For many Australian cat owners looking to upgrade their homes, installing an automatic cat door can be one of the most useful and convenient additions. Automatic cat doors provide pets with safe, easy access to the outdoors while also ensuring security, monitoring capabilities, and granular control over feline activity.
Unlike old-fashioned manual flaps that allow any animal to come and go, modern automatic cat doors utilise technology like microchip scanners and RFID to identify your cat. This prevents strays from entering and makes it possible to set schedules and permissions for each pet in multi-cat households.
In this guide, we’ll explore the benefits of automatic cat doors for Aussie pet owners upgrading their homes. We’ll compare different features, review top products available in Australia, and provide tips for choosing the ideal cat door for your needs.
Benefits of Automatic Cat Doors
There are many reasons Australian cat owners may want to install an automatic cat door when renovating or building a new home:
Convenience
Automatic doors allow your cat to come and go as needed without you having to constantly let them in and out manually. This is a major quality of life improvement for both pets and owners.
Security
Advanced cat doors tap into technology like microchip scanning to only grant access to your pets. This keeps unwanted strays or wildlife from being able to enter your home.
Selective Outdoor Access
With features like curfews and individual pet settings, automatic doors provide granular control over when and where cats can go. This is perfect for managing multiple pets with different outdoor privileges.
Real-Time Monitoring
Some high-tech cat doors have LCD screens that display cats entering and exiting in real time. This helps monitor senior or ill pets that need extra supervision.
Weatherproofing
Automatic doors designed for pet use are weather sealed to prevent drafts and water ingress. This improves insulation compared to having a manual flap.
Smart Home Integration
Many automatic cat doors can connect to smart home platforms, allowing remote monitoring and control via smartphone.
Key Features of Automatic Cat Doors
There are several core features and technologies that differentiate automatic cat doors from basic manual flaps:
Microchip Scanner
Top-of-the-line cat doors have built-in microchip scanners. This allows the door to read your pet’s implanted ID chip and only unlock for registered cats in the household.
RFID
Radio frequency identification is commonly used for cat doors. Your pets wear a collar tag or implant with a unique RFID code that the door reads to identify them.
Selective Entry/Exit
Many automatic doors allow customising which pets can come in or go out (or both). This is perfect for creating curfews for younger cats.
Timers
Programmable timers let you set schedules for when the cat door remains locked or unlocked. This automates curfews and outdoor access permissions.
Real-Time Monitoring
Some models have an LCD screen that displays when cats enter or exit. This allows monitoring activity and keeping tabs on senior/ill pets.
4-Way Locking
Premium doors have a four-way locking mode that secures both the in and out flaps to fully contain cats when needed.
Smart Integration
High-end cat doors can connect to smart home platforms like Alexa or Google Home for remote monitoring and control via smartphone app.
Reviews of the Top Automatic Cat Doors in Australia
Here are some of the best automatic cat doors available from major retailers across Australia:
SureFlap Microchip Cat Door
- Microchip scanner reads your cat’s ID implant
- Avoid unwanted animals entering home
- Suitable for doors, windows, and walls
- Battery operated (4 x C cell)
- Installs in wooden, uPVC, and glass doors
PetSafe Cat and Dog Door – Microchip Pet Door
- Reads microchips and RFID tags
- Stores up to 40 individual pets
- Works with all microchip formats
- Runs on batteries or mains power
- Durable weatherproof construction
Cat Mate Electromagnetic Cat Flap
- RFID collar tags for access control
- 4-way locking blocks entry/exit
- Suits doors and walls of various materials
- Long battery life (approx. 1 year)
- Budget price point
Ani Mate Feed Me Please Pet Feeder
- Automatically dispenses food at set times
- Holds up to 5 litres of dry food
- RFID prevents pets accessing others’ meals
- LCD screen shows feedings in real time
- Designed for wet food pouches also
Cat Mate Elite Microchip Cat Flap
- Reads microchips and RFID collar tags
- Adjustable timer control for curfews
- LCD screen displays pet activity
- Robust weatherproof construction
- 4-way locking blocks entry and exit
Choosing the Right Automatic Cat Door
Here are some key factors to consider when selecting an automatic cat door for your home upgrade/renovation:
- Type of door – Check that the model you choose is suitable for installing in your existing doors and walls. Measure to ensure the flap is appropriately sized.
- Number of cats – Multi-pet households need a cat door that can store many microchip IDs or RFID codes. Some doors hold up to 40!
- Indoor vs outdoor – Decide whether you want the cat door built into an external door for backyard access or mounted inside for inter-room access.
- Smart features – Evaluate whether you’ll use smart integrations or monitoring. This determines how advanced of a model you require.
- Your cat’s age – Cats 11+ years old may need a larger flap width and lower threshold for joint comfort.
- Security level – Assess whether you need selective entry/exit, curfews, and real-time monitoring to manage your cats or strays in the area.
- Budget – Prices range from $80 for a basic RFID flap up to $400+ for deluxe microchip-reading doors with all the bells and whistles.
Conclusion
Installing an automatic cat door is one of the handiest upgrades you can make when renovating or building a new home as an Australian cat owner. Smart cat doors provide convenience, security, selective access control, real-time monitoring, and integration with your wider smart home ecosystem.
Hopefully this guide has given you a comprehensive overview of the benefits, key features, top products, and factors to consider when shopping for the purrfect auto cat door. Your pets will thank you for investing in this ingenious home improvement upgrade.
