Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Aine Seavers — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 01:43:05 GMT

In Australia where we have had compulsory chipping for 15years, 2 chips are a definite no go area. Chip failure is very rare- if this chip cant be read in a door scanner then there is either a problem with the first chip or else a problem with the quality of the door scanner-the first is a problem for the cat, the latter is not. I agree cats can lose collars the chip tag tends to go with gravity so will fall back into position.

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Stephen Courtney — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 16:27:48 GMT

[quote user="Aine Seavers"]

http://microchips.com.au/catalog/surefeed-microchip-pet-feeder- microchip in a collar- solves all the ethical issues and the collar and door can be used for other cats down the years

[/quote]

Collars rotate- no guarantee this method would be reliable - and many cats lose collars!

There are no ethical issues in having two chips, unless the first one is registered to someone other the the client in front of you!

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Aine Seavers — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 12:25:06 GMT

http://microchips.com.au/catalog/surefeed-microchip-pet-feeder- microchip in a collar- solves all the ethical issues and the collar and door can be used for other cats down the years

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

ChrisBVSc — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 11:42:25 GMT

I've done this too, the cat just ended up with 2 chips registered to the same owner. No problems, just resulted in a happy owner with a happy cat who can get in & out of the house again!

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Anthony Dennison — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 09:21:39 GMT

Update on this - the chip read using my scanner fine, and the details all match up. I have a loose microchip I use to show people what I'm implanting, so I lent that to him to see if it will work. It does, and he's booked in today to be chipped. I'll bear it in mind about going far forward too, thanks.

Cat flap is brand new (he's sent 4 of them back before this one). Chip was implanted 2003/2004. I'll mention the overheating to the owner, make sure he keeps the ports clear.

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Stephen Courtney — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 22:56:38 GMT

I've done it - as said abovce so long as both chips are registered then it doesn't matter. It could be an issue for pet passport stuff though, so best to point this out first.

IME the commonest reason for chips to fail to read is tired batteries. the non standard ones are way back in the distant past - i wonder how many pets carrying them are still active enough to need a cat flap.....

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Thomas Johnson — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 17:57:55 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]

Got asked by a non-client this morning if I would re-chip his cat so that the microchip cat flap he has bought will work. He has tried 4 different ones but none of them work. He has been told that the chip the cat has is too old and needs a new one.

I've never heard of this, and am uncomfortable putting another chip in purely for a cat flap, but he has also cited non-vets that will do it no questions asked. He would prefer it done by a vet, and said if both chip details were matching, what would be the problem?

Are there any legalities regarding this? Would anyone else do it?

[/quote]

How old is the microchip? I've just moved house and the previous owner had fitted a Sureflap cat flap, my cat's microchip, implanted in 2003 works fine.

I have put a 2nd microchip in a cat before when the owners's microchip cat flap wasn't picking up the cat's chip. As long as both chips are registered to the owner I can't see a problem. As this is a non-client I would be tempted to check the registration details of the cat's current chip before implanting a new one. And I would warn him that if he ever wants a pet passport then there could be some problems.

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Bob Russell — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 17:31:14 GMT

Not relevant in this case but if dirt and hair builds up on the top draught excluder and over the sensors Sureflaps start to eat batteries.

Apparently in the past Sureflap have provided replacement chips to be implanted at the local vets!

Worth finding out which make of door it is. Sureflap people are always helpful!

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Sammy82 — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 17:10:51 GMT

Did he have the chip checked with a normal reader if it still works, to see if it is a positioning problem or the actual chip failed? I've got the petporte smart flap and never had a problem with my cats chips. They were implanted in 2008, so not brand new, and I can feel them just right in between the shoulderblades, not particulary far forward. Have they tried holding the cat with the microchip closer to the reader to see if it is a positioning problem or if the chip doesn't read. Also, have they programmed the flap before and know how to do it? If it really is the chip that is the problem than I would just chip it again and note this on the database/record/passport. When 're chipping I would put the chip between the shoulderblades aiming cranially rather than caudally. Has he tried different models or just different flaps of the same model? Mine has a little roof containing the spool, so all the cat has to do to unlock it is to stand in front of the flap, it doesn't matter if it uses a paw or his head to push the flap.

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Bob Russell — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 17:07:12 GMT

Sureflap cat flap does have some codes it won't work with. The sureflap cat door is said to work with all chips. The temperature chips can throw PetPorte (SmartFlap) into a tizzy as it used to have a non-standard chip reader.

I don't rate the Pet Porte highly especially as it needs to be plugged in. It might be the flap not the chip!

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:26:41 GMT

So long as both chips are registered then it doesn't matter so far as ID is concerned although it may be a bit of an issue with a passport if the one not registered on the passport is easier read.

I sold someone a chip to take home in the wrapper to see if it would work and said I'd refund it if it didn't so long as it came back still sealed. I seem to recall it did and so we implanted it.

However some flaps are more sensitive than others, i always recommend Sureflap.

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Ceri Gruffudd Jones — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:04:28 GMT

Yes, my practice has done this. I think we virtually had to insert it on the top of the cat's head to get it to work.

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Joyce Whitehead — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 14:14:17 GMT

Oops! A Ford may have been the cause of the injury, but not the method...

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Anthony Dennison — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 14:09:03 GMT

[quote user="Joyce Whitehead"]a ford leg amputation[/quote]

Did you use the Mondeo or Fiesta technique?

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Joyce Whitehead — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 14:06:42 GMT

I've not done it but don't see an issue if the cat is definitely owned by this person. Can you match the original chip with the owner?

However, is it definitely the chip that is the issue? Our practice manager's cat, which was rehomed to her from work as a kitten after a ford leg amputation (brachial plexus injury) had a very odd way of opening the flap with her remaining leg, not her head. Therefore the chip wasn't "presented" to the flap to unlock it. We solved this by inserting a spare chip in a collar tag (barrel shaped) that hung on her collar. Then programmed the flap to accept either. This worked really well.

Might be worth checking if the cat has an odd entry method.

RE: Re-chipping a cat for a cat flap

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 14:03:58 GMT

Yes. Man wants his catflap to work. Maybe run the other chip via Petlog first