Keeping freedom for four and lock in for two

[sue]

Dear All,
I am interested in the Microchip catflap, however my use is somewhat different and I would like to ask if there would be any problems with what I want to do.
I do not have a problem with unwanted cats entering my home due to the presence of my overly large Golden Retriever. However I have six cats, four that are free to roam and two Maine Coon kittens, which, due to their lack of street cred and obvious desirability, are not. Therefore I wish to be able to apply different rules to different cats. Correct me if I am wrong, but if we install the Cat flap with the reader (hood) on the inside of the conservatory would this not allow me to programme only the cats allowed out and in at their leisure, while not programming in the maine coons thus denying them an exit from the house? If this would be OK I shall be sending for a Pet Porte, post haste, until they come up with a two way reader.Has anyone tried this? Regards Sue

[loulou1971]

Ooh what a clever idea! Sure James will answer but I've just been sitting here getting my head round it and it seems ideal! I suppose the only thing would be where the power supply cable comes out - though I'm sure that even if that means it's on the outside you could still surely drill a very small hole to allow the thin cable through the door into the inside to be plugged in. Though perhaps this wouldn't be a problem anyway as maybe you can still route it to whichever side of the door you need to as you install it?

[James]

I am sorry but the Pet Porte is not intended for that purpose.

The microchip cat flap is designed to stop other cats getting inside. It is not designed so that you can keep some cats in and let other cats out.

Sorry!

[sue]

Dear James,
whether the Pet Porte was designed for my suggestion is surely not the point. If the flap only works on programmed chips, ie not letting undesireables in, then in goes to say that fitted the other way, treasured kittens unprogrammed should not be able to get out. I cannot see why this should not work, please explain your reply in greater detail if possible. Is there any reason why this would not work, especially as neither side of the flap would be subject to the weather as it would be positioned under a window seat in the conservatory. Regards Sue

[James]

We do not recommend that useage because any cat would be able to get in.

[sue]

Dear James,
thanks for the reply, I realise that my use of the Pet Porte is unusual but I believe that for me it will be just perfect and I shall continue to rely on my dog to police the entrance. For thirty years I have never experienced unwelcome cats through my cat flap and had not realised, until now, that people find it such a problem. The cat population in my area are obviously more polite or just know not to enter dog territory. Shall be sending for a Pet Porte, and will let the forum know how things work out. Regards Sue

[James]

Just a thought - one way to do this would be to get two Pet Porte's and place one at each end of a tunnel. That way it would effectively be able to keep out some of your cats but allow other cats out and would stop any other cat from getting in.

[socks_uk]

Hi,

My problem is similar but was brought on in a totally different way.

We noticed our little blind kitten had 'got out' through our existing cat flap (Staywell) and thankfully was handed in to the vet literally feet away from our house. Couldn't work out how such a small kitten (12 weeks old) pushed it open but there you go, we accepted he did.

But then, 2 nights ago we found out what 'fishing' is! We were burgled by the theives 'hooking' our keys out through the cat flap and letting themselves in with them.

O.K., so now we've learned our lesson about the keys and changed the locks and have put the keys somewhere hidden but we still have the problem of, eventually or soon, the blind kitten never being allowed out. We have 4 cats altogether, 2 chipped and 2 not as yet - the kitten and his mother.

So... we could do with replacing the cat flap for the existing microchipped (Identichip) cats and we need to have the mother cat chipped also but then we have the blind kitten. I guess I need to know if Pet Porte are easy to fit in the hole where my existing cat flap is and can I stop the kitten getting out if we chip him too?

[James]

The microchip cat flap is easy to fit. You may need to make the existing hole slightly bigger because the microchip cat flap is one of the largest cat flaps on the market.

It will not stop cats getting out but it will only allow your cats to get in. Therefore it stops all unwanted cats from getting in and makes your house safe.

I dare say that it will also deter any thieves who might try to hook your keys - heaven forbid. It is an important point that you raised and very good advice to keep your keys well away from your door.