Category: Pet Doors

Pet Doors Give Your Pet the Freedom of the Outdoors

A convenient and easy way to let your pet in and out of the house is by installing a pet door on the exterior of your home.  Pet doors are fairly easy to install and once they are installed you won’t have to worry about letting your dog or cat outside of the house again.  Pets that use a pet door are also less likely to have an accident inside your home and really enjoy the freedom of coming and going as they please to enjoy the outdoors.  There are several types of pet doors to choose from and selecting the right one is very important.  It is a good idea to choose a pet door that is appropriate for the size of your pet.  If you have a large dog, a pet door for a small dog or a cat will not work for your dog.  You will also have to determine the location for the pet door.  Some pet doors may be installed directly into the exterior door or in the exterior wall.  Here are a few of my favorite pet doors:

  • The Extreme Weather Door by Radio Systems Corp is made to be installed on an exterior door in your home.  This pet door is available in three sizes, small, medium, and large, and great for helping to save on energy.  This weather-resistance pet door helps to keep the outside air from getting into your home with its three flaps.  It is also great for keeping insects and other critters out of your home.
  • If it isn’t possible for you to install a pet door in your home’s exterior door, try the Wall Entry Aluminum Pet Doorby Petsafe.  Install this pet door directly into the exterior wall of your home.  It is also available in three sizes to properly fit the size of your dog.
  • For cat owners, the InfraRed Cat Door makes a great pet door option for your cat to use. This pet door is designed to only open with the infrared collar that your cat wears, so it won’t open for other small critters and pests.

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Roaming Cats – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Pros and cons of keeping your cat indoors

There are a many arguments for keeping cats inside. They will live longer due to the chances of being hit by a car, hurt by other people or animals, or infected with contagious diseases from feral cats will be minimized (not to mention ticks and fleas). Cats will also prey on birds and small mammals – which may bring unwanted germs into your home upon return.

  These are but a few of the issues that arise from roaming cats. On the other hand, cats derive much pleasure from exploring around outside. If cats are allowed outside they need to be sterilized to prevent unwanted pregnancies and stray issues.

Compromises – Limiting Activity and Movement

Often, a satisfactory compromise is to allow the cat out under supervision. One method used is to let them out into a fenced yard. However, if you leave them out there, they will probably eventually climb the fence. When everything is said and done, a fenced yard is really not containment for a cat.

Using a harness and leash is a method that may work. Accustom your cat to the harness first, in the same way as a collar. Then accustom them to the leash by leaving it on for short periods of time. Then take them outside, and follow them where they go (do not try to take them “on a walk”). You can proof your backyard against escape with an “invisible fence” arrangement (these are usually for dogs, but many of our models can be adapted for larger cats). These give the cat a correction stimulus when approaching the property boundary.

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Make it Easy on Yourself! – Pet Doors

Pet doors are a good solution for people tired of letting cats in and out. There are many kinds of doors, including those that fit into patio doors without requiring a hole cut through the wall or door. You may have trouble with other animals coming in the door, or want to let your dog but not your cat use the pet door. The solution is an electronic pet door. The door has a lock that is deactivated by a special collar designed to work with the door. Therefore only the pet with the color will be allowed access.

Electronic pet doors are installed much like a regular pet door, but you plug them in or they run off batteries. The electronic doors need a firmer push to open than most. A great feature is the 4-way lock. The lock can be set so the cat can 1) go both in and out 2) go in only – great if you want to catch them 3) out only 4) totally locked.

It’s no surprise that cats are a bit harder to contain than cats if you allow them access to the outdoors, but with a little ingenuity, you can keep them safe.