Ratings
-
10/10
Features – 10/10 -
7/10
Ease of Set-Up – 7/10 -
8/10
Durability – 8/10 -
7/10
Value – 7/10
Summary
All the features of the Sureflap Dual Scan, but connected to an app that lets you configure everything on the go and gives you all the info you could want about your pets
Whether or not these features are worth the price hike over the Dual Scan is down to you and your wallet!
Pros
- Great app functionality allows you to monitor your cats
- Gives visibility of the movement of your pets
- Several installation options
- Quality build
- Provides interesting insights
Cons
- Battery replacement can be a headache
- Pricey
Full SureFlap Connect Microchip Cat Flap Review
The SureFlap Microchip Connect is a cat flap that not only allows entry and exit based on a cat’s microchip, but it can be controlled through an app, allowing you to unlock and lock it remotely, set curfew timings and keep an eye on your feline friends.
The other functionality is broadly similar to the Sureflap Dual Scan, so how does all this additional functionality stack up against the best microchip cat flaps? Is it worth the price?.
Is the SureFlap Connect Microchip Cat Flap a better option than the basic model? Let’s find out.
The App
While the SureFlap Connect Microchip Cat Flap looks pretty much the same as any other flap in the market. The Connect Microchip Cat Flap seems like an extraordinary solution to a simple problem. It is more expensive than other cat flaps because of all the extra features included in it.
The costs increase even further if you put it through a wall in your extension. Despite being expensive, the SureFlap Connect Microchip Cat Flap can be worth it. You might find its features pretty useful if you want to control your cat flap remotely and monitor your cats’ activities through an app.
Design and Installation
A plastic door is surrounded by a darker, thicker white plastic that houses the battery compartments and controls. On the inside, you will find small teeth at the bottom. These lock the door, but when a registered cat approaches, they click down, allowing the cat to easily push the door and come through it.
The SureFlap hub that is required to make the Connect app work is less familiar-looking. This thing is way cuter than any other hub we have seen. The shape of the hub resembles an actual cat head with ears that light up green to show that things are fine or red to indicate an issue.
The first thing you will need to do after unboxing the SureFlap Connect Microchip Cat Flap is deciding where it should be installed. The door is the simplest option since you’ll only have to cut a hole and the cat flap in place. If you want to install it in a glass window, you’ll need extra expense and help.
Once installed, you need to register your feline friends. To do this, first put the flap into learning mode by pressing a button on the cat flap and then entice your cat to put their head through.
Next up, you’ve to teach your cats to trust it. This can be a tedious experience requiring a lot of patience and cat treats. We suggest you leave the door open for some time so that your cats can come and go with ease and get used to the flap as it recognises them.
App and Performance
Once registered, the SureFlap Connect Microchip Cat Flap works great. It registers microchips without fuss and when locked, the flap can’t be pushed open even by a human hand. This keeps uninvited felines at bay.
The real triumph of this SureFlap product is the app. The first time you register your cat with the flap, the app receives their microchip number. In the app, you can fill in details about your cats and even include their photograph. Once registered, you will get a notification when your cat comes or goes. Another perk of the Connect app is that it notifies you when unregistered animals try to use the flap.
You can also switch notifications off. Whether notifications are off or on, the app registrars all the activity of your cat in a graph providing you information about the time each of your cats spends in the house and outdoors.
Over time, this information helps you learn the patterns of your cats and recognise if something is potentially wrong with your feline friend.
You can also create extra accounts in the app, letting veterans and pet sitters look at your cat’s data. The app also allows you to lock and unlock the cat flap remotely.
Usage Experience
The only problem with this cat flap is that if your cat is a bit deliberate and slow when pushing through the flap, sometimes the flap won’t click shut. That’s because the flap requires a certain velocity to get caught by the teeth. This may lead to clicking noises as the teeth on the plastic fail to connect properly with the door.
You will have to get up and properly push the home to stop the annoying noises. This problem is rare and homeowners who experienced it tied something a bit weightier to the flap door to make it fall with a greater velocity. This is an easy fix that worked for them.
Aside from that, the Connect Microchip Cat Flap is extremely secure and tough, ensuring only animals that have been registered can get in.
One drawback of the SureFlap Connect Microchip Cat Flap is that the stats can get messed up if your cat leaves through the flap, but comes back into the house through a window. The same is true when your cat goes half out and comes back in.
The SureFlap Connect Microchip Cat Flap cannot avoid this problem. But it isn’t a major issue in the grand scheme of things. The SureFlap Connect Microchip does exactly what most cat owners want it to do – gives them control and insights into their cats’ lives.
How It Compares to Other Models
The Connect Cat Flap is similar to another SureFlap product called the Pet Door Connect. The main difference between the two is their size. The Pet Door Connect from SureFlap is designed for small dogs or large cats as it has a 178 x 170mm flap while the Connect Cat Flap is only 142 x 120mm.
The other differences are minor. For instance, with the Connect Cat Flap, you can block the exit for certain cats (selective exit), while the Pet Door Connect doesn’t feature this option. This can come in handy when you have multiple cats and one of them gets sick and you want to keep it indoors.
Since the Pet Door Connect is larger, you can see its basic status on the monochrome display. However, it isn’t of much use since all the key data is available on the app anyway.
Verdict
The SureFlap Connect Microchip Cat Flap is an expensive product that boasts impressive features that aren’t seen in other microchip cat flaps. You can set times for when the flap locks and unlocks and monitor the activities of your cats’ through the app.
Moreover, since the Microchip Cat Flap only allows registered cats through, you don’t have to worry about uninvited felines making their way into your home.
The SureFlap Connect Microchip Cat Flap could be a great option for you if you want to control a cat flap remotely and monitor your cat. We love the features of this cat flap and we can easily recommend it to homeowners looking for a more advanced cat flap for their feline friends.
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