Sureflap DualScan Cat Flap

My Review of Sureflap DualScan Cat Flap

The Sureflap Dualscan cat flap is probably the best on the market. It just offers the best function and the most useful feature that other microchip cat flaps don’t have, and that is the ability to scan microchips both ways through the cat flap!

Sureflap DualScan cat flap

Read on for my review of Sureflap Dualscan microchip cat flap.

Buy your Sureflap DualScan microchip cat flap below RRP price for this microchip cat flap.

Microchip use

The dual scan ability of this automatic cat flap means that you can have selective access both ways. All other microchip cat flaps let in the pets you want by recognising their microchips. Sureflap’s DualScan means you can do that and keep in pets Sureflap Dualscan Cat Flapthat you don’t want to go out. I find this really useful if you want to take one of your pets to the vet that day and you need to keep tabs on them.

If one of your house-bound pets manages to escape, you can put the microchip pet door into its ‘Safety’ mode and your pet is able to enter in through the DualScan microchip cat flap.

Like the Sureflap microchip cat flap all 9, 10 and 15 digit microchips are compatible with the DualScan, except those starting with ‘000’, ‘010’ and ‘020’. If for whatever reason, the scanner is unable to read your cat’s microchip, then you can buy a set of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. These tags can be fitted to you pet’s collar. The scanner will read the RFID tags like a microchip. Alternatively, you can get your pet re-chipped if their chip has moved, which will cost about £20, and will mean they won’t have to wear a collar.

Locking

Four way locking is provided, meaning that all four combinations of locking and unlocking, in and out can be used. However, the ability to scan both ways means that isn’t really necessary.

Watch this video to learn how to program your Sureflap DualScan cat flap.

Using the Sureflap DualScan cat flap

Installing the Sureflap DualScan microchip cat flap takes a little bit of DIY, just like any other cat flap. If you are after any guidance check out the videos on this site for installing through installing through brick, installing through wood or uPVC and installing through glass, or if you are after a professional cat flap fitter. Fitting the Sureflap Dualscan cat flap is pretty straightforward, although it would be made easier if Sureflap provided a template that could be used to stick on to your door. This would help you know where to cut out.

It is best to set up the Sureflap DualScan cat flap before you have fitted it. It is really easy to register your pets with the microchip cat flap. Just put the microchip cat flap into ‘Learn’ mode and place one of your pet’s favourite treats underneath the scanner. This allows the scanner to read your pet’s microchip. Here is some more guidance on setting the microchip cat flap up.

You may need to be a bit patient teaching your pet how to use the pet flap for a couple of weeks, especially if they have not used a cat flap before. They may find that the clicking of the locking mechanism spooks them a little. Click here for help on how to teach your pet to use a microchip cat flap.

Just make sure your pet can fit through the microchip pet flap before you buy it. The smallest dimension of the cat flap is 12cm high and 14cm wide. Have a look at our sizing comparison table to see how it compares against other models.

Power

4 AA batteries are used in this cat flap, which is great because it means you can put it anywhere. You can put this cat flap as far away from a socket as you’d want. You could use the cat flap for an outdoor pet shelter and you don’t have to worry about pesky cables to trip up over. Also the cat flap won’t be effected by any power cuts and the batteries should last for about a year.

Aestheticsbrown sureflap dualscan cat flap

The Sureflap DualScan microchip cat will suit white uPVC doors and glass the best, but then would not look out of place in a wooden door or a brick wall. I really like the design, it looks sleek and modern, just like the technology it uses. That said it only comes in white and brown, unfortunately!

 

There are brushes around the frame to keep out drafts. The brushes also stop the door from banging shut, which is great because the quieter the better, I’m sure you’ll agree!

Conclusion

The Sureflap DualScan microchip cat flap is the best around and if you’re after the best get this. That said, the best use for this cat door is if you have two or more cats. It allows you to keep one inside and let the others come and go as they please. If you have a pet you would like to keep in the house at least from time to time, and another pet that can come and go as it pleases, then I would definitely suggest you get this cat flap.

