Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: fluffybunny on March 28, 2013, 16:53:30 PM
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Hello! Quick q for anyone who has a sureflap with a curfew mode. I'm thinking of buying the new pet door but want to check a few things first...
Does the curfew mode lock it in both directions or out only? Something likely to happen in our house is that the flap will be locked on the curfew, but then my lovely oh will come home late/act on autopilot and let one of the cats out the front door. If this happens, would kitty still be able to get in through the flap as normal, or is it completely locked when the curfew kicks in? I assume that if a kitty is still out when the curfew starts, it would be ok, but I don't know if it's clever enough to know when both cats are in and to lock it completely. Anyone know?
Also, does anyone use one with a biotherm chip? I remember when microchip flaps first came out a few years ago, they said that the range was hugely reduced with a biotherm chip and might not work properly, but the sureflap chip checker now says that my chips are compatible, but I wanted to double check that it really should work fine with them. Petporte still says they're incompatible so I guess they're using different technology.
Grateful for any help anyone can give!
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Hello fluffybunny, how are you today :evillaugh:
I managed to track down a product manual online, and it says that the curfew mode locks it on "in only", so if a kitty does get to the great outdoors during curfew hours, they can indeed get back in again. On that basis, I've bitten the bullet and ordered one. It looks as if the hole is the same size as that already cut for my existing fatboy catflap, but I will feel much less anxious once I know that only my kitties can get into the house and that they can be locked in automatically even if I'm not at home at that time.
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Sheila is our resident Sureflap consultant, not sure if she does international troubleshhoting consults from Vegas though :evillaugh: Glad you found out and took the plunge, are Geoffrey & Milly of a 'regular' size?
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are Geoffrey & Milly of a 'regular' size?
Milly is 'regular', Geoffrey is XXL (he fluctuates between 6.5 and 7.5 kg) hence me wanting the new pet door rather than the original cat flap. I've experimented by cutting holes in a piece of cardboard and posting him through it :rofl: and I have discovered that he will fit comfortably through the larger pet door (it's pretty similar to existing large catflap) but stands no chance with the normal catflap.
Looking forwards to its arrival, I guess with the bank holiday it won't be until the latter part of next week now!
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Ah good, I didn't realise you'd ordered the new larger one. SueP had 'issues' with the regular sized one recently as it materialised that poor
liitle Ross wasn't quite as 'regular' as the cat flap makers definition of the word :evillaugh:
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I know it's tiny! Geoffrey would barely be able to get his head through it :rofl:
Milly is still really overgrooming and although I haven't seen psycho bengal anywhere near the house recently, I'm hoping it will improve her confidence that the house really is safe and that no other cat can get in. Plus I'm starting a new job soon and I get really anxious when I get home late, so hopefully the curfew mode will mean I feel happier that they're safely shut in even if I don't get home until after dark.
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My 7.5 Misa couldnt get throught the normal one!
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:wow: You wont be disappointed with your flap, honestly - it's great. And yes, even if Geoffrey and Millie slipped out by accident, once the curfew mode is set they'll still be able to get in, just not back out again.
We use ours all the time on that setting, although occasionally it means we hear Dickie battering at the flap to be out at 4 a.m instead of 5 a.m. which is our designated opening time. :innocent: Seeing as the clocks go forward this weekend, we're going to move the opening time forward too to 4 a.m., so we dont get woken quite so early with a demand to be out. :tired:
Ross was indeed a bit too "comfortably upholstered" to get through the smaller sureflap :-[ but he manages fine with the pet door. (And he's not plumpitty, it's just sorta distributed differently! :shify:)
Actually, I think it does depend on how your pet's weight is distributed, and how they feel about getting through gaps. One of our neighbours who saw our flap and was having similar trouble with her cats being bulled got the smaller flap, and both of her kitties fit through it. And considering one of them is very fluffy and on the large side, we did have our doubts. :naughty:
They do say that the flap works now with biotherm chips too, and I have to say the people who make Sureflap are brilliant - register your flap on their website when it comes - each flap has a product code, and you key it in to activate your warranty - doesn't matter whether you bought it direct from Sureflap or not. They put customer satisfaction at the top of their priorities, and I think it's a rare company where you can buy with such confidence. :)
You'll feel so much happier knowing that just your cats can get in, and they'll feel a lot happier too. It's great seeing their faces when they realise bully cat is stuck outside and can't get in.
