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SureFlap uses surgically-implanted RFID chips to let your cat inside
So here's a problem: you want to allow your cat to get into your house whenever it wants, but you don't want to also let all the neighborhood cats come in as well, as they could do with a regular cat flap. The solution? Surgically embedding an RFID chip under the skin of your cat, of course.
That's how the SureFlap recognizes that the cat approaching is the one allowed inside. The RFID chip acts as a wireless key, opening the door for it when it gets close and locking up behind it. Sure, your cat probably won't enjoy going under the knife, but you'll enjoy not being surprised by a litter of some strange cat's kittens taking up residence in your kitchen.
SureFlap, via GeekAlerts
By BrokenBird at 12:18 PM ON 10/08/08
This is really stupid, why not having a RFID tag on the cat's collar, I mean it is not like another cat will steal it to get in!
By Monsterdog at 12:42 PM ON 10/08/08
Well, since it works with existing chip that you of course already have in your cat, this isn't such a bad idea?
Cat collars usually have a breakaway snap so it doesn't accidentally hang itself when climbing a tree, this is much more secure, both for finding your cat if it gets lost or just if it wants to get in after losing its collar.
By lol at 1:07 PM ON 10/08/08
Yeah, pretty much everyone already has a chip in their pet. I know both of my dogs have one. It's not a bad idea at all, though it would be neat if the chip gave you some other features than just opening a door.
By Moxley at 2:45 PM ON 10/08/08
Love the idea of linking to an existing chip - everyone should have one, even for 'closure' in the worst case scenario. I'd love one of those for our roaming creature.
By Chris Downs at 3:25 PM ON 10/08/08
I have a solution...it's called a solid door. The only pro to cats as pets is that they dig holes to bury their crap in. Other than that, they just cost roughly $6,000 (+ with the way the US markets been lately) in food.
By Vance at 5:30 PM ON 10/08/08
"This is really stupid, why not having a RFID tag on the cat's collar"
As it says on the product page, collars can be lost and can be dangerous for your pets. The RFID chip is already commonly used (I don't have any chips in my 6 cats.. can't afford it yet.) and if you don't have them, they are not too expensive or troubling for your cat; it's simply an injection. The purpose of the chips, if you aren't familiar with them, is to allow animals who are found lost and taken to shelters to be identified. All shelters in the US (as far as I'm aware) are required to scan for such chips. So this cat door would give an added benefit to something you might already have.
I'd love to get this product! Alas, I'm in the US.. and broke.
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Vance:
"This is really stupid, why not having a RFID tag on the cat's collar" As it says on the product page, collars can ...More »