Updated: September 18, 2026 ·
A microchip cat flap reads the identification chip implanted in your cat and lets only registered cats through — no collar, no tag, and no neighbourhood or stray cats coming in. But models differ in how many cats they register, how big the opening is, how a curfew works and whether there is an app, and a mismatch with your cats or your house is hard to undo. This guide lays out the order to decide in, based on the manufacturers' published specifications.
Traditional cat flaps either let anyone through or open with a magnet or infrared key on a collar. A microchip flap uses the 15-digit ISO chip your vet implanted as the key, so it identifies cats that hate collars or keep losing them. For cats without a chip, every maker sells an RFID collar tag that works on the same door. A few models cannot read AVID encrypted or Trovan chips, so check which standard your cat carries first.
SureFlap registers up to 32 cats, the Cat Mate 360 up to 30, PetSafe up to 40 and the Cat Mate Elite with its LCD timer up to 9. In a multi-cat home what matters more than the headcount is whether you can set exit permission per cat: SureFlap's DualScan and Connect models can keep chosen cats indoors while the others come and go. With a kitten or a cat recovering from surgery, this feature alone decides the purchase.
The SureFlap cat models open 142mm wide by 120mm high, Cat Mate 145×145mm or 150×150mm, and the SureFlap Pet Door for large cats and small dogs 178×170mm. Check the opening height first if your cat is a big one. All fit timber and uPVC doors, walls and glass, but glass needs a round hole of about 212mm plus an adapter, and a wall needs tunnel extensions for its thickness. The Cat Mate 360 self-lines up to 85mm without extras.
Every model has a four-way manual lock: in and out, in only, out only, locked. If you only want to stop night-time roaming, the Cat Mate Elite locks itself at times you set on its LCD, with no app or hub. SureFlap's Connect models add curfew schedules, remote locking and entry/exit notifications from your phone — but they cannot join the app without the separately sold Hub.
All of them run on batteries: four AA cells for about 12 months is the norm. The app-connected Connect drops to about 6 months because of the radio, and the larger Pet Door Connect uses four C cells for about 6 months. No mains means you can fit it anywhere, but a flat battery means a door that will not open. Watch the low-battery light and fix a replacement date.
Only the specifications that drive the decision, taken from each manufacturer's published data. Prices are left out because they vary widely by country and season.
| Model | Cats registered | Opening (W×H mm) | Batteries / months | Per-cat exit control | Curfew timer | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap | 32 | 142×120 | AA×4 / 12 | — | — | — |
| SureFlap DualScan | 32 | 142×120 | AA×4 / 12 | ✓ | — | — |
| SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap Connect | 32 | 142×120 | AA×4 / 6 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (Hub) |
| SureFlap Microchip Pet Door Connect | — | 178×170 | C×4 / 6 | — | ✓ | ✓ (Hub) |
| Cat Mate Elite 355 | 9 | 150×150 | AA×4 / 12 | — | ✓ (LCD) | — |
| Cat Mate Microchip 360 | 30 | 145×145 | AA×4 / 12 | — | — | — |
| PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap PPA19-16145 | 40 | — | AA×4 / 12 | — | — | — |
Yes. SureFlap, Cat Mate and PetSafe all sell an RFID collar tag that registers on the same door as chipped cats. A lost collar means a closed door, though, so a chip is the more reliable long-term answer.
All support the 15-digit ISO (FDX-B) standard used by most vets. Some models cannot read AVID encrypted or Trovan chips, so check your cat's chip number against the maker's compatibility list.
The door stays shut for any animal that is not registered. It is not designed to physically block a cat that tries to slip in right behind a registered one, so in an area with many outdoor cats, restricting exits with DualScan or Connect is one more option.