Cat Flap Magnets - anyone know where I can find them cheaper?

yorkie1980

Does anybody have any MSE alternatives to the £8 twin pack Staywell Magnetic Cat Flap magnets?

My cats are a nightmare for losing their collars and it's costing me a fortune!

Cheers, yorkie1980

:money:

pollyanna24

Not really much help, but... my cat kept losing hers and getting locked out. So we taped over the magnet on the flat, so she doesn't need it. Cheaper than buying more magnets, but doesn't help if you have other random cats coming in (our staffy's head out the cat flat usually stops other cats from even thinking about that in our house though! ).

EDIT: Must admit, just re-read your thread. My cat was only losing the magnets, not her whole collar! How do they keep losing the collars I wonder?

yorkie1980

Hi, thanks for reply. Yeah we did the tape thing, but had every cat in the area in our house. Including a very unpleasant tom-cat!!
I wish I knew how they did it with their collars. We fit them pretty tight, they go outside, come back an hour later, no collars! I've looked all around the garden and can't find them anywhere! It's a complete mystery.
We're in process of moving house, so when we move I think I'll get on e of those microchip ones I've seen online. Think they're about £100, but long-term will be well worth the investment!

snowman2_2

£8 is a pretty good price for the 2 magnets given what the wholesale cost is. We sell them for about £9.50. The microchip cat flaps are a good idea, you should be able to get them for £80 but we are still having some technical issues with them. I think I would wait 6 months or so before getting a microchip flap

yorkie1980

Excellent, thanks for the advice. The price quoted is on ebay, there's a few companies selling them and we've purchased them successfully in the past.

With the current housing market, I don't imagine we'll sell ours within 6 months, so that's great advice - thanks!

yorkie1980

ps: I'm quite surprised there isn't a "non-branded" alternative. Unless it's some special type of magnet, surely any magnet would work?

snowman2_2

Personally, I would assume any magnet would work. You can always give it a go with a fridge magnet and if that works, try to find something that fits on a collar. Even £8 is a lot for 2 small magnets - maybe that is the Yorkshireman in me talking.

yorkie1980

Haha, me too! I don't mind paying £8 for them, but when they last two-three days max, it adds up.
I'll have a play (I'm rubbish at DIY though!) and see what happens. I have visions of my two cats traipsing round with fridge magnets sellotaped to their necks.......could be messy!