Cat doors are often a great answer to a difficult question: when you have a cat that goes outside, how do you make sure he can get back inside – of even get outside while you are not home? A cat door can really help this situation, though there are many details to consider before you decide on purchasing and installing one.

The first question to consider is how large is your cat? If he is quite heavy, you may need a cat door for larger cats. Now, how many cats do you have? Are they all allowed to go outside, or just one or two? A cat door may not be a good option for a multi-cat household where only one cat goes outside. Do you have a dog? Can the dog go out on his own? If he can, then you just have to be sure the door is large enough for the dog, too. If he cannot go out by himself, then perhaps a cat door is a bad idea. Finally, do you have a child or infant? Some infants can open cat doors and escape. This is why baby gates with a cat door are a good idea.

Now, what kind of cat door do you want? There are several types: electronic cat doors are a good idea for some homes. An electronic cat door senses when the cat approaches and opens the door for him. These are also called an Infra red cat door. Another option similar to this is the magnetic cat door. These use magnets in the cat’s collar to open the cat door only for him. There are also just standard flap doors. These allow the cat to push into the door. These can be locked to only allow one way access – either in or out. Currently there is no RFID cat door available.

Now, where will the cat doors go? Cat window doors can be installed in basement windows to allow the cat access to the basement. Window cat doors are often long horizontally, as opposed to tall. A cat flap for a metal door is different than one for a glass door in the construction and the way you install them. You can put a cat door in any door you want for your cat – a screen door can even be made into a cat-friendly exit. Consult the instructions before attempting to install the cat doors.