🔄Last Updated: 12 March 2026•Originally published: 11 December 2019
If you’ve ever woken up to find a neighbourhood cat in your kitchen, you need a microchip cat flap. Modern microchip cat flaps read your cat’s existing implanted microchip (the same one used for identification) and only unlock for registered cats — keeping strays, foxes, and other wildlife firmly outside.
Magnetic vs Microchip vs Smart
| Type | How It Works | Keeps Strays Out? |
|---|---|---|
| Manual (basic) | Any cat can push through | ❌ No |
| Magnetic | Cat wears magnetic collar key | ⚠️ Partially (collar can be lost) |
| Microchip | Reads implanted chip — no collar needed | ✅ Yes |
| Smart (app-controlled) | Microchip + Wi-Fi + app | ✅ Yes + curfew + notifications |
Best Cat Flaps UK 2026
| Product | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| SureFlap Connect + Hub | Smart (app) | Best overall / Curfew + notifications |
| SureFlap DualScan | Microchip | Multi-cat (individual in/out permissions) |
| SureFlap Microchip | Microchip | Simple & reliable |
| Cat Mate Microchip | Microchip | Budget / Draught-proof seal |
Multi-cat tip: The DualScan lets you keep one cat indoors while another roams free — perfect if you have an elderly or recovering cat alongside an outdoor explorer.