Microchip cat flap

Client: Pet Porte

Project type: Design to manufacture

Product features

Pet Porte is an electronic cat-flap activated by the cat's micro-chip - only allowing access to the resident cat and keeping rogue cats out. Microchipping cats for identity is commonplace nowadays and our client at Pet Porte had spotted the potential of building this technology into a cat flap, to avoid the intrusion of unwanted cats. The cat flap reads the cat's microchip to allow entry to the home, without the need for a collar to be worn.

The Challenge

The client approached MotionTouch with initial designs for both the electronic access system - required to detect the cat's chip and open the flap - and the surrounding plastics. MotionTouch were tasked with the design rationalisation during the design to manufacture process and overseeing the mass-production process.

The Process

MotionTouch worked closely with Pet Porte to refine the designs and ensure that the product met the client's expectations for durability, ergonomics and quality. MotionTouch also optimised the designs to make them ready for manufacture and to maximise cost effectiveness. Once the designs were approved MotionTouch oversaw the full production process from tooling to mass production. MotionTouch created a very strong virtual team with Pet Porte, which ensured that the project ran smoothly and met its short timescales.

The Outcome

Pet Porte quickly established sales across Europe, creating a distribution chain which moved significant product volume. The microchip cat flap is extremely popular because it avoids the intrusion of rogue cats, without the need for the resident cat to wear a collar. MotionTouch and Pet Porte have subsequently launched the second generation of the microchip cat flap and the virtual team continues to work on current and future generations of the product.

Henry Powell, Client Director of MotionTouch says "The pet market is an important and growing market and Pet Porte are at the forefront of their sector. The microchip cat flap offers obvious visionary benefits to cat owners. We are delighted with the strength of the team we have created with Pet Porte and are excited about working with them on future products."

David Chamberlain of Pet Porte added, "Pet Porte is a classic invention - a consumer sees potential for improvement to an everyday product and becomes the inventor. In partnership with MotionTouch we have developed a product that transforms the efficiency of the cat flap and fills a significant gap in the market. Pet Porte is a new generation cat flap which provides pet owners with security and peace of mind."