The Different Types Of Cat Doors And How To Choose
Cat doors are a household accessory whose versatility can be more useful than you might seemingly imagine. Its types and functions offer a multitude of possibilities for the most creative owners.
Cats are characterized by their independent nature, and it is that they spend several hours outside the family environment until the affection or the desire to eat makes them return home.
This tendency to prowl autonomously also occurs in the house itself, when walking from one room to another. For both cases, cat doors can facilitate the entry and exit of the animal safely and comfortably.
Classification of cat doors
Currently, the market offers many models of cat flaps depending on the use and the cat that will use it. Some of the aspects that differentiate them and that can help owners when choosing are:
- Animal size : it is the first criterion to check. Although there are standard measurements that are around 20 centimeters wide by 25 high, the weight and age of the animal may require special measurements. Sometimes, they are made with flexible frames that allow the passage of cats of different sizes.
- The future utility : conditions the material of the cat flap. Cat doors, contrary to popular belief, are not limited to the outdoors. Therefore, in addition to putting them on the main door, they can be placed on windows, furniture, facades and all kinds of wooden, metal, plastic or glass doors.
- Free or selective access : allows you to control which animal enters and leaves through it. In recent years, cat doors have been modernized until they are capable of detecting the pet microchip . In this way, owners can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that no other stray animals will enter their home.
- Motion sensor : element whose informative mission serves to notify the entry or exit of the animal. Doors with this type of sound device are useful because they allow you to control the movements of the cat without the need to visualize the cat flap.
In addition to the different types of doors that are marketed, there are many DIY stores that facilitate the design and construction of a cat flap made by the owners themselves. In these cases, the most important thing will be to ensure the measurements of the animal, the presence of soft edges that avoid any type of injury and the installation of safety mechanisms by means of latches or sensors.
Recommendations for the use of cat flaps
Once the door in question has been chosen, owners must accustom their cat to using it whenever they want to move from one environment to another. This step can be complex, especially if previously the animal went out indistinctly through any window or door that it found available.
A good way to create the habit of entering and leaving through the cat flap is to verify that this is the only alternative for passage. For this, it is recommended that the cat flap door remain open continuously for the first few days.
In addition, the passage from one side to the other can be stimulated through games and thus contribute to the animal overcoming possible means in terms of the use of this new domestic supplement.
In general, it can be concluded that cat doors are a safer option due to the ease with which they allow access from one side of the house to the other, since they not only focus the entry or exit point, but also avoid risks such as the numerous falls to which these animals are exposed when trying to cross windows or terraces.
