Many pets split their time between the inside of a home and the yard or area around the house. As independent animals with sleep schedules that do not always coincide with human patterns, cats are prime candidates for this type of lifestyle. A microchip cat flap helps to ensure that your cat can always enter and exit the home. At the same time, it prevents other animals from entering through the same pet door, and reduces the risk of home intrusion through that entrance. Read on to learn about how a microchip cat flap operates and why it is a viable option for your pet door needs.
Overview of Microchip Cat Flaps
Microchip-sensitive cat flaps or doors open automatically and only for your pet or pets. They operate by sensing your animal's identifying microchip. An animal without the correct chip or without a chip at all will find that the door remains shut.
In order for your microchip cat flap to operate properly, your pets need to have identifying microchips inserted. This is a quick, inexpensive and painless procedure that can be done at any veterinarian's office. Your vet will install a tiny microchip with a specific identifying code in the space between your cat's shoulder blades, where he will not be able to lick or scratch it out.
Setting Up a Microchip Cat Flap
Microchip cat flaps typically have two settings. The first, a "learning" mode, allows the flap to open whenever any animal comes to the door. The machine will detect the animal's microchip and store it for future use. The second mode is the primary setting of the door. Once you have allowed your pet or pets to access the door while in "learning" mode, you can switch the cat flap to the main use setting. At that point, it will only allow your pets to have access to the home, and will no longer accept new microchip information into its system.
There are a few things to keep in mind when considering purchasing a microchip cat flap. First off, if your pets do not have microchip identifiers, the door will be ineffective. Second, be careful that your door is set up to detect the correct model and type of microchip for your pet. Failure to match these up will, again, render the machine useless.
Microchip Cat Flap Security
During the "learning" period for the cat flap, any animal that comes to the door will be allowed to enter or exit the house. Because of this, it is best to not leave your cat flap in this function mode for any more time than is necessary. Observe when your cat has passed through the door, and then update the door's setting.
Microchip cat flaps are highly effective. Once they have been set up properly, there is very little risk that another animal will be able to access your home. The doors do not open automatically upon human contact, which prevents intruders from being able to access your house through a pet door.
Microchip cat flaps are available directly from the manufacturer. Consult a pet store or home improvement center for additional information.