How to choose the right cat door without unnecessary hassle

Cat doors: varieties

There are different types of doors for cats, but the purpose of their installation is the same - to allow the animal to move freely around the house. Your pet won't wake you up in the middle of the night. If you live in a house, the door will make it possible to do without a tray, especially since it has a simple design and is very easy to install.

Nowadays there are various doors on sale. You can stock up on silent, hypoallergenic, sealed structures, which can be plastic, metal or wood. Choose according to your taste!

Modern doors are divided into manhole, window, mortise and electronic designs.

The hole
can be mounted in the door, choosing as you wish: rectangular or arched shape. If the cat is very fluffy, it is advisable to provide the hole with a brush or fleecy cloth that will collect cat hair.
a window also in interior structures. The door opens outwards and inwards, so that the cat can easily leave the room by pushing the door with its head. So if your pet needs to go to the tray located in the toilet, she can easily get to it. The advantage of the window is that it can be locked.
Mortise structures are used at the entrance. They are not afraid of moisture and even temperature fluctuations. Made from metal, plastic and specially treated wood, they do not release heat. The doors are designed in such a way that a magnet located in the frame returns the door to its original state after the animal leaves.
The electronic design is reliable, but at the same time the most complex. It is recommended for owners who are afraid that a foreign animal will enter their house. When your pet leaves the house, the LED on the door changes color. The most modern option assumes that only an animal with a chip installed in its collar can return back. Thanks to him, the door will open.

This accessory is intended for use in country cottages and townhouses. But the door is not cheap, and will not suit all owners.

Review of ready-made doors for cats: features, pros and cons, installation rules

Door for cats in the door “Trixie”
There is a wide variety of door openings on the cat products market. Accessories from different manufacturers differ from each other in shape, material, size, and price. Each of them has both pros and cons. To choose the appropriate option, you need to study the features of the most popular models among consumers. Information about them is presented in the table:

Cat hole “Petsafe Staywell Deluxe”

Self-cleaning litter boxes for cats: advantages and disadvantages of an automatic cat litter box

Previous Caring for cats A cat sheds a lot - what to do at home: causes of constant shedding and solution to the problem Next Caring for cats Toilet cover for cats: how to use the training system, can you make the cover yourself?

We make the door ourselves

It is easy to make a cat door with your own hands. This will only require time, a little money and certain skills. First purchase plastic, sealant, latches, and a small piece of fleecy fabric.

Before you start work, check that you have everything you need at hand: jigsaw, hacksaw, drill, pencil, ruler, level, construction knife, sanding materials, screwdriver, square. A sealant will definitely be needed.

To begin, choose a location to install the door, take measurements and cut a hole. Be sure to sand the cut and decorate it.

If the door was wooden, then the remaining piece can be secured on hinges. This way you can avoid incurring unnecessary costs and wasting time. However, there is one “but”. It’s not a fact that a cat will want to push a heavy wooden door. Therefore, the best way out of the situation is lightweight plastic or hardboard glass.

To ensure a tight fit of the door, you need to install two magnets: one at the top, the other at the bottom. If you want to limit the “travel” of the animal, install a latch on the door and close it if necessary. To provide sound insulation and heat escape, attach a seal around the perimeter of the cat door.

Installation in different places

Cat doors are not just ordinary manholes that are inserted into the hole in the door leaf. The most interesting projects are intriguing in appearance, functions, and fit perfectly into modern interiors. Companies specializing in the production of such products offer many interesting options. The cat door is installed in:

Modern catholes usually have a transparent flap that opens by pressing. The animal can freely come in and out whenever it wants. The flap is usually made of flexible plastic and is safe for your pet. There is a magnet at the bottom of the flap that allows the flap to always close automatically. This prevents unwanted heat loss; even with a strong gust of wind, the door will not open.

The frame comes in different colors, the most common are:

It is possible to choose a color depending on the color of the door or wall where the hole is installed.

The high quality manhole opens quietly, almost silently. A special mounting kit is sold for the door; sometimes a tunnel for installation in thick walls is included.

The set usually includes a flap that closes the door during the period of long absence of the owners - departure. Some designs include a lock that allows you to choose the opening option:

How to make a door quickly

Once the decision to install the door has been made, get to work.

