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Cat Doors

Top Three Shopping TipsCat Doors

Do you want your furry friend to experience the great outdoors where he or she can climb trees and scratch away to their heart’s content? Maybe you’re not always available to open the door when your kitty wants out. In that case, cat doors can mean the difference between a happy kitty with free access and a bored kitty cooped up inside.

If you’re considering getting a dog door instead, understand there are differences between a cat door and one for dogs. Cat doors are more squarish while dog doors are narrower and taller. To find the perfect cat door for your kitty, consider the following shopping tips.

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Cats On The Sofa

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Different installation styles to choose from

Cat doors come in a variety of styles depending on how you want your kitty to use them. For instance, you can install a cat door in the exterior door to your home for easy access to outdoors, or you can install cat doors in walls that are like tunnels from the inside to the outside for kitties to pass through. Some cat doors can also be installed in windows and work with windows that slide sideways or ones that slide up to open. A key consideration is the thickness of the door, wall, or window in which you plan to install your new cat door. Pay close attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations for thickness before you purchase your cat door.

Cat Go Out Through Cat Door

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Control entrance and exit

While most cat doors have a cat flap that you can lock to control whether your cat stays in or goes out, how the flap is used varies between models. You have four different types of entry and egress from which to choose. First is a magnetic cat door that is unlocked by a magnetic collar you put on your cat. Another option is an infrared key collar. Your cat wears a special infrared collar that unlocks the door whenever he or she is near. A similar option is a microchip cat door that works with the microchip implanted by your veterinarian. This option is the most secure because only your cat can operate the flap to open or close. The magnetic and infrared doors can be accessed by other animals wearing similar collars, making them less secure.

Cat Sit Near Cat Door

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What to look for in cat doors

Here are the key considerations for choosing the right cat doors for your kitty and your home:

Flap size — Flaps come in all sizes, so it’s important to make sure the one you choose fits your kitty. Measure your kitty’s width and height; these will be your minimum measurements for flap size.
Security — From rather insecure flaps that let any animal inside your home to ones that only operate when your specific cat comes and goes, choose the style that offers the security you’re most comfortable with.
Installation — You want a cat door that’s easy to install. Make sure to check reviews to see how easy others have found cat doors to install to decide whether you should do it yourself or hire a professional.

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Choosing the Perfect Cat Door and Accessories

Cat doors are a great option for people with cats that like to roam both indoors and outdoors. These cat doors give the cats freedom to come and go as they please, and they give pet owners freedom from having to go to the door each time the cat wants in or out. Because they are often seen as finicky, giving the cat the freedom may just cause them to love you a little more.

Cats are able to come in to eat and drink as they please, and some doors even provide protection from other animals as they are controlled by a sensor on the cat’s collar. If you have a cat that likes to roam outside, and you live in a safe area for pets, you might want to consider purchasing a pet door to benefit both your cat and you.

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exterior cat doors

Benefits

Cat doors are a great option for people who want to give their cats the freedom of going indoors and outdoors when it desires to do so. Cat doors also provide a barrier between the home and the outside. This keeps insects and debris out, while also keeping warm or cool air in the home. There are many different types of pet doors you will be able to choose from.

There are even electronic doors that are available. A sensor in your cat’s collar lets the door know when to open. If you also have a dog, you might even want to consider installing a cat door on an interior door to allow your cat to have a space of its own.

interior cat doors

Safety

When it comes to pet doors, whether they are concerned about other animals or intruders, some people are skeptical when it comes to home safety. However, generally, these concerns are unnecessary. It is very possible, and encouraged, for you to install a safety door to slide over your pet door.

These doors are made of metal and can be closed and locked at night, when you are not home, or when it is unsafe for your cat to be outdoors. Also, be sure to purchase the correct sized door. A larger door allows more of a chance for either animal or human intruders. Also, when installing the pet door, ensure that no one can reach the lock through the pet door, to prevent possible intruders from using pet door to unlock your door.

cat door

Shopping Tips

When you go to install your door, you want to be sure that you have purchased the correct size to minimize any possible damage. Of course, you don’t want to order a door that is too small, or it cannot function. It is also important that you do not purchase a door that is too large.

