Cat Doors For Doors

Cat Flaps for Doors

How to choose a cat door for a door?

There are a great many choices when it comes to manual cat flaps so the selection process can seem daunting to many pet owners at first. We've narrowed it down a little bit for you, to make the process easier for pet parents!

First, of course, the very most important thing is that you buy a size that’s comfortable for your animal, whether it be a big cat or a very small dog. If your pet is a normal-sized cat then it will almost always be just fine with a regular “Cat Flap” sized door. If your pet is a very small dog or a very large cat, however, you really need to pay attention to the height of the opening compared with the height of your dog at the withers to ensures the cat access. Follow the guide to measure your pet for a pet door.

Second, you need to be sure that the cat flap fits the thickness of the door or other material that you’ll be installing in. Whether it be a sliding glass door or a screen door, it is always best to know the dimensions of the cat door, and the people door will work well together. Most of these cat flaps are “self-framing” and have an adjustment range so you must be sure that the adjustment range included the thickness of the door or other material. For example, a common adjustment range is 0” – 2”. If your exterior door is the most common thickness—1 ¾”—then you’re fine because you're in the range. There are, however, some high-end doors that are thicker than 2”. That would call for a different cat door.

Where to put your cat door?

You should also focus on the location of the pet door to ensure you're meeting your pet's needs. Think about if you want the cat flap door to lead to the backyard, through the patio door, or if it's an indoor cat, leads to the cat's litter box or the laundry room perhaps. You should also decide on the kind of locking mechanism system you want for your pet door flap as well, such as a 4-way locking cat door. These products, such as the CatMate Elite, on this page, are some of the bestsellers on the market and will meet any and all of your needs. You also want to think about the frame color options so that the door will match your house. If not, think about some DIY options to perfect the look you want! Whether you want a small doggy door or a big cat door for your furry friends, make sure you choose the right pet door.

Finally, you want to be sure that these cat flaps are being installed on a flat surface. Every pet door wants to be installed that way. But the typical cat flap design, with its rigid flap swinging on two “ears” at the top, is particularly sensitive to this issue. Even a small amount of bending of the frame can cause the flap to bind in the frame and not swing freely. If you’re installing in an uneven surfaced door, you might be better off with a flexible-flapped pet door that will be more forgiving if you’re surface is not exactly level.