On the hunt for the best smart cat flaps? While you may, initially, have thought that smart home technology was limited to TV and audio, cat owners are becoming increasingly aware of the perks of a smart cat flap for their furry friends.
Any savvy pet owner will know that an open door or window is fair game for a determined pet, but the best smart cat flaps can do a whole lot more than just let puss in and out of the house, they can significantly add to your peace of mind and, if your cat doesn’t respond well to the presence of other animals, to theirs as well.
Check out our buying guide for our pick of the best smart cat flaps to suit your needs and budget. Then, head over to our technology hub page for more advice, information and specialist buying guides. Don't miss our pet hub page, too for more cat-related know how, advice and buys.
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What is the best smart cat flap?
In our opinion, the best smart cat flap, currently available, comes in the form of the original Sureflap, which can register the identification microchips of up to an incredible 32 cats – though it's equally suited to homes with just one, or a handful of kitties.
On top of this, it promises easy installation and four-way lock, which makes it extra-secure against potential intruders.
How to buy the best smart cat flap
Our recommended retailers for the best smart cat flaps
When it comes to choosing the best smart cat flap for you (and your furry friends) we'd recommend bearing the following factors in mind:
Number of cats
When sourcing the right smart cat flap, you'll need to think about how many kitties you're catering for. Most cat flaps offer entrance for between 25 and 42 cats – more than enough for the average family – but you'll want to make sure you're not getting caught out by a model that offers entrance to too few.
Timer control
Do you want the option to limit when your cats can come in and out of the house? If your cats are scared of the dark, or you don't like the idea of them being out after hours, you'll want to look out for a model with a built in timer.
Selective exit
Perfect for those looking to set different time restrictions for different pets – be that kittens or older moggies who need a little more care – selective exit allows pet owners to alter the entrance and exit rights for each pet, individually.
The best smart cat flaps you can buy right now
The original Sureflap Microchip Cat Flap can recognise the nine, 10 or 15 digit microchip numbers of up to 32 cats – or simple collar RFID tags, if they’re not chipped – makes it a great addition to catteries or cat-sitters’ abodes, but the peace of mind it offers makes it the most popular cat flap with all sorts of households.
With the press of a button, it learns your cat’s chip number when they next saunter by, and testers found it just as easy to install in wooden, PVC or glass doors, as well as being reassured by the four-way lock that keeps strays out even while your cat is coming and going.
Browse more microchip cat flaps on Amazon
Cat owners commended the PetSafe Petporte Smart Flap for its ease of installation in even glass doors, and found that syncing their cats’ microchips was straightforward, but as that’s reasonably par for the course when it comes to smart cat flaps, it’s certainly worth mentioning the PetPorte’s particular charms.
There's a pretty advanced timer function that you can program to lock and unlock at set times of the day, and even a night mode that detects light levels and locks when it gets dark, perfect for cats who stay indoors at night and whose owners don’t want to faff around taking daylight savings into account.
Like the idea of a cat flap with a timer? Find more on Amazon
On first examination, the Sureflap DualScan Microchip Cat Flap is hardly distinguishable from the original Sureflap in our number one spot, and it actually boasts most of the same charms: a 32-cat memory, easy mounting even in glass doors with the use of the included mounting adapter, quick microchip learning function and four-way lock, to be precise.
The one vital difference lies in the ‘DualScan’ part which may make it worth the extra outlay. This enables you to set different permissions for different pets as well as time limits, so younger cats can spend increasing amounts of time outdoors, or small dogs who also use the flap can be kept from going outdoors at night, for example.
Take a look at the full range of dual scan cat flaps on Amazon
With a learning capacity for a whopping 40 microchips, this PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap has easily the biggest memory of any cat flap on our list, and is therefore among the best options for cat shelters and boarding catteries.
In fact, it’s tops for any house where cats frequently come and go, as it’s designed with energy efficiency in mind, with a built-in draught excluder and two magnetic closing locking points to increase insulation. It also has dual auto-locks in addition to a four-way manual lock, making it an extra-secure option for those particularly worried about intruding wildlife or stray cats.
Shop more microchip cat flaps on Amazon
Yet another close relation of the original SureFlap, this SureFlap Microchip Pet Door, perhaps unsurprisingly, is also in possession of a 32-cat memory and secure, long-lasting construction. Its big differences are twofold: first, its size, which allows small dogs as well as larger kitties to use the door, while the microchip functionality ensures larger creatures like foxes are still kept out.
It also swaps the separate permissions of the Sureflap DualScan for Curfew Mode, a built-in timer which programmes the door to lock and unlock at times set by you, so if you’d rather your pets didn’t go a-wandering while you’re asleep, this is a great way to ensure they stay safe.
Browse more pet doors on Amazon
Looking for more smart home buying guides?
- See who's at the door (before you open it) with the best smart doorbells
- Control heating and hot water from your phone with a smart thermostat
- Want to make your home smarter than you? check out our pick of the best smart home tech for your house
