The Different Kinds Of Cat Doors
Cat doors come in many different types. Even if you do not let you cat outside you may benefit from a cat door inside your house.
Cat Doors within a Glass Door
If you have sliding glass patio doors and want a cat door that leads outside, you have two options. You can either install the door directly into the glass by using a glass cutter or having a new piece of glass cut for your door. This option will not work for you if you have insulated glass or tempered glass in your door, however. The other option is to install a separate panel into the frame of your patio door. This panel will already have the pet door installed in it.
Cat Doors for Exterior Walls or Doors
Cat doors can also be installed in an exterior wall or door. For cat doors installed in a wall, there will be a frame on both sides of the wall, and either one or two flaps. Having two flaps allows the air between the flaps to hold warm air and aid in insulation. Cat doors that are installed in exterior doors usually only have one flap, but to limit air loss most close and seal lightly with a magnetic seal.
Electronic Cat Doors
Any of the above pet doors can be either manual or electronic. An electronic door receives a signal from your cat’s collar. This signal means that the door will only open for your cat, and no outside strays or wild animals will be able to enter your house. An electronic door also comes in handy when you have multiple cats but not all of them can go outside.
Inside Cat Doors
Even if you do not allow your cats outside, you may find a pet door useful on the inside of your house. Cat doors on interior doors in your house can keep cats contained to only those rooms that you want them in, or allow them access to a room that normally remains closed, like the garage. Another handy use for an inside cat door is to allow your pet into the room where the cat box is kept, especially if you keep the box in a closet.
Categories: Pet Doors Tags: cat doors for outside walls
Installing A Doggie Door
A doggie door can come in all kinds depending on your dog and your house. There may be several options for you to choose from.
Installing in Glass Doors
If you have sliding glass doors that are not made of tempered glass you can choose a doggie door that installs directly into the glass. You will need to cut into the glass of your door for this or have a piece of glass cut especially for you. If neither of those is an option, you can install a panel that already has the dog door in it into the frame of your existing patio door.
Wall or Standard Door Installation
If you are installing your doggie door into an exterior door or wall you can choose either a single or double flap option. Both of these doors have a frame on both the interior and exterior wall, but the double flap door has an air space between the two flaps that acts as and insulator. A single flap door is a good choice for an interior wall or in areas that are particularly mild. Installing a dog door inside the house on an interior wall or door is appropriate for homes where the dogs are not allowed to roam freely.
Electronic Doors
In any of the above doggie doors you can choose a manual door or an electronic door, and can be used on either interior or exterior door installations. An electronic door is especially good for households with multiple dogs where one dog is significantly smaller than the other and in households with children. The electronic dog door is controlled by the collar on the pet, so the door will open when the pet approaches it.
Sometimes a small dog will have trouble pushing open a doggie door that has been designed for larger dogs and an electronic door is perfect for that situation. In households with children small enough to fit out a larger sized dog door, an electronic door is an extra security measure that will set a parent’s mind at ease. Regardless of how you are going to use your doggie door, there is an option that will be perfect for you and your pet.
Categories: Pet Doors Tags: installing dog door in wall