If you order a pet door that is larger, it could potentially allow more animals into your home, and you do not want larger animals in your home, especially with your smaller pet. Always ensure that the pet door has been constructed with durable materials that will last, and be sure to check the door for a warranty.

Questions And Answers

https://www.doors.com/pet-doors/cat-doors

Why should I buy a cat door?

If your cat is allowed to go outdoors, cat doors are a real convenience. With a small opening just for cats, they can go in and out without scratching your doors. It can also keep cats safe, since doors afford an escape route from the outside when there is inclement weather or predators about. Plus, a cat door doesn’t have to exit to the outside—if you want to hide the litter box or food behind an interior door, having a cat door for that purpose makes it easy access for your cat. Also, cat doors are fairly easy to install yourself.

Is a cat door different from other kinds of pet doors?

Though small dogs can use cat doors, cat doors are designed with wider frames and hard transparent flaps, since cats like to see where they’re going and a see-through flap makes them feel safer. Cats also have proportionally wider bodies than dogs so cat doors are wider and squarer.

What kinds of cat doors are available?

There are so many cat doors from which to choose—from basic models, to more sophisticated versions in a variety of sizes that have electromagnetic systems or operate by microchip.

What are the size ranges for cat doors?

Most cat doors come in sizes from a 5-/12-inch opening to a 9-1/2-inch opening.

What’s an example of a basic cat door?

Basic cat doors are almost always a lower grade of plastic, on a frame that’s not particularly strong or rigid. A plastic panel fits over the top of the frame and the opening cover doesn’t lock. Needless to say, it’s not a very sturdy or secure choice. Other kinds of more basic but higher quality doors are those that can be installed on interior and exterior doors and have a four-way locking mechanism. They will often have a magnetic, self-closing flap to keep other critters out of your home.

How do electromagnetic cat doors work?

Your cat wears a small magnet on its collar, which also doubles as an identification tag. When the cat goes through the flap, a highly sensitive circuit in the flap enables access to the cat when it detects the magnet on its collar. A locking system allows the cat to exit, but only allows cats with a collar magnet to re-enter.

What if my cat has a microchip?

There’s a door for that, too. These kinds of doors are usually programmed by reading your cat’s existing microchip and downloading the information, so that the next time your cat uses the door, it accesses the stored microchip data and allows entry in and out.

How do you measure for a cat door?

You need to measure your cat(s) from feet to shoulders. Make sure to measure the widest part of your cat. The top of the cat door should be at least 1 inch above their back. The flap height plus the step-over should equal the height of the top of the flap.

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DO IT YOURSELF

how to install a cat door

How To Install A Cat Door

If you are looking for a way to let your cat in and out of the house without having to actually having to do it yourself, then you are in luck. Installing a cat door is not a very difficult. It won't take up much time and you don't need many tools in order to be able to complete it.

Make sure you measure your pet when choosing the cat door you will use to ensure that it can comfortably and safely fit in and out of the the opening. You will be measuring the height and the width of your pet. The door needs to be a minimum of two inches wider and two inches taller than your pet is. You don't want too large of an opening either, unless your pet is expected to continue growing, then you might want to make adjustments for the height and width your cat is expected to be when full grown.

Once you have picked out the door you will be using, installing it is simple and can be completed in no time. Your cat will finally be able to get the indoor and outdoor time that is desired. The cat door will allow it to come and go freely and allow you to carry on with your busy schedule as needed. Just grab these tools and get started once you have the door in hand.

Written byMisty

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How To Install A Cat Door In A Metal Door

Installing a cat door can an ideal solution when you want to provide your feline friend with access to another room or the outside without having to open the door every time they want in or out. Many exterior doors are classified as metal, constructed using a sheet of metal, usually steel, secured to an insulating core.

Dealing with metal makes the installation of a cat door more challenging but not impossible, as long as you have the right tools. Here’s what you need to do.

Written byVicky

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How To Install A Cat Door In A Hollow Core Door

Many homeowners would like to give their cat access to a specific room in the house while keeping other animals, like dogs, out. By installing a cat door, this can be accomplished with ease.

Initially, it may seem tricky to accomplish this feat, largely because interior doors tend to be hollow core. But, with the right tools and a little bit of time, most homeowners can complete this project successfully, letting them install a cat door in a hollow core door located anywhere in their house.

Written bySandy

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