Cat Mate Elite Microchip Cat Flap Review: Keep Your Cats Safe

[@sheripatman1638]

BEST "SMALL PET" DOOR EVER! In 2013 I purchased the Cat Mate Elite that uses the ID Discs and it is still working great in 2020. I use lithium batteries. I don't have any cats. I use it for 3 Yorkie dogs, weighing 8 pounds, 7 pounds, and 5 pounds. I love it! I don't use any of the timing features and let my dogs come and go as they please.

[@MyHomeFarm]

Thanks for the feedback Sheri. I agree, it’s a really good flap, and using the discs for dogs is a great idea.

[@RachelHallett-zw7rn]

Hi I have this but my cat has just lost the microchip, whilst I wait for a replacement to arrive can you help me to program the cat flap to work as a regular cat flap please (no need for a chip or tag) I’ve done this before but I can’t for the life of me work it out now :(

[@MyHomeFarm]

Yes, I think you can. Just switch the directional arrow button, to allow entry without the microchip.

[@luapynneb3069]

Thanks for the review, just ordered one as the village tom cat has started coming into the house and eating my cats food.

[@MyHomeFarm]

Thanks for the feedback. This should definitely keep the intruding tom out.

[@hamidnikbakht1295]

The fact that on the way out it doesn't read the chip and opens on its own seems to be a safety feature if I'm not mistaken. If something happens at home like a burglar or fire, cats should be free to leave the house and seek refuge somewhere safe.

[@MyHomeFarm]

Thanks for the comment Hamid. Yes, that might be the case. You can lock the flap to prevent cats leaving, which we do at nighttime. The issue though, is that we have a new cat that’s not allowed in the front garden, and we can’t prevent her from exiting if the flap is set to both ways, so we have to leave the flap on one way and let our other cat outside manually.

[@Fartman71]

That grinding of the gears to move the locks is awful.

[@MyHomeFarm]

I agree, but it’s handy to hear your cats coming home too.

[@luannehagan7434]

I'm looking for a video on how to install--any idea's??

[@RememberingWW2]

How do I program the cat flap so that only one of my cats can go outside? I followed the programming procedure for my one cat but every time I push on the door from the inside it opens...

[@MyHomeFarm]

You can't do that - the flap allows all animals to leave and it only uses the microchip to read animals re-entering the house.

[@DeneF]

Sorry for being stupid. It doesn't read out going cats but you clearly said that the display was no longer showing the cat icon because Leopold had gone out. If it doesn't read outbound, how does it know Leopold has left the building? Thanks.

[@MyHomeFarm]

Fair point. What I meant is that it reads Leopold when he goes out, because it still scans the microchip, but outbound traffic isn’t restricted by the cat flap. The flap is either opened or closed. When open, all cats can leave. Inbound traffic requires a microchip to open the flap. Hope that’s a better explanation and makes sense.

[@DeneF]

@@MyHomeFarm So, that's now solar panels, an Ecodan air system and a cat mate elite. Lol. Thanks.

[@MaggieMay757]

Thank goodness I watched right to the end where you pointed out the cat-flap doesn't read the chip on their way out! I need to keep one cat housebound. Any hints as to a brand/model which will accommodate this?

[@MyHomeFarm]

Hello Marg. Ours is set to one way. It’s locked to leave the house, so we let our cats out the front door, but open to allow our microchipped cats back in. You can do that. But since you have more than one cat, and you want one using it to exit, it won’t work. I’m afraid I have no other suggestions. Sorry.

[@gdent8300]

As long as you are not bothered about the neighbours cats coming in do as I did and fit the catflap back to front. THat way you can control which cats leave the house but not which one's enter. It's worked for me for 8 years plus :)

[@rowanscmorien4761]

I was worried about the opposite problem and cats getting locked in in the event of a malfunction (I'm looking for a door for a shelter for a stray cat, so there will be no human in there in case of emergency) and I've read a few people with the issue you're having. It seems like in general they DO NOT restrict access from the inside by microchip, only by locking it for all cats to stay in or all cats to go out, and it isn't made very clear so it must be frustrating for you. Unfortunately it seems to be the way they all are. I had a think, and my solution would be that you install two cat flaps, put one of them the 'wrong way' round, and set them to be locked from the side that doesn't get the chip. Did you find any better solutions?

[@rowanscmorien4761]

Oh scratch that! I found one and they call the feature you need Dual Scan www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_flaps_nets/microchip_cat_flaps/408801?zootopia_rec=true&cn=initial&si=3&pn=web_category_l4&pr=container_1&strategy=79763595&rk=1-12&slot=2&pi=408801&rri=0a3bb08b-ca52-4fb1-a8ef-4a0fee0a6fb7

[@DeneF]

@@rowanscmorien4761 SureFlap Dual Scan reads two cats both in and out.

