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Home > Cats > 8 Best Electronic & Automatic Cat Doors in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

8 Best Electronic & Automatic Cat Doors in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Cat going through the cat door

Not everyone has strictly indoor cats that never leave the house. Plenty of households here in the United States prefer to let their pets come and go as they please. Cat doors have been designed to give your cat a convenient way to go in and out of the house without meowing until you pay attention. You may think a standard cat flap is ideal, but new technology has given these products some highly beneficial features.

Below are some of the top reviews of the best electronic cat doors for sale this year.

divider-dog pawA Quick Look at Our 2024 Favorites

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Cat Mate ID Disc Flap Cat Mate ID Disc Flap
  • Affordable
  • Four-way lock
  • LCD timer and battery indicator
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Cat Mate Microchip Cat Door Cat Mate Microchip Cat Door
  • Cheap
  • Easy installation
  • Easy to operate
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    High Tech PX-2 Auto Pet Door High Tech PX-2 Auto Pet Door
  • Large for all breeds
  • Four-way lock
  • Wind and weatherproof
  • SureFlap Microchip Cat Door SureFlap Microchip Cat Door
  • Programmable for 32 cats
  • Four-way lock
  • Affordable
  • PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap
  • Affordable s
  • Works with cat's individual microchip
  • Programmable for 40 cat
  • The 8 Best Electronic & Automatic Cat Doors

    1. Cat Mate Elite Super Selective ID Disc Flap – Best Overall

    Cat Mate Elite Super Selective ID Disc Flap (1)

    Dimensions: 10.25″L x 9.75″W x 10.375″H
    Material:  Plastic
    Power:  Battery

    The Cat Mate Elite Super Selective ID Disc Flap is a moderately priced door with all the bells and whistles of more expensive products. It can open for nine different cats based on two different ID discs. There is both individual exit and entry control and a four-way lock. The LCD screen shows the status of the door as well as a battery indicator and timer. It is battery-operated and tends to last for about 12 months before needing a new one. The door is also draft and weatherproof. The one downside? Cats have to be very close to the door for it to open, which might take some training and patience. Either way, the affordable price and features make it one of the best overall automatic cat doors on the market today.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Four-way lock
    • LCD timer and battery indicator
    • 2 discs for 9 cats
    • Draft and weatherproof
    Cons
    • Cats must be quite close for the door to open

    2. Cat Mate Microchip Cat Door – Best Value

    Cat Mate Microchip Cat Door (1)

    Dimensions: 10.25″L x 7.75″W x 9.688″H
    Material:  Plastic
    Power:  Battery

    Finding the best electronic and automatic cat door for the money is a challenge in today’s market. You can’t always find affordable options that perform like high-quality technology. The Cat Mate Microchip Cat Door is cheap and easy to operate. It works on up to 30 cats that all need unique RFID chips. There is also a four-way lock system, which lacks a timer like some other top brands. Installation seems to be easier compared to other doors, as well.

    Pros
    • Cheap
    • Easy installation
    • Easy to operate
    • 4-way lock
    Cons
    • Limited functions

    3. High Tech Pet Products Auto Pet Door – Premium Choice

    High Tech Pet Products PX-2 Power Pet Fully Automatic Pet Door (1)

    Dimensions: 18 x 6 x 47 inches
    Material:  Plastic
    Power:  Plug, battery backup

    Those struggling to find a large enough door for their giant cat breeds need look no further. This premium choice is so large that even dogs can use it. The High Tech Pet Products PX-2 Power Pet Fully Automatic Pet Door opens with a special collar that they must be very close to the door for. When the door is locked, it is both wind and weatherproof. There is also a deadbolt for extra security. While it is very high-tech, your Wi-Fi must be working for the door to open. Plus, you can only control it with an app. All these features make it one of the best automatic cat doors available.

    Pros
    • Large for all breeds
    • Four-way lock
    • Wind and weatherproof
    • Deadlock for security
    Cons
    • Must have active wi-fi
    • Expensive

    4. SureFlap Microchip Cat Door – Best for Kittens

    SureFlap Microchip Cat Door (1)

    Dimensions: 8.69″L x 6.5″W x 6.75″H
    Material:  Plastic
    Power:  Battery

    What stands out about the SureFlap Microchip Cat Door is that it is designed for cats. The door is smaller, which is great for kittens but not for larger breeds. However, it does work on up to 32 different cats. There is the standard four-way lock system built in as well. While the price is great, it does tend to be a little loud and could scare some cats away until they get used to it.