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Great, thanks for the reassurance - I can't wait! My oh is really sceptical, he likes the cat flap to be physically barricaded at night so they can't see the flap at all; he thinks they need to understand that the flap is always open to them when they can see it. I don't think that is such a big deal, but there's no reason we can't barricade it as well if we're home, I guess.
One more question - does having it on curfew mode all the time seem to drain the batteries more quickly? The manual seems to suggest that a time is displayed when curfew is set; what sort of battery life are you getting? Thanks!
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The cats seem to have got used to knowing when the flap is open and when it's closed - I think possibly the quiet "click" the flap makes when it opens helps with that, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. And no, it's not impacting on the batteries so far - they tell you the batteries last around 6 months but most people seem to get longer than that. We have 2 cat's using the flap regularly so it gets a fair amount of action. :) Sheila of course has even more cats and lots more action and hasn't reported any difficulties either.
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Thanks for your help :wow:
One more question (sorry!) How quickly does the door unlock when sensing the chip? Geoffrey has a habit of accelerating down the garden at full speed and crashing straight through the door, making an awful racket :rofl: will he attempt this once and realise that it hurts his nose, or will it be fast enough to open as he runs into it?
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It's quick - Ross is a flap rapper and it opens even when he's tapping away to one side, but when either one of them is being pursued by Big Burglar Cat they hurtle at the flap from outside and have utter faith in it opening (and it does!) :) :hug:
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Thank you - it's all terribly reassuring that they get in quickly and safely even if Big Burglar, aka Psycho in my case, is in hot pursuit...and that the flap closes to the right place and locks before the aforementioned bully can get in. I can't wait!
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It was really thanks to Sheila that we got ours. OH was also very scpetical whereas I had a more open mind on the idea. But oH has really become a huge proponent of the flap, and honestly I'd be happy to work for the company, I really would. Its such a fab and well thought out product, but as I say, the fact the manufacturer actually cares about his customers is beyond value.
I just know the lads are happy now, secure in the knowledge they can get in and the BBC can't, and I'm not having to be constantly alert to "trouble" such as BBC smashing his way through the flap when he got trapped in the house.
Setting the flap to "curfew" mode is very easy - it works like setting a digital alarm clock. You set the time of day first of all, then you set the times that you want the flap to close at night, and open in the morning. The flap then sets itself.
I can't wait to see what you make of it when you get your flap and instal it. I really think you'll be pleased with it. :hug: And more to the point, so will Geoffrey and Molly. ;D
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Well it's arrived! We're part way there, it is fine with Milly (albeit she is a bit suspicious of the click and jumps back out of the cat flap) but it seems to be having trouble scanning Geoffrey's chip :-/ It found the chip to do the initial registration (just...after much waving of him through it) but he's been outside the cat flap pressing his face against it and now it's operating normally, it just won't find him :( so for now I've set it to 'no chip' mode so it's operating like a normal non-selective cat flap, with curfew set.
There's a theoretical risk that psycho could find himself locked in the house with them if he happens to come in at or after the time the cat flap locks, but we are home all evening at the moment so it shouldn't be a problem. I guess I will leave it on non-chip mode for a while to let them get used to it and then maybe try turning the chip thingy on again and having another go when they're a bit less suspicious of the new thing. It may be that it needs a step or something outside it to get the angle right to read his chip - but he's bigger than her so if that was the issue I think it would be more likely that hers would be the problem. Maybe because he is so big, the chip is a bit too far back and it isn't reading it until he's got his face right squashed into the flap (by which time he has given up and wandered off dejected). Ho hum...
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Oh poor Geofrey
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Just a suggestion, but we had a similar "problem" which turned out to be the way we'd interpreted the instructions.