Choose a location for the door and decide whether you can install it yourself or require professional help. It is not difficult to install the finished structure in interior doors. But when the structure is made to allow an animal to enter the yard, assistance may be required.
Decide on the height of the door. For medium-sized cats, 15 cm will be enough, for larger ones - 20 cm. Ideally, it is better to make an allowance of up to 0.5 cm, in case the pet gets better.
Decide what shape the door will be. There is no need to reinvent the wheel here. Cat holes are usually made in the form of an arch, and doors or windows are square.
Cut out the hole. The simplest option is to install the door in an interior structure or a plasterboard wall. No special skills are required here. All you have to do is mark and cut a hole. But there is a lot of work ahead when you have a door made of glass or metal. For metal you need a grinder, and for glass you need a glass cutter.

The most difficult thing is to make a hole for the door in the load-bearing wall. Here you need a hammer drill. Before you start work, you need to understand whether there are pipes, wires and other structures on the back side of the wall that will interfere with the implementation of your plans. Be sure to use a level when making a hole. When finished, reinforce the hole with a wooden beam. The joints are filled with sealant, and the voids are filled with foam.

If cracks occur, cover them with cement. Only when all the preparatory work has been completed should you begin installing the door.

Sometimes it is better to invite specialists to carry out the work, who have the necessary tools and can quickly cope with the installation. If you are renovating, you can indicate the presence of a hole in the order for a new door.

Decorate your cat door. This is the final and at the same time the most interesting stage, since there are more than enough options for decoration. Your imagination and a huge selection of all kinds of accessories will help you turn a simple door into a work of art.

You can easily buy ready-made frames in the store. But they are mostly brown and not original. Therefore, it is better to spend a little more time and show imagination, but make the door truly designer. For decoration, use: trimmings of baseboards, pieces of fabric and even a brush for combing out the lint.

The cloth and brush will turn the hole into a beauty salon for your pet, and you will spend less time brushing it. Vinyl stickers, which can be found on sale in every taste and color, will make the door unique. It's just important not to overdo it. Let the design not interfere with the design of the home and let your pet like it.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Anti-Cat mosquito

In addition to increased strength, the Anti-Cat mosquito net has the following advantages:

Universal. Compatible with windows made of metal-plastic, aluminum and wood. The latter can be modern or old-style.
You can order it in the size you need.
Does not affect the quality of insolation and ventilation of the room.
Does not require special care. To remove even heavy dirt, a cloth, sponge and soap solution are enough.

There are only two disadvantages. The first is the price, which is higher than the standard version. The second is the inability to trap small insects. In most cases, the cells of the Anti-Koshka fabric are larger than the standard 1x1 mm.

“Pet Screen” translated from English means “screen for a pet”

How and where can you buy a good door?

To choose the right door in a store, you need not only to know the dimensions of the animal, but also decide on the material and decide what design you want.

When heading out the door, take your pet with you. Consultants at the point of sale will help you choose a product based on the size of your cat. As for his preferences, you know them yourself.

Pay attention to brands such as Ferplast, Trixie, which are now the most popular. You don't have to go to the store to get them. All you need to do is order delivery online. It’s easy to pick up other products in the online store. The only important thing here is not to make a mistake with the dimensions of your cat.

Types of grids

According to the structure, anti-cotton mesh for plastic windows is of two types:

Frame.
Sliding (for balcony).

The design can be installed on window frames made of wood, PVC, aluminum, as well as on balcony doors. Such types of conventional mosquito nets as swing and roller nets can be easily opened by a pet. As for the choice of materials, manufacturers offer the following options:

Made from polyester. The anti-cat on plastic windows of this type is made of nylon thread with a thickness of 0.6-0.8 mm. The products can withstand up to 4 kg of weight. The main advantage of this option is the dark color, which does not attract the attention of pets.
Anti-cat mosquito net made of high-strength steel. Its main disadvantage is that it allows small insects into the room. Therefore, the installation of an additional regular mosquito net is required.
Aluminum products. Least durable option. Animals can easily pull out such threads with their claws.

Anti-cotton mesh for PVC windows

What does it take to train a cat to use the door?

Cats are naturally very inquisitive creatures. But the instinct of self-preservation sometimes interferes with their acquaintance with something new. Especially if it is a door that leads to an unknown destination. So motivate your pet by offering him his favorite treat or toy.