    Pros
    • Programmable for 32 cats
    • Four-way lock
    • Affordable
    Cons
    • Too small for large breeds
    • Loud

    5. PetSafe Microchip Activated Cat Flap

    PetSafe Microchip Activated Cat Flap (1)

    Dimensions: 9.41″L x 8.66″W x 4.8″H
    Material:  Plastic
    Power:  Battery

    Sticking to a budget is something that most of us have to do. The PetSafe Microchip Activated Cat Flap is a great price and works on over 40 cats and their already existing microchips. The biggest downfall of the design is that the door must be manually locked if you don’t want the inside cats to get out. Overall, the door is small and may not be ideal for some larger breeds.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Works with cat’s individual microchip
    • Programmable for 40 cats
    Cons
    • Small
    • Doesn’t work with all types of microchips

    6. PetSafe Electronic Smart Door

    PetSafe Electronic Smart Door (1)

    Dimensions: N/A
    Material:  Plastic
    Power:  Battery

    The PetSafe Electronic Smart Door is perfect for anyone looking for an insulated cat door that doesn’t let the heat out. The door also has UV protection. The smaller size suits most cats and works on five RFID microchips. There is no four-way lock system, but most people don’t seem to mind with only a couple of cats in the house. The door is moderately priced as well. However, it could be because it is very loud when opening and closing.

    Pros
    • Insulated
    • UV protection
    • Five RFID microchips
    Cons
    • Small
    • Loud

    7. Perfect Pet Electromagnetic Cat Door

    Perfect Pet Electromagnetic Cat Door (1)

    Dimensions: 15.13″L x 9.38″W x 4.44″H
    Material:  Plastic
    Power:  Battery

    The Perfect Pet Electromagnetic Cat Door is covered in a transparent flap that is completely unbreakable so that you won’t have to worry about any raccoons or other unwanted pests getting into the house. The door opens via a sensor that gets attached to your cat’s collar. However, it sometimes malfunctions and could leave your cat locked in or out. The door is large enough for cats up to 25 pounds as well. Even though it isn’t the most visually appealing, it works well and is affordable.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Unbreakable flap
    • Large enough for cats up to 25 pounds
    Cons
    • Visually clunky
    • Sensor sometimes malfunctions

    8. Cat Mate Electromagnetic Cat Flap

    Cat Mate Electromagnetic Cat Flap (1)

    Dimensions: 10″L x 6.625″W x 8.625″H
    Material:  Plastic
    Power:  Battery

    The Cat Mate Electromagnetic Cat Flap opens with an electromagnet that gets attached to your cat’s collar. Even though most cats can easily exit, to get back inside they must pass through a small tunnel. The door features a four-way lock system, but, unfortunately, any small animal can get in when in the unlocked mode. The lock itself can also be pretty loud and isn’t ideal for households with nervous cats. On the other hand, the collar magnet is small and won’t take much adjusting to.

    Pros
    • Small magnet
    • Four-way lock
    Cons
    • Loud
    • Must pass through a small tunnel to go inside

    divider-cat

    Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Electronic & Automatic Cat Door

    Cat flaps make your life at home much simpler. You’ll no longer have to listen to constant meowing or get up to let the cat out. While there are some disadvantages, many pet owners find them useful.

    cat near door at home
    Image By: Africa Studio, Shutterstock

    Benefits of Cat Flaps

    • Cats experience greater independence when they can come and go as they please.
    • Cat flaps keep unwanted visitors out when they have a proper locking system. Older versions of these doors didn’t lock at all, and some homeowners were frightened when they saw raccoons and other small animals inside their homes that didn’t belong there. These locks protect your cat, their food, and your home.
    • You will have more free time on your hands and have a greater sense of independence. You no longer must worry about letting your pets in or out and can just let the door do all the work for you while you focus on more important things.
    • Many of these high-tech doors now allow you to set a schedule for your cat. You can keep them indoors or outdoors for as long as you need throughout the day.

    Disadvantages of Cat Flaps

    • While electronic doors are definitely a step up to some of the older versions, they still aren’t perfect and malfunction occasionally.
    • Automatic cat doors are more expensive than regular doors, and the price only increases with the more features they offer.
    • Electronics are more complicated to use as well. Some of the doors require phone apps and Wi-Fi in order even to work. With so many moving parts, not everyone can easily figure them out.

    Types of Cat Doors

    There are three main types of electronic and automatic cat doors that are used today, as listed below:

    Electromagnet

    Electromagnetic doors are the simplest of newer technologies. They open from a magnet that gets placed on the cat’s collar. This is a simple design, but any magnet can open the door. Still, they are usually cheaper to replace.

    ID Discs

    ID discs contain microchips that come registered to that specific flap. You have to put the collar on your cat so the door opens as they approach. This design is more secure than electromagnetic ones, but you do have to buy replacement discs.

    blue cat with red calming collar lying on the asphalt
    Image By: Tinka Mach, Shutterstock

    Microchips

    The microchip pet doors are ideal for many people because they don’t require you to put anything extra on your cat’s collar. Instead, they open based on the microchip your cat already has. These are becoming some of the most common cat doors in today’s market.

    divider-cat

    Conclusion

    With so many reviews online, it’s hard to choose between the endless options. We hope our list of the top eight electronic and automatic cat doors has helped you narrow down your list of potential winners. After much research, we have found that the best overall cat door is the Cat Mate Elite cat flap. However, if you’re looking to save money, the best cat door for your money is the Cat Mate Microchip cat door. You can’t go wrong with any of these choices, and, at the end of the day, your cat will be thrilled about its newfound independence.

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    Featured Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock

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