When we initially got the flap installed, we set it to operate a normal manual door until the boys got a chance to get used to it. When we then went to use it in "chip reading" mode, we set it in to learn mode, but we didn't realise once a chip had been learnt, it re-sets to normal mode and wont then learn the chip of the next cat through unless the learn mode is re-set. This meant that Dickie (being first cat through) was "learnt" but not Ross, so when we then had let Ross out of the back door, he couldnt get back in - but we didnt realise. Then Dickie lost his tag (at the time he wasn't micro-chipped, so we had an RDF tag on his collar) so we had to re-set everything for him. When we tried to set up curfew initially we boogered the job (not sure how, but we did - too many cooks probably! :evillaugh:) and were becoming increasingly frustrated and convinced the flap wasn't working properly.
What we did eventually was go back to square one - we cleared the memory, then took the batteries out. This takes it back to factory default settings, and then you can just put it in learn mode, and away you go. One cat through, then re-set to learn mode and encourage second pud through.
Try putting Geoffrey through first, as you already know for sure that Milly's chip works with the flap.
Both the boys were wary of the soft click at first, but they've now figured out to listen for the click before trying the door. You may remember that Ross is, by habit, a flap tapper and doesn't always approach a flap head on, but it hasn't stopped him being able to use the flap successfully.
Am ashamed to say my hubby did the "waving the cat at the flap thing too" (even though it tells you in the manual not to do it :evillaugh:) :-[
Persevere. :hug:
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Gaaaah, just typed a long reply only for there to be an error message when I pressed post so I've lost it all!
Thanks Sue - I'm getting increasingly frustrated and disappointed now :( It definitely knows his tag, I learnt them both separately and it does sometimes find it if I concertina him up in the cat flap, but it just doesn't find it when he's attempting to get in as normal. He's pressing his face right against the catflap and it just won't open :(
I had a flash of inspiration and registered the RFID tag which I have attached to his collar - not ideal long term as he does lose collars so then it still doesn't solve it - and it won't even find that to open the flap in time! It is working, because when I put the collar on my hand and push it into the tunnel it works (if I put my fist in to activate the sensor and then wave the tag just at the entrance to the tunnel it works), but when it's on his neck it's not finding it no matter how hard he presses his little face into the flap. I know he's a big cat but he's not a giant and he'll have a shorter head/neck than some of the dogs this flap is designed for so I just don't understand why it won't find it in time for it to open.
Do you happen to know if any of the non-defined custom modes either increase the scanner strength (and presumably decrease battery life) or set the curfew mode to lock both ways? Either of those might at least provide a temporary fix before my OH insists that we give up and go back to the normal catflap.
www.frustrated.com!
Edit: I'm beginning to think it might be faulty - whether or not that has any bearing on it reading Geoffrey's chip I don't know - but it keeps on changing its mode every time there is any movement around the flap. So Geoffrey just came tearing in it (while it's on non-chip mode) and as the door banged shut, the mode changed to lock out. Also the time keeps resetting itself briefly to 12:00 whenever I take the cover off the display panel - and then changes back again a few seconds later. I can't risk the mode changing itself when it might end up locking the cats out, so I think I'm going to have to take it back out again and give customer services a ring on Monday. Sighs. Why is nothing simple!
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Maybe talk to Sureflap and then if it still doesnt work properly ask them for a replacement.
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Thanks - I've pinged them a 'contact us' form so hopefully they'll be in touch early in the week.
I've part-solved the collar RFID problem, I've tried switching off the nearby pet water fountain and it is now finding the chip on Geoffrey's collar (but not his implanted chip) so maybe the interference from that was not helping initially. I still need to make sure it works whatever way his collar twists round though, and it still doesn't resolve either the not-finding-his-chip or the random changing of mode things. But each little step helps. I reaaaallly hope this can be resolved so that it does work for both of them, I will be so much happier with a chip catflap and especially one that I can set to lock and unlock. Will see what next week brings!
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Ah - they do state in the instructions that some electrical items or metal strips in door construction can interfere with the flap operation, but Sureflap should get back to you, probably after the weekend to assist. We were frustrated too, but is worth trying to iron out as flap really is worthwhile :hug:
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Thanks Sue - I have a horrible feeling that the reason it's not working for Geoffrey is going to be because the biotherm chips have a smaller range (I read somewhere that their read range can be as low as 4-5cm whereas a standard chip is nearer 14-15) and because he is a bigger cat, maybe it's just not getting near enough to the sensors. He's happily using the flap today with the RFID collar tag, but like I said before, that's not a sustainable long-term solution as he does lose his collar - not least if he has a fight with psycho - and that's the very time I need him to be able to get indoors and away from him! Milly's chip is working with it, but she is really reluctant to use it; she clearly doesn't like the click and finds the tunnel a bit cumbersome. I've got it set on the lengthy lock time at the moment, so that she has plenty of time to think about coming in once the chip has been read. Hopefully she'll get used to it fairly quickly.