Open the door and secure the sash. Scotch tape, lace, or wire are suitable for this. Your task is to make the cat enter the hole and come back without hesitation. A structure swinging back and forth can frighten an animal.
Make the sash half open. The cat will probably not immediately understand that it is not required, so push your pet, helping him crawl through the door.
Close the flap all the way and encourage your cat to come in and out of the door. After some time, the cat will stop being afraid. If the design is comfortable for her, she will move from room to room without any problems.

See also: Pet goes for a walk: how to choose a cat harness and leash

There can be different problems when training cats to walk through the door. The main one is fear of the sash. The cat does not understand well that it is not a threat.

In one family, the cat often bothered the owners, asking them to open the door for her. Then they decided one day to install a door for it. But the darling did not want to go through the swinging door. She probably thought it was a dangerous thing. No tricks helped. But a solution was found: the plastic flap was replaced with a cellophane curtain.

After some time, the cat began to walk through the hole, especially since the curtain hardly interfered. The curtain was lowered - the cat was not afraid again. When he was completely accustomed to it, a sash was put in its place. But she no longer embarrassed the cat. He liked the walks and was interested in the door itself. He even started hitting it with his paw from time to time. The animal liked that she knocked.

Difference from a regular mosquito net

Protective window mesh is often confused with the usual mosquito net that modern plastic windows are equipped with. What are the differences between these two options?

The anti-cat window mesh is made of stainless steel.
A regular mosquito net can be removed with light pressure or pressure. A pet can easily overcome such an obstacle.
The metal mesh for windows has sufficient tensile strength. That is, animals will not be able to damage its integrity.
Thanks to the strong solder joint, the rods are very difficult to move apart.

This design is almost invisible, since it is painted gray.

How to make a profile for a mosquito net with your own hands, read our article on the website. Find out about the features of installing mosquito nets on plastic windows, types and methods of fastening them.

How to make a mosquito net yourself is described at the link https://oknanagoda.com/okna/plastik/kak-sdelat-moskitnuyu-setku-na-okno-sv.html

Benefits of installing an outdoor pet door

A do-it-yourself door designed specifically for the free movement of cats into an interior or entrance door is a fairly practical solution.

There is no need to equip a special toilet for an animal inside a residential building, or to constantly buy litter for it to replace the used one. This causes additional troubles and expenses for the owners.

The animal, having the opportunity to go outside at any time, never goes to the toilet under the door, in a corner, or other secluded place in the rooms of an apartment or private house.

Work order

The primary task is to determine the area on the door for installing the cat pass. The easiest way is to cut out a small entrance for the animal in a wooden door leaf. It is more difficult to do this in metal or glass. Therefore, a cat door is planned at the stage of arranging the entrance passage, then it can be installed in the door with your own hands without any problems.

Standard models do not provide additional passages for pets, so it is recommended to make metal-plastic or steel door structures to order. And you can install the cat door itself.

To calculate the parameters of the door, you must first measure the pet, taking into account the possible growth if it is still young. A cat, cat or dog should be comfortable going through the hole in the door. The optimal hole diameter for cats is 15-20 cm.

After determining the design parameters, appropriate markings are made on the front door leaf. After this, it must be removed from the hinges, placed on a flat horizontal surface, for example, a table, and carefully cut a hole for the hole along the marking lines.

Templates are sold specifically for such purposes, which are fixed to the door with adhesive tape. With its help, the hole is as smooth as possible. And the procedure itself does not take much time, the main thing is to position the template exactly in the center of the canvas.

Next, using a template or self-made markings, holes of the required diameter are drilled into the door so that a jigsaw file can fit into them. It is recommended to carry out all work related to cutting in special clothing and safety glasses.

The next step is to draw straight lines along the contour of the finished holes to connect them, insert a jigsaw and cut out the material. If you plan to make the door yourself, then this cut-out piece of canvas will work best.

A DIY cat door is carefully sanded with sandpaper, then the dust is completely removed. Then the finished door is applied to the hole, and the matches of the parameters are checked. The door mounting points are marked on the door leaf and holes are drilled for the mounting bolts.

Door fixation options may vary depending on its shape. After completing the assembly of the structure, it must be completely cleaned of dust and checked for functionality. The hole for the cat is ready, all that remains is to teach your pet how to use it. If desired, the structure can be decorated with some other more attractive material.