To regulate your cat’s outdoor movements and keep a check on intruders, there are quite a few options in cat flaps that you can explore. Lockable cat flaps are a very good choice. A number of different locking systems are available, with their fair share of advantages and disadvantages. Several different brands offer their own versions of varying technologies that include the magnetic, micro-chip and infra red cat flap.

Magnetic cat flaps are, as the name implies, based on the simple working of a magnetic lock. The system operates in such a way that keeps the flap locked until the cat, with a magnetic key in its collar, tries to move though it. The key triggers the mechanism and unlocks the flap, allowing the cat to move freely. Infra red cat flap works based on the infra red signal that it detects from the cat’s key. Unlike magnetic locks, infra red is a wireless technology and operates on a line of sight.

Micro-chip cat flaps are even more advanced. Like an infra red cat flap, the micro-chip also works by detecting a wireless signal from the pet. But here, no ‘key’ is involved. A tiny micro-chip acts as the key. This micro-chip is embedded in the cat’s skin. Recently more and more pet owners are getting micro-chips installed in their cats as they are a very reliable and safe identification system that can be great value in case of an accident or loss.

Micro-chip cat flaps are preferred over infra red ones because they tend to more reliable, since infra red cat flaps require the key and the sensor to be in the line of sight, it can be a little difficult to unlock the flap. Infra red keys are also likely to be lost; in which case they need to be immediately replaced before the cat can use the cat flap again.

Micro-chips, being embedded in the skin of the cat, are nearly impossible to lose, and they also last much longer than infra red or magnetic keys. All these features make micro-chip cat flaps the technology of the future. However, since they are still a novel technology and are not as widespread as, say, the infra red cat flap, they are more expensive, and will take some time before becoming widely used.