I really hope there is a solution to the issue with Geoffrey's chip. If the worst comes to the worst, would it be a problem to have him re-chipped? I guess it would smother the 'signal' from the biotherm so it would be thermometers up botty from then on, but it might at least mean that both of them could use the flap without their collars. I'd really rather not though if there is any other way round it! I can see that it is a brilliant product and I'm sure I'll be really happy with it if only I can get it to work for both of them...I'll keep you posted once I've spoken with Sureflap next week :wow:
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You can extend the range of the chip scanner, but I can't remember how. Sureflap will be able to tell you how to do this, but may be able to suggest a working alternative if that doesn't do the trick.
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Thanks - they've been in contact today asking more questions so hopefully I will have some suggestions from them very soon.
I've swapped it back to the other cat flap for now as Milly was also really struggling to use it even on non-chip mode. I think either the door is heavier or the magnet is stronger than their normal flap, she pushes her head against it but can't quite get it open unless I help her. So I have also asked if it's possible to take one of the magnets out to see if that makes a difference.
I must sound like a nightmare to them, but I really, really want this to work and I know I've only got limited grace with DH who thinks it's a stupid idea and that we should just stick with the existing flap. But I really think this will be better so I'm determined not to give up!
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Ask DH to give them a chance. :hug: :hug: It will be so worthwhile if you can get it to work. The magnets do make it harder to push open, as the flap is that much larger, but I swear if Ross the Tapper can manage it, anyone can. :naughty:
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DH is away the week after next, so I hope to get it to the stage where it is fully functional for them both by the time he returns :shify: :evillaugh:
His main objections seem to be a fear that it will malfunction and that they will get shut out, and that as the tunnel is longer, Milly struggles with getting through it, which he doesn't think is fair. If I hold the flap open, Milly gets through it fine, so I think it is the weight of the flap rather than the tunnel itself which is more of a problem. He also doesn't see the point in the curfew function, as he prefers to physically barricade it off, as he wants them to know that whenever the flap is visible, it is open to them. Whereas I would prefer the curfew to just activate itself so even if there is no-one home, they get shut in safely at a suitable time.
Fingers crossed we can get it working and that I win this one :evillaugh:
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Where does this BBC stay? I will arrange for "da boys" to come round and give him the super soaker treatment, drive by style. :sneaky:
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Wuzzie - thanks for the offer - we wish we knew where BBC and Leaner Counterpart lived, but alas, they can be very light on their loafers when making good their escape, and we haven't been able to establish where they are, but keep that engine revving.... ;)
Fluffybunny, my OH had very similar views. Wasnt at all keen on the idea, but I went ahead and ordered the flap without really telling him (I may have muttered something whilst tapping away feverishly on thepooter keyboard as I completed the order form - maybe) and when we first tried to get it operational I think he was on the verge of beating me to death with the Manual. :evillaugh:
He's really come round to it now though, and I think if you can get the difficulty with Geoffrey sorted out, they'll settle down to using the flap. But I do know how awful it is to see them trying to get in, and not being able to manage it - it nearly made us quit with it too..... :hug:
In the space of fourteen days I think Dickie lost three collars with the microchip disc on - it cost me a small fortune in collars and spare disks. Still, he's got his own microchip flap now, and he's chipped as well, so that was a result, if nothing else. :)
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My boy Tufty has just learned how to use the sureflap after almost two years! Poor little man, not blessed in the brains dept I'm afraid but the recent cold snap focused his lovely, vacant eyes and he can now get in as well as out.
One of my girls, Polly, had a bit of trouble too, she's a small cat and it was her height that caused the problem. If you put a thick book or a slab by the flap the extra height gives them a bit more leverage to get through the tunnel until they master the technique, then you can do away with the step.
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Thanks - when I try putting it back in 'll experiment with some different height podiums and see if any of them help!
