Best Microchip Cat Flaps UK – Expert Buying Guide
There is no single microchip cat flap that is best for every home.
After many years working with cat flaps, uPVC doors, double glazing and wall installations, we have found that the best choice depends on three things:
- Your cat or cats
- The type of door, wall or glass installation
- How much control you need over your cats entering and leaving
For most customers, our first choice is the Cat Mate 360 Microchip Cat Flap. It is strong, simple, competitively priced and available in colours that work particularly well with modern doors.
The PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap is extremely close behind and remains an excellent, proven option.
However, the SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap with Two-Way Entry Control offers something different. It can control individual cats travelling in both directions, making it particularly useful where one cat is allowed outside but another cat needs to remain indoors.
Our Microchip Cat Flap Recommendations
| Model | Our View | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Cat Mate 360W White | 10/10 | Best all-round choice |
| Cat Mate 360G Graphite Grey | 10/10 | Modern grey and anthracite-coloured doors |
| PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap | 9.9/10 | Excellent proven alternative |
| SureFlap Two-Way Microchip Cat Flap | Specialist Choice | Controlling individual cats both in and out |
Important: These ratings are our own practical assessment based on the products, their construction, installation options, colour choices, value and the types of enquiries we receive from customers. They are not manufacturer ratings.
1. Cat Mate 360W – Our Best All-Round Microchip Cat Flap
The Cat Mate 360W Microchip Cat Flap is the model we recommend first for most installations.
It has a more rigid, glossy feel than many competing products and feels substantial in the hand. The smooth finish is also particularly easy to wipe clean, which matters on a product that is constantly being touched by cats and exposed to the weather.
The design is relatively straightforward, replacement parts are available, and the flap can be fitted into doors, walls and glass using the appropriate installation accessories.
The Cat Mate 360W can store up to 30 cats, includes a rotary 4-way manual lock and is suitable for a wide range of installations. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Why We Like the Cat Mate 360W
- Rigid, substantial construction
- Smooth glossy surface that is easy to clean
- Good value for money
- Simple 4-way rotary control
- Stores up to 30 cats
- Suitable for doors, walls and glass
- 50mm wall tunnel extensions available
- Glass and wall adaptor available
- Replacement flaps and accessories available
View the Cat Mate 360W White Microchip Cat Flap
2. Cat Mate 360G Graphite Grey – Best for Modern Grey Doors
The Cat Mate 360G uses the same proven microchip cat flap design but comes in a modern Graphite Grey finish.
Colour has become increasingly important as anthracite grey uPVC and aluminium windows and doors have become more popular.
The Graphite Grey Cat Mate is not guaranteed to be an exact RAL 7016 colour match, but its darker grey finish makes it a much better visual choice for many modern grey door installations than a traditional white cat flap. The live product page describes Graphite Grey as the closest factory colour to modern anthracite grey uPVC and aluminium doors. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Why Colour Matters
A cat flap may only be a relatively small component, but installing a bright white flap into an anthracite grey door can make it look far more prominent than necessary.
This is one of the reasons we currently rate the Cat Mate range so highly. The manufacturer has recognised changing door and window colour trends and provides an option that works much better visually with contemporary installations.
View the Cat Mate 360G Graphite Grey Microchip Cat Flap
3. PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap – An Extremely Close Second
The PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap is another very good product and one we are comfortable recommending.
It provides reliable selective microchip entry, allowing registered cats into the home while helping prevent neighbouring cats and other unwanted animals from gaining access.
The current PetSafe model can store up to 40 registered cats and works with compatible FDX-B 15-digit microchips. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
In practical terms, there is very little between the Cat Mate and PetSafe models.
We currently give the Cat Mate range the smallest advantage due to its construction, value, and colour options. PetSafe receives a very strong 9.9/10 from us rather than 10/10 simply because we think its colour range has been slower to respond to the growing popularity of modern grey and anthracite doors.
Why Choose PetSafe?
- Proven microchip-controlled entry
- Stores up to 40 cats
- Good range of installation accessories
- Suitable for doors, walls and glass
- Replacement parts available
- A very strong alternative to Cat Mate
View the PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap
4. SureFlap Two-Way Microchip Cat Flap – Best for Controlling Individual Cats
The SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap with Two-Way Entry Control solves a different problem from the Cat Mate and PetSafe models.
It can identify individual registered cats travelling in both directions.
This allows you to decide not only which cats can enter your home, but also which individual cats are permitted to go outside.
The SureFlap can store up to 32 registered pet identities. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
When Two-Way Control Really Matters
A common example is a household with two cats.
Cat 1 is healthy, active and allowed outside normally.
Cat 2 may be older, unwell, recovering from treatment or simply needs to remain indoors.
With a normal cat flap, you may have to restrict both cats. With individual two-way microchip control, one cat can retain its normal outdoor access while the other is kept safely inside.
This is why the SureFlap is not simply fourth place in our comparison. It is the first choice for a specific type of household.
Consider the SureFlap If:
- You have more than one cat
- One cat needs to remain indoors
- An older cat should no longer roam outside
- A cat is recovering from an operation or illness
- You have one indoor cat and one outdoor cat
- You need individual control over both entry and exit
View the SureFlap Two-Way Microchip Cat Flap
So Which Microchip Cat Flap Should You Buy?
For a straightforward installation where the main requirement is to allow your own cat inside while keeping unwanted cats out, we would normally choose the Cat Mate 360W or 360G.
If you prefer the PetSafe design or already use PetSafe accessories, the PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap is an extremely strong alternative.
If you have multiple cats and need to control which individual cats are allowed outside, the SureFlap Two-Way Microchip Cat Flap becomes the obvious product to consider.
Quick Recommendation
- Best overall: Cat Mate 360W
- Best for grey doors: Cat Mate 360G Graphite Grey
- Best alternative: PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap
- Best for individual in/out control: SureFlap Two-Way Microchip Cat Flap
Microchip Cat Flaps for uPVC Doors
A microchip cat flap can often be fitted into a uPVC door, but the correct installation depends on how the door has been manufactured.
Not every uPVC door is the same.
You may be dealing with:
- A removable uPVC door panel
- A reinforced panel
- A moulded decorative panel
- A double-glazed unit
- An older externally beaded door
- A newer internally beaded system
- A composite door with moulded detailing
This is one of the reasons we recommend checking the door construction before simply cutting a hole.
Metal reinforcement can also affect microchip reading performance on some electronic cat flaps, so the manufacturer's installation adaptor may be required to separate the reader from surrounding metal.
Microchip Cat Flaps for Double Glazing
Installing a cat flap into double glazing is very different from cutting a hole through a plastic door panel.
Modern double-glazed doors normally use toughened safety glass. Once that glass has been manufactured and toughened, you cannot simply cut a cat flap hole into the existing sealed unit.
Instead, a new double-glazed sealed unit is normally manufactured with the correct hole incorporated before the glass is toughened.
This is why choosing the cat flap before ordering the replacement glass is important. Different manufacturers use different mounting adaptors and required glass-hole dimensions.
Our Advice
Choose the exact cat flap first, then give the correct installation dimensions to the glass manufacturer.
Do not order replacement glass based on an approximate hole size.
View Cat Mate Microchip Cat Flap for Glass
View PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap for Double Glazing
Microchip Cat Flaps for Walls
Wall installation requires more than simply fixing the cat flap to each side of the wall.
A proper installation should provide a fully lined tunnel through the wall so your cat does not pass over exposed brickwork, cavity insulation or rough masonry edges.
Cat Mate offers compatible 50mm tunnel extension sections that can be joined together for deeper installations. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
We offer wall kits in several depths so you can select a package closer to the actual thickness of your wall.
- Approx. 120mm wall kit
- Approx. 170mm wall kit
- Approx. 220mm wall kit
- Approx. 270mm wall kit
- Approx. 320mm wall kit
- Approx. 370mm wall kit
Always measure the finished wall thickness before ordering.
Why the Installation Adaptor Matters
An installation adaptor can do more than simply hold the cat flap in position.
On a wall installation it provides a larger finishing surround which can help conceal the cut edges of brickwork or masonry.
On glass installations it creates the larger circular mounting area required to securely fit a rectangular cat flap into a circular glass opening.
For Cat Mate installations, the PM361 Glass & Wall Adapter Kit is designed for compatible glass and masonry installations. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
View the Cat Mate PM361 Glass & Wall Adaptor
White, Grey or Brown – Does Cat Flap Colour Matter?
Technically, colour makes no difference to the operation of a microchip cat flap.
Visually, it can make a very big difference.
White remains suitable for the majority of traditional uPVC doors, but the growth in anthracite grey, graphite and dark aluminium doors means that colour choice should now be considered when selecting the product.
This is one area where we think Cat Mate currently has an advantage.
The Graphite Grey 360G gives customers with modern grey doors an off-the-shelf option that can look far more integrated than fitting a bright white cat flap into a dark door.
What About Replacement Parts?
When we assess a cat flap, we do not only look at how it performs on the day you buy it.
Cat flaps are moving mechanical products exposed to pets, weather, dirt and repeated daily use.
We therefore consider the availability of:
- Replacement flaps
- Tunnel extensions
- Mounting adaptors
- Collar keys or ID discs where required
- Installation instructions
Being able to replace a worn flap rather than replacing the complete product can make a considerable difference to the long-term cost of ownership.
Our View After Years in the Door & Glazing Trade
The difference between these products is much smaller than some online comparisons suggest.
Cat Mate, PetSafe and SureFlap all make good microchip cat flaps.
The important differences are in the details:
- Construction and feel
- Colour choices
- Price
- Installation accessories
- Replacement parts
- Wall and glass fitting options
- Whether individual exit control is required
Our normal first choice is the Cat Mate 360 because we like the solid glossy construction, value and colour range.
The PetSafe is extremely close and remains an excellent product.
The SureFlap becomes our specialist recommendation where one cat needs a different access rule from another.
That is why we do not believe there is one answer to the question "What is the best microchip cat flap?"
The better question is:
"Which microchip cat flap is best for my cats and my installation?"
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best microchip cat flap?
For most standard installations, our first choice is the Cat Mate 360W or 360G. The PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap is an extremely close alternative. For households where individual cats need different entry and exit permissions, we would look first at the SureFlap Two-Way Microchip Cat Flap.
Which microchip cat flap is best for an anthracite grey door?
We would normally look at the Cat Mate 360G Graphite Grey because its darker factory finish works much better visually with many modern grey uPVC and aluminium doors than a conventional white cat flap.
Which microchip cat flap lets me keep one cat indoors?
The SureFlap Two-Way Microchip Cat Flap is designed for this type of situation. Individual cats can have different access permissions, allowing one cat outdoors while another remains inside.
Can a microchip cat flap be fitted into double glazing?
Yes, provided the model is suitable for glass and the correct adaptor is used. A new sealed glass unit normally needs to be manufactured with the required hole before the glass is toughened.
Can a microchip cat flap be fitted through a brick wall?
Yes. Use the correct tunnel extensions and installation adaptor to create a properly lined passage through the wall.
Can metal interfere with a microchip cat flap?
Yes. Metal reinforcement close to the reader can reduce microchip reading performance. Always follow the manufacturer's installation instructions and use the recommended adaptor where required.
Does my cat need to wear a collar?
Normally no. A compatible implanted microchip acts as the electronic identification for the cat flap. Some models also support optional collar-mounted ID or RFID tags for cats without compatible microchips.
Should I buy the cat flap before ordering replacement double glazing?
Yes. Choose the exact cat flap and adaptor first. Your glass supplier then has the correct dimensions for manufacturing the replacement sealed unit.
Need Help Choosing?
If you are unsure which microchip cat flap is suitable for your cat, door, wall or glazing installation, contact our team before ordering.
We can help you work through the installation type, wall depth, glass requirements and the differences between the Cat Mate, PetSafe and SureFlap models.
Telephone: 0117 971 9922
