Happy owners of pets, especially cats, know how difficult it is to constantly watch over your pet so that he goes outside for a walk or goes to the toilet on time. This problem can easily be solved by a cat door installed in the interior or entrance door. With its help, any pet can independently leave or enter the house without distracting anyone.
There are two ways to become the owner of such a door for cats: either purchase it in a specialized store, or make it yourself at home. In any case, this is a very necessary thing in a private home, which can make life easier for both the cat and its owner.
Cat doors come in different types. They vary depending on the size and type of materials used. The dimensions of the product may vary, it all depends on the size of the pet. The material is also used depending on the functional purpose of the opening. It can be a wooden, aluminum or plastic door.
According to the type of structure, all cat doors are divided into:
- Laz;
- Window;
- The door.
Window
This design is designed for free passage of the cat and is installed directly into the entrance or interior door. It consists of glass or plastic and a metal or wooden frame.
The cat window is well insulated and will not let in odors, unlike a regular cat window. If desired, you can easily close the passage using a latch or a simple lock. It is very easy to make such a design yourself.
One of the disadvantages is the lack of noiselessness. The structure will clap or creak every time an animal passes through it. For this reason, windows are rarely installed in interior doors, since such sounds can irritate or interfere with rest.
Disadvantages of Anti-cat nets
In most cases, Anti-cat nets are placed where the living space ends and the open space with all its atmospheric troubles begins. Therefore, steel and aluminum wickerwork installed on a window or balcony are destroyed by corrosion over time. To protect them, it is necessary to periodically apply a special anti-corrosion coating. Steel mesh, after being cut to size, has sharp, traumatic edges with burrs. The ends of the wire must be bent or installed in the frame.
Aluminum mesh cannot keep the threads horizontal when subjected to heavy loads. They also need periodic cleaning from sticking insects.
Anti-cat nets are painted black or gray because the animal’s eye in these colors better perceives an object as an obstacle. Therefore, the room becomes darker.
Rice. 5. Damage to the mesh by birds.
The polymer obstruction can be easily damaged by birds' beaks. PVC braiding may crack after five years due to seasonal temperature changes. The strength of the plastic threads is not designed for large animals, for example, a 12-kilogram Maine Coon.
Window with sash
The simple design resembles a manhole, complemented by a hinged door. The opening is usually rectangular or square in shape and is covered by a door that can operate in both directions.
- The door opens by simply pressing the head.
- With its help, you can limit the cat's movement by installing a clamp.
- The product is mounted, like a manhole, on interior doors or at the entrance of country houses.
Its main drawback is the loud knocking sound when the sash is closed and the risk of pinching your pet's tail.
Anti-cat mesh mounting options
The most popular fastening is to install the frame on plastic corners, like a regular mosquito net. A simple, inexpensive and long-used method. Its biggest drawback is the risk of the frame being removed when a cat jumps on it. Therefore, it is recommended to use it only on the first floors. Sometimes the plastic corner is replaced with a metal one, which extends the service life, but does not increase the rigidity of the fastening.
Rice. 6. Mesh fastenings.
Metal hooks or brackets. They are attached to the net frame in the middle part and are insurance against unplanned removal. There is a risk that the animal will turn the bracket along the axis or completely knock it out.
Sometimes owners install an Anti-cat door.
To attach it you will need:
- imposts 2-3 pcs.;
- plastic or aluminum hinges 3 pcs.;
- magnetic latches 3 pcs.;
- handles 2 pcs.
Moreover, the mesh itself is fastened to the frame as standard using a rubber sealing cord or with reinforcement.
The fastening of metal mesh to wooden frames is often done stationary, fixing each end of the wire with self-tapping screws.
Rating of cat doors
- Trixie window for cats;
- Ferplast Swing Microchip – automatic door with microchip detector;
- Flamingo leaf door;
- Trixie 3867 XL Large Cat Door;
- Ferplast Swing 7 set – with magnet.
Trixie cat window – choice for interior doors
The passage for a cat in the door is like a “window”. The model is made of white plastic. The movable shutter is transparent. Suitable for cats of all ages and small breed dogs. Product dimensions: 17.7×18.7 cm. Hole depth – 17-34 mm. The depth can be expanded with additional elements.