Mr sureflap customer services has posted me a test kit which I am instructed to use to test whether the scanner is operating properly, so I guess that is the first stage in working out what to do with Geoffrey. I wonder if Milly's issue is that the flap is now on the inside of the tunnel, and the tunnel itself is longer than the normal cat door, so she is struggling to get enough weight behind it to push it open. Mr sureflap says that yes there is a slightly stronger magnet on the bigger pet door rather than the cat flap as it has two magnets, but it really shouldn't be a problem. One step at a time, I guess, let's see what happens when I've done the door testing first. Leaving her out and hoping she eventually gets the hang of it isn't an option, though; if she comes across psycho she needs to be able go get back into her house quickly at all times.
I must say I am impressed with their speedy and helpful customer services, it's the sort of thing that really gives me a lot of sympathy to want to stay loyal to a company.
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Still no further forward :tired: The tester kit arrived (it's like a long cardboard rod with a chip attached to a ruler, so you can put it into the flap and move the chip along to measure how far out the sensors are sensing the chip) and it's working fine - picking it up at the furthest setting. There's no way Geoffrey's chip is further back than the distance tested, so I can only imagine that the range on his chip is lower than that on the sensor, and his size isn't allowing it to be picked up.
Having reported my findings back to sureflap, along with the observation that I think Milly's flap-opening problems are due to the tunnel - i.e. she can't get as much bodyweight behind it because the flap is in a tunnel rather than flush with the door, he couldn't suggest anything else other than leave it on manual for a while to see if she gets used to it. With lots of enquiries, I think he might have lost track of the fact that I have 2 cats and 2 separate issues here, so I have responded asking if there is anything we can try that may result in a stronger signal, and whether it is possible to remove one of the magnets to make the door easier for Milly to push. Another day, will wait for another response!
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This might be a bit of a daft idea, but would you perhaps be able to fit Geoffrey with a second, purely functional microchip? I mean implanting one? Just to get him through the door?
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I think this is something FB has already thought about as a possible solution Sheila. I would also go back to Sureflap to make sure they know the difficulties involved two cats, each with different issues.
I've only ever seen positive feedback for the company, and am sure they wouldn't want you to go away dissatisfied. I've seen instances where they've given an unhappy customer a full refund, even where the flap was not purchased from them.
Did you register the flap online when you purchased it?
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Yes Sheila, that had crossed my mind as a last resort! It's far from ideal, it still relies on Milly being able to use the flap too so I still need to sort that out first, and because it will mean that his original microchip details will get smothered by the new ones, so it will no longer be able to be used to monitor his temperature...and while I'm not planning on taking them anywhere, apparently it can cause problems with pet passports if an animal has more than one chip. It's definitely something I would consider if everything else can be made to work, though. My usual vet is away until the end of the month and it's something I'd rather discuss with her than with any of the other vets at the practice, as she knows me and my animals, but it's definitely there on the 'things to consider' list.
I haven't registered it online yet, Sue - I must do that actually! I did buy it directly from them though so they will already have a record of its purchase. I have gone back to them this pm and made clear that there are 2 cats and 2 issues, so I'll see what they say tomorrow. I also asked whether it's worth considering trying the cat flap rather than the pet door (if Geoffrey can get through it...need to try him out with a hole in a piece of cardboard!) - don't know whether the technology/range would differ with the smaller flap and whether it would be easier for Milly to operate. Again, not ideal, but perhaps something to keep on the 'things to consider' pile. I'm determined to make this work somehow!
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There's no way Geoffrey's chip is further back than the distance tested, so I can only imagine that the range on his chip is lower than that on the sensor, and his size isn't allowing it to be picked up.
Are you sure Geoffrey's chip hasn't migrated at all? Riley has two chips as the first one migrated to his side near his armpit, the smaller pocket scanners don't pick this up at all unless swept over his armpit area whereas the large satellite dish looking scanners locate it with a much less accurate sweep. If Geoffrey's chip has moved this could be the reason why it's not being reliably picked up by the sureflap ?
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I don't think so - he was only at the vets a couple of weeks ago and her pocket scanner picked it up over his shoulder blades as it usually does. I might be wrong but I think I can feel it there, too. I know the biotherm chips are supposed to have a smaller range, I don't know whether the tester board I have been sent contains a normal or a biotherm chip though; whichever it is, it is being read significantly further away than I think Geoffrey's chip is.
