Microchip cat flap big enough for pug?

littlesnuggy

My partner and I have been discussing getting a pug for a few years, and are now seriously researching the options having just bought a property with a garden (finally!).

One thing we're considering is installing a dog flap into the garden through our french doors. The only microchip ones I can find though are designed for cats, so does anyone know of any that would be large enough for a pug? Failing that, what are people's opinions of the infra-red ones?

The garden is walled and secure so the pug wouldn't escape, but I would be concerned if an intruder or other animal could get through the flap at will.

I'm sure this will be the first of many questions - we're doing our homework before taking the plunge next spring, hopefully. We're going to a breed show in December to meet some pugs & owners which I'm stupidly excited about!

mia5100

i have a shih tzu and 4 cats, they all use the same cat flap in the back door with no problems.

Sagz_2

Just wondered why you were thinking of a microchip flap? These are ususally used to stop other cats from getting into your house..... if you've got a Pug that will be his job!

I'm sure one of the larger size cat flaps will be fine for a Pug.

Had you thought about rescueing a Pug? The breed has a very active welfare group: http://www.pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk

Charlie1986

My pug wouldn't fit through an average sized cat flap..........he'd get his bum stuck lol. My vet has said that he is built quite big for a pug though.

littlesnuggy

Norbertsmum wrote: »

Just wondered why you were thinking of a microchip flap? These are ususally used to stop other cats from getting into your house..... if you've got a Pug that will be his job!

I'm sure one of the larger size cat flaps will be fine for a Pug.

Had you thought about rescueing a Pug? The breed has a very active welfare group: http://www.pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk

I was thinking more from a security issue from people! If it's a big enough hole for a pug to get through, a small person probably could too, so rather than just being an open flap something that needed some sort of 'key' would be more secure. Or am I being stupid and would someone just put their fist through it anyway?

Secondly, yes I'd love to consider a rescue pug but the waiting list seems to be about years (which is wonderful as it means people aren't parting with them).

picklepick

A human could quite easily kick through a locked cat flap i would have thought!
Can I ask why you are considering a flap at all? Are you working full time?

PinkPeach

Hi, on a practical note you may want to bear in mind the amount of dirt from the garden that a a dog brings in on their feet in wet weather. For this reason alone I wouldn't ever have a catflap for a dog as this time of year I'm constantly wiping my dogs feet with a towel every time he comes in from outside because otherwise there's water from his pads and dirt left all over the floor - which means slippery kitchen tiles or muddy carpet. I have a springer spaniel so realise that a pugs feet are going to be considerably smaller, but if you have a grassed area/flowerbeds this may be worth thinking about as a dogs don't tend to be fussy about where they mooch around outside.

kittiecat1949

I just bought a catflap yesterday and the size and variety available now is huge. There were at least three sizes I could have chosen in the design I chose - I got the middle one which was good for cats and small dogs up to 7kgs. How heavy is a pug? My tom cat is a strapping fella and weighs a stone and he can get through a medium which has a gap of about 140 wide x 130 mm high. Have a look about!

littlesnuggy

PinkPeach wrote: »

Hi, on a practical note you may want to bear in mind the amount of dirt from the garden that a a dog brings in on their feet in wet weather. For this reason alone I wouldn't ever have a catflap for a dog as this time of year I'm constantly wiping my dogs feet with a towel every time he comes in from outside because otherwise there's water from his pads and dirt left all over the floor - which means slippery kitchen tiles or muddy carpet. I have a springer spaniel so realise that a pugs feet are going to be considerably smaller, but if you have a grassed area/flowerbeds this may be worth thinking about as a dogs don't tend to be fussy about where they mooch around outside.

Thank you for pointing this out - I hadn't considered that! We have all wooden floors downstairs (and a lovely thick pile cream wool rug - that'll be moved!) so might be easier to clean. Immediately outside the french doors is a patio area with a wall and steps up to the garden (grass) area, so we'll probably put something in place to keep the dog within the patio bit therefore reducing mud (but I'm sure if it's wet his paws would still make a fair mess) - something to think about.

And yes, we're considering this as my partner and I do both work, however my office is less than 5 minutes walk from home so I will be able to come back at least once during the day (twice if I split my lunchbreak).

picklepick

If you can come back during the day to let him out for a toilet trip, if it was me I really wouldnt bother getting the flap at all. I think you'd need a largish one and I'd be concerned that someone could get in through it! That's just me though!

PinkPeach

picklepick wrote: »

If you can come back during the day to let him out for a toilet trip, if it was me I really wouldnt bother getting the flap at all. I think you'd need a largish one and I'd be concerned that someone could get in through it! That's just me though!

Just thinking about this as well please, please only put in the catflap if you live somewhere out of the way/where no-one could possibly know your dog was alone in the garden if you aren't at home. Sadly dog theft happens all too often and especially at this time of year when dogs are taken from gardens to be given as christmas presents. This happened on my estate last year just before Christmas, a family lost their 2 jack russells to theives and never saw them again- they'd been taken by lifting them over the garden gate as it was low. They must have spotted them in there and decided to take them.