- Plus: quiet mechanism.
- Minus: does not have locks.
Price: 1742 rub.
Average prices in the Russian Federation
The cost is calculated per 1 sq. m .
If you purchase a product with a profile, then its price including measurement and installation ranges from 1,900 rubles to 3,000 rubles. When purchasing mesh per linear meter, the cost is about 850 rubles per 1 linear meter. m (width 1400 mm). An aluminum mesh with the same width costs 600 rubles per 1 linear line. m.
There are reinforced models with a modern design, the cost of which can be about 6,000 rubles.
Types of devices
If you pay attention to the photos of cat doors, you can see several types of structures made of different materials: Wood, plastic or metal.
All devices are divided into four main types:
- An open door without a leaf;
- A window with a simple hanging sash;
- Full mortise door with closing mechanism;
- Electronic door.
Each option has a lot of advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when choosing.
cat door
There are many such devices.
You can always purchase the best option at a pet store, and in extreme cases, making it yourself is not so difficult - unless we are talking about a metal entrance structure, of course. Choosing finished products, as well as imagining your own handicraft, must take into account several factors:
purpose of the passage - the door is installed only so that the cat can toilet, but also so that the animal can freely move from room to room, go out onto the loggia, and so on;
- material - the product can be made of aluminum, plastic, wood. The choice depends mainly on the sash material;
- sizes - from 10*10 to 15*15 cm, in some cases this is not enough;
- variety - there are several different types of models. Of course, it’s difficult to give an animal a choice, but the owner needs to take design features into account when choosing.
Do-it-yourself cat walker - video instructions
Automatic cat door with microchip detector made of brown plastic. The unique system, which includes a microchip, is patented by Ferplast.
The model is suitable for installation in glass, plastic and wooden doors, as well as in walls. The opening system works as follows: the antenna reads the microchip that is installed in the cat’s collar when it approaches the door.
The door memory can store 32 ISO chips at a time. Chips are written to the system memory by pressing the memory button.
The entry and exit indicator informs the owner where the pet is currently located. It has 4 operating modes: input, output, closed and microchip input. Product dimensions: 22.5×25.2 cm.
- Plus: suitable for installation in entrance doors.
- Disadvantage: high cost.
Price: 17998 rub.
Flamingo leaf door
The plastic leaf door (window type) has two working positions: entry, exit. The model is made of high quality white plastic.
Suitable for inserting into glass and wooden interior doors. Product dimensions: 19.2x20 cm. Passage depth: 16.5x17.4 cm.
The passage opening can be expanded with additional tunnels, which must be purchased separately.
- Plus: easy to install.
- Minus: not suitable for entrance doors.
Price: 1068 rub.
Extended XL cat door Trixie 3867
The larger model TX-3867 can be installed on doors with a thickness of 17-34 mm. With the help of additional tunnel elements, the passage depth can be expanded to 45 mm.
The door is fixed in a vertical position using a magnetic clamp at the bottom of the product immediately after the cat passes through - this is protection from drafts. The presence of a sealing edging allows for silent closing of the sash.
- Plus: it closes without slamming.
- Cons: high price.
Price: 1850 rub.
Ferplast Swing 7 set
The automatic folding model for cats and small dogs made of non-toxic plastic is equipped with a draft prevention system. Works in 4 modes, has 4 locking directions.
Installed in doors made of glass, wood, metal or in walls. The last passage indicator helps the owner to know where the animal is: on the street or in the house.
The door is opened using a magnetic key, which is attached to the animal's collar. Product size: 25.2×22.5 cm. Passage depth: 9.6 cm.
- Plus: automatic opening using a magnetic key.
- Disadvantage: high cost.
Price: 2999 rub.
Cat door: classification and types
Animal owners quickly appreciated how convenient it is for both people and pets not to depend on each other when the animal needs to leave the house to go outside or move from one room to another. Holes in the door allow animals to have constant access to the litter box and move around regardless of the presence of the owner. Entrance and interior doors for cats can be of various types and sizes, quality and design.
Entrance door with cat passage device
Devices are classified according to the size of tunnel holes (for large or small rocks), materials of manufacture, number of operating modes (from 2, 3, 4 modes), software (simple and electronic).