Buy your Sureflap DualScan cat flap to get yours for below RRP.

sureflap dualscan cat flap

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Sureflap DualScan Cat Flap
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20 thoughts on “My Review of Sureflap DualScan Cat Flap”

  1. Ok, I don’t have cats, but I do have two dogs with microchips. This is an awesome idea! Do you know if this can be used for dogs? Mine are both very small. If not, do you know if they make something like this for dogs? I really love this idea and would love to have something like this for my furry pets 🙂

    1. Possible… but it depends on the size of your dogs…. I have this rite now and I have a ragdoll cat and he barely fits in and out … so make sure they fit … I wish they made this in a biger size! They should but they don’t …. I’ve been waiting for the past 3 years for them to make it but they haven’t yet…

  2. Hi Sean!
    Thanks for doing a review on the dual scan cat flap. I was watching a video about a week ago about a product like this and it looked like a pretty cool thing to have. I don’t have a cat, but this would something I would consider if I did have one.
    Thanks,
    Raymond

  3. I don’t have a use for one of these devices right now, but they sure are neat!! What will they think of next? So my questions are: Is this microchip inside the cat? You do it at the vet I guess? And also is there a meter so you know how good the batteries are in the flap so you can replace them when necessary? How do you ‘set’ the device? Do you hook it up to a laptop and USB or is there a little control panel you use on the device? I saw the video and that one little button on it. Is that it?

    1. Hi Brent, great to hear from you! Yeah the microchip is inserted between your cat or dog’s shoulder blades and is used to identify them by your vet. These microchip cat flaps also read the microchips and let your pet inside but not strays. You basically set up the microchip cat flap before installing by registering your pet’s microchip. You have to get your pet to go in the microchip cat flap to scan the microchip.

      Here is a post I wrote about microchips for pets, http://topcatflaps.co.uk/microchips-for-pets-explained/, and how to set up your microchip cat flap, http://topcatflaps.co.uk/how-to-set-up-microchip-cat-flap/.

      Hope that helps!

      Sean

  4. Hi Sean. We have two older cats who can come and go as they wish through the current Sureflap microchip catflap. We also are blessed with four ‘outdoor’ kittens who often find their way into the house! These fellows I would like to be able to leave under their own steam but not re-enter through the cat flap. I understand the dual scan can be programmed for one way only, i.e entry only but not exit, my question is can it be programmed for some cats to have exit only but not re-entry. Thanks. Phil

  5. In October this year, because we were going away for a week & friends & family were going to be popping in to feed our cat, we had a Sureflap cat-flap fitted about one week prior to our trip. Our cat, who had never used a cat-flap previously, got used to it really quickly. Since then all has gone very smoothly. That is until yesterday! Another neighbourhood cat has fathomed out a way to gain access through the flap even though it is only ever programmed to let Otis in. I spotted the other cat managing to claw the flap open from the outside (pulling the flap towards him/herself). I honestly thought this would be impossible to do but he/she claws it all the way to the roof of the tunnel & then once his / her head is in the tunnel that keeps the flap open until the cat is indoors. I am really disappointed as I believed that this cat flap would only permit my cat indoors.
    How might the Dualscan version differ? Would clever cats still be able to use our visitor’s trick?
    Thanks.

    1. Hi Rose! Sorry to hear about your crafty neighbourhood cat sneaking into your home! I think the DualScan would solve this problem, because the door is locked both ways, so the other cat would not be able to open the door towards or away from them. The Sureflap Microchip Cat Flap, as you well know, only locks the door being pushed in. An alternative to getting a DualScan Microchip Cat Flap would be to use the manual four way locking, but that would defeat the object of having a microchip cat flap. Thank you for letting me know about this, very interesting and informative! Sean

      1. Thanks for your response. I switched my catflaps today as SureFlap sent me the DualScan one under warranty. It’s great!

  6. The dual scan version of this Catflap develops many faults. I am on my second one within a few months and this morning it was clicking on and off without a cat in sight. Discovered the batteries were low – but battery indicator did not show.

    I always use Duracell batteries.

    The previous flap that I returned within a week developed this fault almost immediately.

    At present I am stuck with this product since it is the only multi-cat microchip product on the market and I need to keep one of my cats (the kitten) in.

    1. Hi buncers, thank you for sharing this, it’s very useful to know. If I find another cat flap that scans both ways, I will let you know and happy Xmas! Sean

  7. Please don’t buy this cat flat and if I could give zero I would. Microchip scan works for one of my cats but not the other therefore no option but to disable feature and use manual lock mode. However tom cat down the road head butted flap while locked and broke the cheap plastic lock mechanism so I may as well have a hole in my door. For £65 SureFlap are having a laugh.

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