Skip to main content

Check out this smart pet door that you control via your smartphone

microchip pet door connect sureflap
SureFlap
If you’re never quite sure if your precious pet is in or out of the house and you’d really prefer to know, then SureFlap’s smartphone-controlled pet door can help you out.

The new Microchip Pet Door Connect technology is an expansion of SureFlap’s existing smart door that works with RFID-collared and microchipped pets to ensure it only opens for the right animal, TechCrunch reports. The new kit includes a custom-made smartphone app that lets you schedule curfews and remotely lock the door with a single tap, while notifications will let you know when your pet has left the building — or returned home.

The app will also collect and organize data on your animal’s movements in and out of your home, a feature designed to highlight any changes in their routine which could be a sign that all is not well with your furry friend.

In addition, if you’re away for a few days and have a pet sitter staying or dropping by, you can share access to the app and set permissions, too.

Designed for cats and small dogs, the flap itself is easy to install and works via the included hub device, which acts as a link between the flap and the internet.

Commenting on the connected pet door, SureFlap boss Nick Hill said, “We saw an opportunity to bring something new, innovative and beneficial to pet owners. Our app-controlled pet door gives owners greater peace of mind by allowing them to check in on their pets when they’re away from home.”

Hill added that the technology is “nonintrusive and runs seamlessly in the background until it is needed.”

The Microchip Pet Door Connect system is powered by four C batteries that should offer at least six months of use. Shipping is expected to begin this summer, with both the complete set — the door, the hub, and the app — selling for 160 British pounds ($200).

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Fluid One gives you point-and-click control of your smart home, from your smartphone
Fluid One app showing the AR room map and devices.

Ever wished you could use your smartphone to control your smart home, beyond just pulling up an app to turn something on or off? We're now starting to see companies create actual functionality around the Matter initiative. Fluid, a relative newcomer to the smart home field, is building a service on top of Matter to allow you to control smart devices around your home simply by pointing your phone at the device.

Fluid calls this new service Fluid One. You can point your phone at a device, and it will automatically and immediately show you options to control said device. The service also allows for location-based automation and gesture controls. For example, imagine walking around your home and having lights automatically turning on or off depending on how close you are to them.

Read more
7 ways to prep your smart home before you go on vacation
Smart home app use.

You no doubt know the basics of home maintenance when you’re headed out for a vacation: Arm the security system, leave a light on so it looks like people are home, arrange for pet and plant care, and turn the thermostat down. But there’s an easier way to do it all automatically.

Today’s smart home systems are packed with features, and many of them can help you prepare for a vacation, and take care of some important details while you’re gone. Here’s everything you can do with smart products and why it helps!
Set the vacation mode on your thermostat

Read more
Can your smart home save you money on homeowners insurance?
Nest devices grouped together on a counter.

Smart home devices provide more than just convenient assistance -- they also help us complete tasks more efficiently and protect our homes. And now, they may actually be able to save you money on your homeowner's insurance.

Homeowners insurance protects or aids you if an incident happens. Yet the best days are when nothing goes wrong, and life is easy for everyone. Smart home devices can be your first line of defense against things that could cause your home harm.

Read more