Question 1

How do I find out what microchip my cat has?

Accepted Answer

Your microchip number is on the paperwork from the vet, rescue centre or breeder, and on your registration certificate with a database such as Petlog, Identibase or Animal Tracker. If you can't find it, any vet or rescue centre will scan your cat for free and read the number out — it takes seconds.

Question 2

Will any microchip work with a microchip cat flap?

Accepted Answer

Almost all will. Since 2004 UK cats are chipped with a 15-digit ISO FDX-B chip, which every microchip cat flap on sale reads. Older cats may carry a 10-character FECAVA or 9-digit AVID chip — SureFlap reads those too, but PetSafe does not. The only chip no pet door can read is the encrypted 10-digit AVID Secure chip.

Question 3

What if my cat's chip isn't compatible?

Accepted Answer

You don't need to re-chip your cat. Every microchip cat flap is supplied with (or accepts) its own manufacturer's small RFID collar tag that works exactly the same way — the flap unlocks for that tag instead of the chip. It's the standard fix for encrypted or unreadable chips, but the tag must match the brand of flap you choose.

Question 4

Can a cat flap read a chip through a collar or thick fur?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The reader in the tunnel picks the chip up from around 8–10cm, which comfortably covers the shoulders and neck of any cat as they put their head into the tunnel. Long fur, collars and harnesses make no difference.

Question 5

My cat has two microchips — is that a problem?

Accepted Answer

No. Cats occasionally get chipped twice (a rescue chip plus a later vet chip). Microchip flaps store multiple pets and multiple chips, so you simply register both numbers, or whichever one the flap picks up first during the learning cycle.

Question 6

Do microchip cat flaps work with dog microchips?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the standard is the same for dogs and cats. A SureFlap Microchip Pet Door will register a dog's 15-digit chip in exactly the same way, which is what we fit for microchip dog door installations.

Question 7

How many pets can I register on one flap?

Accepted Answer

SureFlap microchip flaps hold up to 32 pets, PetSafe models typically hold 40, and Closer Pets holds 30 — far more than most households need, and each pet can be added or removed at any time.

Question 8

Can you check chip compatibility when you install the flap?

Accepted Answer

Yes. On every microchip installation we programme the flap to your cat's chip on the day and test it several times before we leave, so you know it's reading reliably before we pack up.

Works with your cat's existing microchip

Your Compatibility Result

Which Microchips Does Each Cat Flap Read?

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Microchip Compatibility FAQs

Helpful Tools

Not Sure About Your Cat's Chip?

Brand	15-digit FDX-B	10-char FECAVA	9-digit AVID	AVID Secure / other
SureFlap / Sure PetcareMicrochip Cat Flap, DualScan, Microchip Pet Door, Connect models	Yes	Yes	Yes	Use SureFlap tag
PetSafe / PetporteMicrochip Cat Flap, Petporte Smart Flap, Staywell microchip models	Yes	No	No	Use PetSafe tag
Closer PetsMicrochip Cat Flap 360, Microchip Pet Door	Yes	Yes	No	Use Closer Pets tag
OnlyCatAI prey-detection cat flap	Yes	No	No	Use OnlyCat tag