[@stuartmcmaster1315]

We in stalled a cat mate elite with timer 5 months ago, our cats won't use it

[@daveo0o]

Hello, just to mention this is a great review, but I do have a question regarding closing the cat flap. We bought magnetic cat flap doors and when our cats come through the door, the doors don't fully close because they enter quite softly through the door and they leave the door open for our neighboring cat. Do you have similar problems with microchip doors or do they always fully close? Thanks in advance!

[@MyHomeFarm]

Thanks for the comments and question David. We've had no issues with the cat flap closing and locking. I've never really paid attention to this, but I don't think that the closing/locking mechanism on this flap is magnetic - when it opens and closes there's a mechanical/gear sound that locks and unlocks the flap. The flap itself is very sturdy and swings back into the locked/closed position very quickly and locks every time without issue. Hope that helps.

[@majestic_slug1432]

Out of interest Why did you replace the flap, we just installed ours and it does not seem to let my cats in when the in and out function is active? It said it took the microchips properly when we set it up

[@MyHomeFarm]

We replaced ours because it wasn't consistently reading the microchip on our cats, so they'd be trying to get in and it wouldn't let them - it was probably around 50% of the time that it woudn't let them in. The replacement works 100%, every time now.

[@cureit9161]

It does not work, sorry folks, just talking from experience. If you want to stop strays getting in, they simply claw at the door edge and pull it towards them, they sneak in underneath the flap. I spent £75 trying to stop my Neighbours cat getting and it failed. Cats are too smart. The chip should operate both ways in and out!

[@cureit9161]

It would appear a money-making exercise as, if you want protection both ways, you have to buy a 'Dual Scan' and they are more expensive!!!

[@smeehan6969]

My cats outsmarted the sureflap one as well. They can claw it open whatever we do, so when we want to keep them in we have to close an interior door. Cats are indeed too smart.

[@bethcrickmore8668]

Can you set it so they can leave during a set time ie 6am to 8pm but return at any time without having to press every night?

[@MyHomeFarm]

From what I can recall, you can’t automate it like that. I’ll double check the manual tomorrow.

[@bethcrickmore8668]

@@MyHomeFarm thank you so much. I’ve lost the manual. Have tried google but to no avail

[@erinevatt4963]

I want to use this for my outdoor Kitty so that no other animals can have access to his heating pad or his food. Can you tell me what setting it needs to go on so that he can come and go as he pleases? I understand that any animal can exit which is a nice feature in case somehow a raccoon did get in, it could get out

[@MyHomeFarm]

Thanks for the question Erin. We would put the flap on one way. That means your cat can leave whenever it wants, and the flap is always open to exit. It would, however, only allow entry back into the house for pets with an approved microchip, which means only your cat could come in. No other animals would have entry.

[@DeneF]

SureFlap Dual Scan reads two cats in and out but I don't think it has a screen?

[@MyHomeFarm]

Will check it out.

[@davidvallesmontesinos3092]

can you chose wich of your cats enters and wich not? for exemple if one of them is ill and you don't want him to get out?

[@MyHomeFarm]

Yes, you can control which cat can enter based on their microchips, but when the flap is open both cats can leave. You can’t limit which cat can leave and which one can’t. It only scan cats on entry (not exit).

[@j.one.3373]

Not sure if its the microphone but is the locking and unlocking super loud? I feel that would scare my cats.

[@MyHomeFarm]

Probably just the mic on the camera - it's not loud at all. Our cats can be a scaredy too, but they're not bothered by the sound.

[@larshcdk]

I read through the comments to see if anyone else was wondering about the noise it made in the video - because it does sound like a pretty loud clicking noise, that would definitely wake me up given where we want to position the flap compared to where we sleep. So nice to hear that you don't think its that loud.

[@Lee-zg3gx]

@4:28 I can see the lock didn’t properly work, this would mean the cat wouldn’t get back in? Have you had this problem again?

[@MyHomeFarm]

That occurred after the batteries were changed. We’ve never had that issue though. Touch wood, the cats are still entering every time without issue.

[@Lee-zg3gx]

@@MyHomeFarm Purchased earlier on Amazon, so hopefully our cat takes to it and works well. Thank you for the reply and great video 👍

[@MyHomeFarm]

You’re welcome. Let us know what you think when you’ve installed it.