Note! When installing a cat door, you must take into account that not only your favorite pets, but also street animals can use the passage. Various types of passages have protective devices against the entry of stray animals into the house
Domestic cats will have to be accustomed to some structures that have such devices within a few days. Many owners purchase ready-made cat doors, but some make them themselves according to their own drawings, taking into account the needs and body size of the pet
Various types of passages have protective devices against the entry of stray animals into the house. Domestic cats will have to be accustomed to some structures that have such devices within a few days. Many owners purchase ready-made cat doors, but some make them themselves according to their own drawings, taking into account the needs and body size of the pet.
Laz
A DIY cat door can be very simple in design and have no cover. A passage made in the form of a manhole, without a protective barrier, can be in the form of any figure:
- circle or oval;
- square;
- rectangle;
- rhombus;
- free form.
A hole is cut in the bottom of the door or wall. Such a device cannot be broken. Along the edges of the cutout, the hole can be framed with plastic, trimmed with fabric or special bristles that act as a comb for cat hair. It is very simple to care for such a hole - periodically clean the edges of the cutout from dirt and animal hair.
Important! The main disadvantage of an opening that does not close will appear in winter, when the cold will penetrate through the opening and spread across the floor, which is why such passages are most often made inside the living room. Cat hole in the toilet of any shape
Cat hole in the toilet of any shape
Window
The cut-out opening in the form of a window is covered with a flap, which can be closed with a latch or have a magnetic or sticky fastener. In some cases, the cat litter door is hung with hinges or hinges. But such devices are quite noisy and produce loud sounds during use.
Door
The in-door cat flap is a smaller version of the standard design. Its damper can be mounted in a horizontal or vertical position using springs. Such models do not allow odors and cold to pass through, because they close hermetically and can be controlled manually and remotely.
Note! Doors are produced equipped with electronic sensors that are triggered by interaction with a chip embedded in the pet's collar. Some products, in addition to the self-closing mechanism, have a passage blocking system, which is activated by the owner of the animal at his own discretion
The cat door can be made of soft materials, plastic, plexiglass, acrylic, rubber
Some products, in addition to the self-closing mechanism, have a passage blocking system, which is activated by the animal owner at his own discretion. The cat door can be made of soft materials, plastic, plexiglass, acrylic, rubber.
Door with a flap that closes with a latch
Electronic door
The design of the product is similar to a mortise door, but is supplemented with electronic sensors that protect the entrance from the entry of foreign animals into the home. Electronic doors are opened using a chip built into the collar of a domestic cat.
This system is ideal for country houses, since with the help of sensors you can track the movements of the animal and always know where it is.
How to make a passage for pets with your own hands
Cats are very freedom-loving animals and love free movement. Installing a passage for the animal will help solve the problem of leaving the house. You can install a cat door yourself, while saving a significant amount on its purchase.
Materials for production
Tree. The frame for the manhole and the door itself are mainly made from wood.
Plastic
This is one of the cheapest materials used to make a cat hole.
Rubber
Rubber can be used to improve sound insulation. To do this, it is placed in the doorway. You can also use it to avoid loud door knocking.
Fabrics
Using fabric or other decorative decorations, you can decorate the cat's passage yourself.
Installation instructions
Most often, owners purchase polyester nets on an aluminum frame with metal brackets for their balcony windows.
To work you will need to prepare the following tools:
- needle nose pliers;
- screwdriver and screws 1 cm long;
- drill;
- adjustable wrench.
Installation algorithm:
Cut the mesh blank to the required size.- Install metal profile corners onto the frame to secure the structure.
- Attach to the frame of the plastic window with self-tapping screws (fixation step 2-3 cells).
- Make aluminum plates.
- Perform side fastening with obligatory bending.
- Make a hole in the central part of the frame.
- Screw 2 curved plates on the inner surface.
- If necessary, add additional fasteners.
Installation of the finished mesh:
- prepare the base for installation;
- attach the frame from the inside;
- install metal profile corners outside;
- attach the mosquito to the frame.
If the standard set of fasteners is not enough, then additional fastening methods should be used.
The service life of an anti-cat mosquito net is 10-15 years. During the winter, it can remain on the frame. The product does not require special care. An annual wash with soapy water is sufficient. The fasteners are well preserved without cleaning.
