(PRESS RELEASE) CAMBRIDGE, UK –Cambridge-based pet technology specialist Sure Petcare, is celebrating ten years since the launch of its first microchip-enabled pet product, the multi award-winning Microchip Cat Flap. The company will be celebrating with a traditional birthday party to mark the milestone and is looking forward to further innovations to kick off its second decade in business.
Cambridge physicist and cat owner, Dr Nick Hill, developed the Microchip Cat Flap after he discovered that his cat, Flipper, was being harassed by the local neighbourhood cats who were entering his home through Flipper’s conventional, unsecured cat flap. The Microchip Cat Flap solved this problem by recognising a pet’s unique microchip number, providing access only to the nominated pet.
The company expanded its range of pet door products based on the same microchip reading technology, launching smart cat flaps designed for both multi-pet households, as well as larger cats and small dogs. In 2014 this was followed by the launch of the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder, which enabled owners of multiple pets to prevent food stealing, to provide the right food to the right pet.
Dr Nick Hill said: “The company started by finding a way to provide Flipper with his own personal door key. Since 2008 we have worked with our customers to continuously develop and improve our products – the Microchip Cat Flap is on its seventh iteration. Our products have protected over 1 million homes from invasion and kept 100 million meals safe from feline food thieves. I am sure Flipper is proud!”
The next ten years will see the company develop further into the connected pet technology space. In 2017 Sure Petcare launched the first in a suite of connected products, the SureFlap Microchip Pet Door Connect, which helps to increase an owner’s bond with their pets, even when they are away from home. The Microchip Pet Door Connect allows pet owners to monitor and control their pet’s comings and goings via a smartphone app. In 2018 the company will be launching further connected products which will provide a variety of information about a pet’s day-to-day activities, behaviours and routines.
“We want to equip owners with an unprecedented insight into their pet’s health and wellbeing through the use of app-connected products,” said Dr. Nick Hill, Founder and Managing Director of Sure Petcare. “By using this connected technology it will help them to identify and address the changing needs of their pets throughout their lifetime.”