I refuse to be beaten :mad2:
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Good woman. :hug:
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Still waiting for a reply from sureflap, the poor guy is probably scratching his head :rofl:
I had a thought for another solution if this really isn't going to work. Petporte flaps have a porch rather than a tunnel, so that might be easier for Milly to use. The hole is smaller than the sureflap pet door but bigger than the sureflap cat flap (I think), so Geoffrey might fit. Most reviews say it doesn't work with the biotherm chip although I found a few reviews who say theirs work fine. So another option might be to get a refund on the sureflap and try a petporte instead...even if that means resorting to re-doing Geoffrey's (and potentially Milly's) chips. This could potentially result in less moaning from hubby as there isn't the tunnel he thinks is bad for Milly, although I think the current cat flap hole may be too big and I may need to fashion an adapter :rofl:
Not my preferred option, but another definite possibility I guess!
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Sorry, me again :rofl: well the lovely chap has been back in touch, he has suggested I try one of the 'hidden' custom modes which boosts the frequency of the unit to see if this makes a difference. He did also say I could try taking one of the magnets out, but perhaps less helpfully didn't tell me how! I don't want to go breaking the unit thus presumably meaning that they wouldn't accept a return.
So I think I will try the custom mode first to see if that finds the chip. If it does, then I'll give them a ring (to avoid this annoying daily wait for a return email) to find out how to remove the other magnet...if it doesn't then I think I'll probably have to return it and try plan 'b' instead!
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Good luck FB. :crossed:
I'd be wary about removing one of the magnets - because the door is larger than the smaller flap, the two magnets are used to ensure that persistent cats don't manage to force the door open. The locking points are at equidistant points on the door for durability.
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Yeah I know, he did warn me of that. I think it's less of an issue of persistent pushers because the locking tabs will stop that, it's more that if the door doesnt flap shut at the right time, there is a risk that the locking tabs will push up on the wrong side of the door, if you see what I mean.
I had just wondered if it would help her get used to the door until she's got the hang of opening it. I think it's possible that once she's used to putting her head through the tunnel and pushing at a different angle and has got more confident with the new thing, it might be ok to put the magnet back again.
Anyway, I'll give the custom mode a go tomorrow when I'm at home and we'll see if it finds Geoffrey's chip...
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Oooh, well we may be making progress! Custom mode 10 which changes the read frequency seems to find Geoffrey's chip - I haven't had it on much to test it rigorously but he did come in through it fine earlier on so fingers crossed :wow: Hopefully it's ok to keep it on that custom mode all the time and it doesn't eat batteries too much! I haven't tested it on Milly yet, but hopefully if it's found his, it will also continue to find hers as they are the same chips implanted at the same time.
So onto problem 2: Milly! Now the chip seems to be ok, I have removed both the magnets so the door is swinging freely (let's hope it's not too windy :evillaugh:), and have switched the chip reader off again. Milly seems to be able to get through the door fine without the magnets in it, so I'm going to leave it like that probably all week to get her used to it and the different posture she needs to adopt to get through it, and then I will try reintroducing one of the magnets, and then switch the microchip reader back on...and see how we get on. Everything crossed.
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Loads of luck ;D ;D
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Sounds promising :crossed:
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That sounds really encouraging FB :wow: Fingers crossed here and looking forward to an update in due course. :)
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How are you getting on with this now, FB?
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Much better, ta! One of the magnets is currently out which does destabilise it a little but all the catches seem to be blocking the door in the right place (which they weren't with both magnets out) but it does mean that Milly will still use it. She doesn't really want to and she will try and avoid it when she can, but she can and does use it if no-one is there to open the door for her. The custom mode which changes the read frequency seems to have done the trick with reading both chips, too. It still makes Milly jump a little whenever it clicks but hopefully it won't be long before she gets used to that and knows what it means.
My oh is away this week so I'm hoping they will both be using it like a dream when he gets home tomorrow, so he can see that it does work fine for both of them. We saw psycho out on the front lawn at the weekend so he is still round and about.