The video will show you how to install and remove an anti-cat mosquito net for a plastic window:
What to consider when making a passage
If you decide to make a cat door with your own hands, you must immediately determine the functional purpose of the product: for entrance doors or an interior version.
To provide your pet with free passage to the toilet or other rooms, it will be enough to provide the door leaf with a hole and attach the sash to it on hinges. And in the case of the front door, the design should be more complex and airtight.
It is important to decide how the product will look so as not to spoil the appearance of the canvas, but even to decorate it. For self-production, it is better to give preference to wood. It is very easy to work with, and it looks great against the backdrop of solid wood.
Dimensions
The dimensions of the hole directly depend on the size of the animal for which it is intended. To do this, you can measure your pet and estimate the approximate width and height.
If you rely on a table of standard sizes, usually 10x10 cm, 15x15 cm or 18x18 cm are sufficient.
How to do it yourself
Regardless of the chosen passage design, the DIY process begins with cutting a hole in the door leaf. In order not to violate the integrity, the hole in the door is located at a distance of 5-8 cm from the bottom edge. If the door system is paneled, then the lower element is not touched. A slot is made in the lower insert directly above it.
The canvas is removed from the box and laid on a flat surface. The square of the future hole is marked and a hole is drilled in one corner into which the blade of an electric jigsaw can freely pass. Then all that remains is to cut the material along the marks and remove the unnecessary part. At the end, the cut ends are sanded with sandpaper and coated with paint and varnish materials to protect them from damage, dirt and moisture. For decoration, you can make a frame around the cutout from slats like platbands.
If the hatch is installed in the door of the restroom, you can leave the hatch open, without any doors. However, it is necessary to take into account that the sounds of flowing water or odors will easily flow into the adjacent room, which may not be very convenient for residents.
It is very easy to install a sash in it that will open freely in different directions. The main thing is to take into account its weight so that the cat can open the door and walk through. It is best to use a piece of plastic for this or purchase any suitable product at a hardware store. A thin rubber plate or a dense piece of any fabric could be a good option.
The sash is secured to the upper end with hinges, its functionality is checked, and the leaf is hung back on the frame.
If the hatch is installed on the front door, you should consider a locking system. In a private home, there is a high risk of strangers or stray animals entering the premises, so installing a hook or latch is especially important.
But there will still be a problem with the penetration of cold from the street. If you install any sealed material, it will be difficult to open. And the sash will not be able to close completely under its own weight. Alternatively, you can hang some kind of curtain made of thick fabric from the inside and close the door if necessary, which completely eliminates its design independent of human participation.
Therefore, if there is an urgent need to install a cat passage in the front door, it is best to purchase a ready-made product and install it yourself.
Advantages and disadvantages
When deciding to organize a passage through the door leaf for a pet, you should take into account its positive and negative aspects.
Clear advantages include:
- Eliminates the need to leave doors open or constantly let the cat in or out;
- Organization of unhindered movement of the pet, which does not cause stress and aggression due to closed doors;
- The cat hole in the door is sealed, keeping out dust and odors from the street.
The disadvantages include the lack of control over an independent animal, which can lead to accidents.
Also, shortcomings may be associated with incorrectly selected design and unsuitable materials.
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:
- entrance doors;
- toilet;
- doors made of PVC, wood, metal;
- walls;
- garage door;
- window and door glass.
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:
- white,
- silver,
- bronze.
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:
- in both directions,
- inside,
- out,
- complete closure.
How to choose the right cat door
- Based on the size of your pet. If there are several cats in the house, focus on the largest animal. Measure the animal's height and width and add 5 centimeters on each side to get the ideal size for passage.
- Consider where you are going to install the cat door. If you need a passage through the front door, choose sealed structures equipped with locks. For interior doors, doors like a window or a hole are suitable.
- If you don't want the sound of a slamming door to disturb your sleep, don't put windows in your bedroom door. Save these locking designs for bathroom and toilet doors.
Manufacturers of cat products present a variety of cat door models on the pet products market. To make it easier for you to make a choice, we have studied popular items on online shopping sites. And we compiled our rating of these products based on functionality, quality characteristics and cost.
