The Ins and Outs of Cat Doors

Before we dive into the helpful advice on installing cat doors, it’s important to evaluate your specific situation wisely. Cat doors are certainly popular and convenient door for you and your feline for various reasons; not all of them involve allowing your cat to have free reign outdoors.  For example, pet owners sometimes keep a litter box in the garage or enclosed patio, and installing a cat door gives your cat ability to access it at any time even when the door is safely locked.  Installing access into a closet or cabinet to store a litter box may make sense in your home.  In a busy household, a cat door can give your cat a quiet place to retreat.  However if you’re considering installing a cat door into any wood exterior door of your home which will allow your cat to roam outdoors, there are some issues to strongly consider first.  If your cat has never been an outside cat before, be well informed of the safety concerns of allowing your cat to go outside. Nearly all vets agree that indoor cats generally have longer life expectancies.  Evaluate your neighborhood’s environment to assure it is suitable for an outdoor cat. Calm, suburban or rural areas are preferred, and you should be aware of other pets and wildlife that live in your neighborhood that your cat could potentially encounter. It’s also important to note your cat’s abilities, such as experience with other animals or self-defense. If your cat is declawed, it is strongly discouraged to let her outside, as she has no way to defend herself against other animals.  

Types of Cat Doors

There are a multitude of cat door types that can provide different uses:

• Basic flap: A basic cat door with a flap is the most versatile, simple option for most cat door uses. It provides insulation, making it a great option for cat doors leading outside. They can also be installed indoors, even into cabinets if you want to hide the litter box. Transparent or translucent flaps are recommended, as your cat is more likely to use the door if she can see through it. These doors can come with a 2-way or 4-way locking system, meaning you can block exit, entry, or both. This allows you to have some control over your cat’s coming and going, as you could let her come in at night and keep her from going back out.
• Electronic: This type of door gives you some added security and convenience, but is usually more expensive. Electronic cat doors can be personalized to your cat’s collar or microchip to prevent other animals from entering the home or room. This would be useful to give your cat a peaceful space away from the boisterous dogs or kids in your house.
• Interior: Interior cat doors can be as simple as frames for an open hole in the door. These are a simple, inexpensive option for wood doors to allow your cat free passage through the house while keeping doors closed. They’re great if you want to have a room for the litter box without having the smell spread to other rooms.