so that you can tell at a look which mode it is in.
The range may extend up to 3 feet, so as soon as your cat reaches the door, it will instantly open and then lock again. However, the SmartKey requires batteries, which deplete rapidly.
It is also costly. Depending on where you reside, the door itself may not always keep out the cold.
Pros
- Utilizes keys (included) rather than microchips
- Accepts up to five SmartKeys.
- Three programming modes accompanied by three LED lights
- Unlocking the 3-foot range when your cat approaches
Cons
- Expensive
- SmartKey batteries don’t last long.
- Not effective at keeping out cold air
Cat Mate Elite Cat Flap With Microchip And Timer
Cat Mate’s Elite Microchip Cat Flap With Timer Control is intelligent enough to scan on the way in, but not on the way out. This makes sense, since it may be deemed unnecessary to scan your pet exiting.
It features an LCD display to inform you of your cat’s whereabouts and the last time the flap was used. The flap is waterproof and draft-proof, and it can accommodate up to nine cats.
It offers a time-control option, allowing you to configure it to lock automatically at night, for instance. However, this cat flap is sometimes unstable and may be difficult to configure for some.
Additionally, it tends to be loud while shutting, which may frighten certain cats. This may cause them to reject the product.
Pros
- Checks your cat entering but not departing
- The cat’s position and lock status are shown on an LCD screen.
- For up to nine felines.
- Specific times may be established for time management.
Cons
- Noisy during closure
- Can be untrustworthy
- Could be challenging to program
Buyer's Guide
Now that you’re acquainted with various microchip cat flaps, here are a few tips to assist you in making the best decision.
Your Feline’s Microchip
Check with your veterinarian or local animal shelter to determine the kind and number of the microchip implanted in your cat. Before purchasing a microchip cat flap, you’ll need this information to see whether it’s compatible with your cat’s microchip. Consequently, it may be prudent to invest in a key/fob door flap.
Measurements
Typically, cat doors include everything required for installation. Consequently, you must not only verify the external dimensions of the desired location for the cat flap, but also the inside dimensions to guarantee that your cat will fit through it.
If you are attempting to fill a hole that already exists in your door, the exterior dimensions are much more crucial. Do not rely on the manufacturer’s instructions, since they may be inaccurate. If it indicates that it is good for cats weighing up to 15 pounds, check it twice.
First, determine if the interior measurements are accessible, and then measure your cat. Add 1 or 2 inches to the measurement from the top of their shoulders to the bottom of their stomach.
You may also try cutting a hole in a cardboard box that is about the same size as the cat flap you are interested in. Examine if cats can readily get through the aperture, given that they like entering boxes. This should help you determine the optimal door size for your cat.
Weather
If you reside in a region with very freezing winters, search for a cat flap that is effective at keeping the cold out of your house. Consider installing the cat flap at a door that does not go to a common area, such as the living room. The majority of cat flaps provide some kind of draft protection, yet every time it is utilized, cold air will enter.
Noise
The majority of cat flaps feature magnetic closures, which means that whenever your cat uses it, it will probably produce a loud clicking sound.
Some cats won’t care, but more timid cats may avoid the door completely if they hear this noise. Introduce your cat to the new door and repeatedly open and close it so that your cat will get used to the noise and eventually ignore it.
Multiple Cats
If you have several cats coming and leaving, you should invest in a flap that allows selective entrance, particularly if certain cats are not permitted to leave the house.
You may set a selective entry-and-exit flap for each microchip or key that is allocated to a cat. Some cats are free to come and go, while others must remain inside.
Compared to microchip
The key to a cat flap is essentially a key fob. It resembles an ID tag but is often larger and heavier if it contains batteries. The key utilizes RFID technology, and if you have more than one cat, you can often purchase more keys separately.
This is an excellent alternative if your cat is not microchipped. Some cat flaps can just scan RFID keys, whilst others can both read microchips and keys.
Batteries
The majority of cat flaps are battery-operated, so you should stock up on batteries before it comes, particularly since most do not contain batteries.
Keep keep mind that many cat flaps need resetting when the batteries run out or when they are replaced. If the cat flap is difficult to program, you should look for one that is simple to use. This information may be obtained by reading user reviews.
Conclusion
Cat Mate’s 360 Microchip Cat Flap is our favorite since it can read a microchip or Cat Mate ID disc.
We appreciated the pricing of the Deluxe Selective Entry Cat Flap by PetSafe for its key reader and ability to prevent drafts from entering the house.
Our top pick is the SureFlap Microchip Pet Door Connect With Hub, which utilizes a handy app and hub for remote control of the cat flap.
BestForPets (bestforpets.org) hopes these evaluations of the best microchip cat flaps in Canada have helped you select a cat flap that meets both your and your cat’s requirements.
Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.
Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher
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