Types of Anti-cat nets
In industry, plastic, steel and aluminum are used to make them. Each option has its own characteristics and advantages. If a fine-mesh polymer mesh is at the same time a reliable barrier to flying insects, then a coarse-mesh metal mesh transmits more light and has greater resistance to mechanical deformation. This type of protection is often used by owners of large breed cats.
Often the choice of material is also influenced by the price of the fence, area and features of the frames. Appearance doesn't have the last word. After all, in addition to direct protective functions, the mesh is part of the interior of the living space.
Rice. 1. Types of window nets.
Steel mesh
It is an ordinary canvas made of intertwined steel wire, mounted in a metal (usually aluminum) frame. Square cells have sizes from 1 to 5 cm. The choice depends on the size of the pet.
Rice. 2. Steel mesh.
At the intersection of the wire, it is additionally secured by spot welding. This type of barrier ensures 100% safety and lasts a long time. May rust, so needs anti-corrosion coating.
Fine mesh stainless steel mesh 18Х12Н10Т is in design condition. But it is unlikely to compete with those already available due to the high cost of the material.
Aluminum mesh
The threads are not secured to each other. The density of their weaving is such that protection for cats can simultaneously serve as protection against insects. It is often sold in the form of rolls of a certain width. Popular among home craftsmen due to good wear resistance and low cost.
Rice. 3. The aluminum mesh will only support a kitten.
But, if your pet is quite heavy and likes to hang on vertical surfaces, such protection will not last long. Wires that are not secured to each other can pull down, forming holes and unsightly sagging, or completely break out of the mesh.
Polyester mesh
The most familiar of all, the cheapest and most convenient to install. They are made from black Pet Screen polyester. A thin thread 0.6-0.8 mm thick is intertwined, forming cells measuring 1.65x1.65mm or 1.1x1.5mm. For strength at the points of contact, they are additionally thermally soldered together. Such canvases are sold in rolls in stores. Also, a specialized company may offer to purchase a standard frame with such a mesh or make it according to individual sizes. Aluminum frames are removable and can have an additional horizontal rigidity bar.
Rice. 4. Polyester mesh.
Opened door
In essence, this is a simple hole cut into the door leaf according to the size of the animal. It has no doors and is designed to allow cats to pass through interior doors. At the entrance to the house, such a product is sometimes installed only in summer country houses.
Its main advantages:
- Easy to manufacture;
- Easy installation;
- Unlimited movement of the animal.
The hole shape can be any. Its edges are usually trimmed with a strip of fleecy cloth or a brush to collect hair during shedding. However, the hole does not provide tightness and does not allow control of the animal’s movement.
Petsafe Staywell Deluxe – the best cat door in the door
Cat door made of high-quality plastic with a wood-effect design with 4 positions. Installed in a door, window or wall. Suitable for use in a city apartment and a private country house. Can be installed in walls of any thickness. To extend the passage, you need to purchase additional tunnel attachments.
4 door lock positions (closed, in, out, in and out) allow you to control the cat's movement around the apartment and house. Suitable for animals weighing up to 7 kg. Window size: 175×168 mm.
- Plus: the ability to adjust the length of the tunnel.
- Cons: high price.
Price: 2724 rub.
Types of cat passages
In addition to night walks and visits to the toilet, many pussies have a kind of phobia about closed interior doors. As soon as any room is isolated, hysteria immediately begins about the obstacle that has arisen. Pets for the most part are persistent creatures and will meow until they get what they want. Therefore, a cat door in the door is so necessary in the household, both for city apartments and for residents of rural areas.
There are two ways to become the owner of a useful design - buy a ready-made door or start making it yourself. The practicality of each option is determined by where the door is installed. For interior doors, arranging a convenient passage is not difficult. Making a functional cat door on your front door yourself is more difficult.
Passages are classified according to various criteria:
- Material. Wood, plastic and aluminum are used to decorate the door.
- Dimensions. The constitution of the cat affects the dimensions of the door. A miniature cat or a majestic Pallas cat needs openings of different sizes.
- Design. This is one of the most significant parameters. The passage for a cat can be made in the form of a hole, a window or a door.
Let's consider the characteristics of each option in detail.