Now Milly is using it fine(ish) it will be interesting to see if it makes any difference to her overgrooming too. We've added valerian drops their beds to the daily calming routine as well. Fingers crossed!
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That's really good progress - the fact Milly can use it means she will if she has to, and that's what you needed. :)
It took both of ours a while to get used to, but now they don't even give it a second thought.
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both of ours
;D
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:shy: well, I know it may still only be temporary, but you shoulda seen the snoozles I had from him this morning - belly tubs, head rubs, purring fit to burst...... Ross has taught him well. :Luv:
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Both kitties are now using the flap perfectly and I think even OH has now been won over...so it was definitely worth persisting and continually bugging customer services until we resolved it! We've stopped barricading the door over at night now and just letting the lock do its thing.
I think the scrabble marks up the door would suggest that it's doing its job of keeping psycho et al at bay :evillaugh:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/AlisonA/d2ce65c1-39ff-4ea1-8169-5c36c130cf63_zps36c49ae5.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/AlisonA/media/d2ce65c1-39ff-4ea1-8169-5c36c130cf63_zps36c49ae5.jpg.html)
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Thats great news ;D
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Excellent :)
You could leave a webcam pointing at the flap overnight to catch psycho bengal in the act scrabbling around :naughty:
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Am absolutely delighted to know that this is working really well now - well worth the persistence. ;D ;D :hug: :hug:
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I can't tell you how pleased I am, Sue. Milly's fur is starting to grow back so she's less stressed/itchy, and I am far less stressed too. I've just started a new job which involves being in the office every day (before I worked at home a lot) and working much longer hours, and it just takes so much stress away from me too, knowing that even if I can't get away when I'd like to, that they will still have a safe haven from psycho during the day and get locked in safely at night too.
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Oh it makes such a difference. Ross and Dickie both know now they're safe in their own home, and they're much more relaxed than they were when BBC and LC were coming round making their lives hell (oddly, we've not seen either of the bullies for almost a month now. I do hope nothing horrible's happened to them, because at the end of the day it wasn't their fault they weren't neutered) but I am glad they aren't hanging around to pounce on the boys elsewhere.
Am so pleased Milly's fur is starting to grow back - and not least because it lowers the stress factor for you too, with your new working arrangements. Results all round, eh?!! :hug:
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Am delighted for you all. :)
Must admit, having been one of the greatest advocates of Sureflap, I feel a slight sense of trepidation/guilt whenever someone has teething problems. :doh:
Our good news is that Tufty now happily and frequently lets himself in through our sureflap ;D It's taken him almost two years to overcome his fear of the "click" but I invested in the upgrade which has a softer click and he seems to be much more comfortable. Well, that and Sly's deteriorating agility which means he can't quite get there in time to ambush Tufty as he pushes in, which I'm sure was as great a deterrent as the "click". :shify:
We had similar invasion issues with our old catmate. The neighbours cats all had similar magnet collars at the time and we ended up with dreadful territorial battles and spraying. Not to mention the regular failure of the catch which resulted in a small mangey fox getting in one night. :scared:
Since the sureflap we no longer have flap-phobia which, in turns, Jarvis, Theo and Beau all suffered from and they now all sleep comfortably knowing they are the only ones who can come and go. Excellent result. Must do another review on their site actually, re the upgrade, as I firmly believe in this product.
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Hi i am considering to get a sure flap for Felicity, where is the best place to order one? Zooplus , ebay or they have their own site also are they all the same ? Sorry just want to get the right one as i have found some one who can fit it next week for me ;D
Just one more question does she need to wear a collar in order to use the flap or can i just reg her chip id?
Thank you
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Pav, you can just register the chip. I'd try the sureflap site but there are offers around if you look online - trouble is, some are older models, so if you order from Sure flap you know what you're getting.
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I've never had anything more than the bog standard cat flap, Pav, but I believe there are two types - one which works via a magnet on the cat's collar, and another which reads the microchip
I suspect the price of both varies a lot, and there are probably bargains to be had if you can wait for one - personally I always start by checking out Amazon, as you get the reviews of previous purchasers, and their returns system is the best there is
but they are not always the cheapest
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Sureflap works only via a Microchip in your cat or a programmed disc on its collar. It's customer service team are second to none - really.
