Cat Mate 4-Way-Locking Electromagnetic Cat Flap (254) - Exclusive Entry Collar Magnet Operated, for Small to Average-Sized Cats, for UPVC, Wood and Wall, White Review

Our scorecard

The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other dog and cat food, health, gear and grooming we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.

Overview

['The Cat Mate 254 is an electromagnetic flap that only unlocks when a cat wearing the included collar magnet approaches, which helps keep other cats from wandering in through a shared entry point. It offers 4-way locking on top of that selective entry, so you can also set it to open both ways, lock in, lock out, or seal shut entirely.', "It is built to handle panel thicknesses up to 60 millimeters, making it suitable for UPVC, wood, or wall installations, a wider range than Cat Mate's basic magnetic flaps. At 1.6 pounds, it is heavier than simpler models, reflecting the added electromagnetic hardware inside.", "Like other Cat Mate doors, it comes with a 3-year guarantee, giving some peace of mind on a flap that costs more than double the brand's basic magnetic model."]

Specifications

Breed size

Small

Weight

1.6 Pounds

Performance notes

The electromagnetic locking mechanism reads a collar-worn magnet rather than a microchip, so it does not require a battery-powered scanner, but it also cannot distinguish between multiple cats each wearing a magnet. The 60 millimeter maximum thickness gives it more installation flexibility than thinner screen-only flaps.

What buyers say

A 3.9 rating from about 1,700 reviews puts this toward the lower end of the Cat Mate lineup, hinting that some buyers run into setup or reliability issues with the magnet mechanism.