[@andrewahner7162]

Does cold air come in through the cat flap in the winter? Great video

[@MyHomeFarm]

Thank you for your feedback and comment Andre. We don’t get cold air because of our tunnel and double flap. The flap is not totally airtight, so if strong winds blew directly at it it might allow some cold air in, but you certainly shouldn’t feel the wind.

[@Ekster77]

But a double flap is not the standard, is it? Normally you only have one in a door so that would give more problems with draught. I own a SureFlap and it's horrible on that point. The second one is broken now so I am looking for one that gives less draught and perhaps worjs longer than 4 years.

[@hernandze8630]

How to reset it to a factory mine don’t open at all and i lost the manual

[@MyHomeFarm]

Good question. I’ll check tomorrow.

[@unammoran5416]

Really helpful and reassuring. Have just ordered one.

[@MyHomeFarm]

Thanks for the feedback Una, and glad our video was of assistance.

[@jackacres3936]

We have a neighbourhood cat that manages to open our existing flap by hooking it with a claw and pulling it open and sneaking in, does this unit positively lock the flap so that can’t happen??

[@MyHomeFarm]

In quick response, it should help. If you set the flat to one-way so that your cats can't exit and they can only come back in, the flap will remain shut. This is the setting is our flap is set to as we manually let our cats out and they can come back in when they're ready. The neighbourhood cat will not be able to open the flap from the outside. If you set the flap to two-ways, all your cats (even without the microchip) can exit, but can only come back in with the registered microchip. Even if set to two-ways, the flaps clicks shut when a cat leaves, so it shouldn't be easy (and technically possible) for the neighbourhood cat to pull it open. I hope that helps.

[@jackacres3936]

My Home Farm Many thanks for the prompt reply, the visiting cat is a cunning bugger, I’m looking at making a longer tunnel so he can’t reach the flap, but our thick puss probably won’t work that out! Worth a shot though! Cheers

[@MyHomeFarm]

Cats can be cunning, but that’s what makes them such fabulous and interesting pets. Let us know how you come along and whether you can keep the neighborhood intruder out.

[@DeneF]

@@jackacres3936 Vote for funniest down to earth post in the comments section! Lolol.

[@sabbas0594]

Hi @jackacres3936 , I know you commented this a while ago but we’ve been having the same problem recently with a stray opening the cat flap the way you describe and attacking our cats at night time. Have you tried this one? Does it stop cats from opening the flap? Thank you

[@sylvander4972]

awsome tips! Thank you!

[@MyHomeFarm]

You’re welcome, and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.

[@fulv_uk]

Good video thanks. Do you like the styling / look of this cat flap?

[@MyHomeFarm]

Thank you for the feedback. Yes, we don’t mind the styling. There’s nothing overly fancy about it. It’s simple, well-built and functional, and will blend into most homes.

[@fulv_uk]

I am glad to hear that :) I am the designer of this product. It is always good to see that people like it.

[@MyHomeFarm]

Thank you for your comments and it's the first time we've 'met' a designer of a product. We think you've done a great job, for all the points mentioned above. I think the success of the design is it that it blends into homes. We've seen some loud, offensive designs for other flaps that will not work in all homes, and we've also seen some super modern designs that work in newly built properties but that wouldn't work as well in period homes. So we think you've got the balance just right. Well done.

[@fulv_uk]

@@MyHomeFarm thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate it. I designed the Elite range of cut flaps around 15 years ago. In the last few years Pet Mate has updated the electronics and as you know the cat flap can now work with microchips. 15 years ago the styling was seen to be very modern. It’s clean simple shape has been designed to become a classic for years to come. The step design was created to give a slimmer look to a product of a certain thickness. It makes it look more slim line especially if you look at it from above. It was a great product to work on. I have great memories of that. Thank you for bringing it back to life :)

[@MyHomeFarm]

Wow. 15 years ago this would have been positively space age, and it’s “aged” remarkably well. As a designer do you accommodate for styles and designs changing and morphing?

[@ladyabstinencelevain8696]

Very helpful

[@MyHomeFarm]

Thank you. Glad it helped.

[@tessaflamingo]

We have this catflap for over a year and a half now, we paid £70 and its our cats first one. Unfortunately the clicking sound when it is on is too loud for them and it scares them. So we have kept it off all this time as it stops them going out and uses the litter tray more than going out. Neighbour cats have come in to the house 3 times now and likes to snack on our cats food. I am on a hunt for a different one that is more quiet and microchipped so we can actually use it on all the time.

[@MyHomeFarm]

Let us know if you find a good alternative.

[@patticarrollhernandez6208]

did anyone ever find a quieter model?? our cat is also scared of the noise it makes @@MyHomeFarm