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Thank you Sue as long as i dont have to put a collar on her. What is the latest model please?
I am really useless with all this so am trying to get every thing to details and then place the order ;)
Kay my cat flap was fitted in 1990 so its a very old one but now i need to get the microchiped one because of this little man here as in few weeks time when he can jump high enough to get to window sills then i cant leave the windows open anymore for Felicity to go out and shehas to learn to use the flap :scared: At the moment she refuses to use the old flap i have shown her the way in and out
but she ignores full stop :shy:
I am going to check Amazon and their site.
Thank you Kay
Sue do you have a model number by any chance which you could give me.
Thank you so much.
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Hi Pac - I don't, but the latest model sureflap are bringing out enables you to select which of your csts can come and go - you can set it to let one come and go, and another is prevented from leaving, if that was what you preferred. Their site is the best place to look. :hug:
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Agreed, Sureflap have been improving their product over the last couple of years, the latest model has a quieter mechanism that doesn't spook the cat. I bought the upgrade kit for mine as Tufty was frightened by the "click" it made when the lock opens but he's fine with the new one.
I think if you buy elsewhere you may gt the older model, so I'd buy direct from Sureflap themselves to be sure of getting the up to date model.
The Sureflap works on the cat's microchip, no collar needed. You can programme up to 32 cats! Easy to do. The flap also works on batteries so no need to have wires leading to a plug socket. My batteries last around 4 months, but then I have seven cats in and out 24/7 so it gets a lot of hammer.
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Sue thank you so much yes thats what i need now to let Felicity have access to out and in till Mr Jingles is old enough to be spayed. Thank you :hug:
Sheila i am going to go with the latest not sure if its the noise that keep Felicity using the flap atm i mean it is the old flap but when i showed her it does make a noise open and close. I think she just cant be bothered she looks puzzled not very bright my beautiful girl :shy: I am going to get it from the site then.
She probably wont use it and its me who has to get up and open and close windows/door for her to get out/in but i wouldnt know unless i have one fitted :-:
Thnak you every one
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Ooh yes the new dual scan one looks like it will be really helpful for many multi-cat households! I wonder how long it will be before it is launched.
I can see from this thread that it's been nearly 4 months since I fitted the sureflap and I am absolutely pleased as punch with it. Milly didn't like it at all to start with, as she didn't like the clicking noise and the tunnel and double magnets made pushing it open much harder for her, but having taken the magnets out and let her get used to the different posture and noises without having to push hard, we were able to get past that and now it's all back together and working perfectly for both of them. Seeing them come rushing in and seeing psycho cat outside unable to get to them makes it all worthwhile :P as does being able to stay out after work or go out for an evening without having to either lock the cats in early or worry about rushing home to get them safely locked in. Definitely one of my best ever purchases :wow:
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I couldnt agree more - I'm really glad we got ours. Ross was put off by the clicking at first, and the fact he had to push harder at the flap, but then again, Ross sometimes still sits in front of the inner flap, bashing it with his paws and looking concerned that it might not open. :evillaugh:
Definitely worthwhile Pav. ;) :hug:
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After all his initial scepticism, hubby is definitely a convert! We just moved house so have been talking about where the new cat flap should go when we are ready to start letting the cats out, and hubby said 'I think we should buy another one of those microchip ones'. I reeeeallly had to bite my lip and nod sagely instead of shouting "see, I told you so" :naughty: :rofl:
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:evillaugh: :evillaugh: Yep, my OH was the same. dead against getting it, and really chuffed that we have.
Have been on touch with Sureflap about their dual scanner flap, as we too now have a kitten we need to keep in, whilst allowing our other cat to come and go at will. They did say it would be released two weeks ago - then it was arriving in the UK last week, but still not heard anything. Am just thinking of buying another ordinary sureflap and fitting it in reverse., but if the dual scanner really is that imminent it would irk me no end to buy a "one way" sureflap only to find the dual scanner coming out in the next two or three weeks. Sureflap are normally very reliable with their info, but I admit I'm growing anxious/impatient, as Murray now figured out how to operate the manual flap leading from living room to kitchen...... :shify: :shify:
OH has programmed a spare tag we had, and added that to his collar, just in case. :doh: :doh: