Models of cat doors for entrance and toilet doors

Having a pet in the house imposes a number of responsibilities on the owners, which include not only providing food, veterinary care and hygiene procedures.

Felines, as bright representatives of freedom-loving animals, should be able to move freely throughout the house and go outside at any time. To make this possible without human intervention, a cat door, purchased at a pet store or made by hand, is installed in the door leaf.

Making a door for a cat with your own hands

It’s rare that a cat owner isn’t familiar with this phenomenon: it’s 5 am, and the cat outside the door is showing impatience and sometimes making very loud noises. You have to get up, open the door for your furry pet, and then wait until the latter returns home and open and close the entrance door again.

Cat door

However, this problem can be solved, especially when it comes to a private home.

Installation of door extensions.

Extensions are installed only if the wall thickness is much greater than the thickness of the door frame. If the wall thickness is 2-3 cm greater, then you can do without additional additions, but you will need telescopic platbands. They are made in the form of a corner and allow you to cover part of the wall. In addition, the door frame must be adapted for this type of platbands; it must have the necessary grooves.

Interior door installation diagram.

So, let's set the extras:

Let's start with the top panel. We measure the doorway from the side where the extension will be installed.

We measure the doorway.

• Cut the additional strip to the required size.
• We install the extension in place and note how much it needs to be trimmed so that it is flush with the wall.

We make markings on the board.

Cut the extension to the required size.

We're sawing more.

We install the extension into the doorway and wedge it.

The extension is installed in the doorway and secured with wedges.

We do the same with the side panels: measure, cut and install in the opening.

The side and top panels are installed.

We apply foam between the doorway and the extensions. At the junction of the extension and the door frame, we apply a continuous layer of foam. Thus, when the foam expands, it will tightly press the extension to the box. In all other places, foam should be applied pointwise, in small quantities. This volume of foam will be enough to firmly glue the extensions. If you apply a lot of foam, the foam will squeeze the extensions into the inside of the opening.

We foam the space between the extension and the doorway.

cat door

There are many such devices. You can always purchase the best option at a pet store, and in extreme cases, making it yourself is not so difficult - unless we are talking about a metal entrance structure, of course.

Choosing finished products, as well as imagining your own handicraft, must take into account several factors:

• purpose of the passage - the door is installed only so that the cat can toilet, but also so that the animal can freely move from room to room, go out onto the loggia, and so on;

• material - the product can be made of aluminum, plastic, wood. The choice depends mainly on the sash material;
• sizes - from 10*10 to 15*15 cm, in some cases this is not enough;
• variety - there are several different types of models. Of course, it’s difficult to give an animal a choice, but the owner needs to take design features into account when choosing.

Selection of quality accessories in the store

To choose the right door model for your pet, you need to answer a number of questions:

• where the passage should go - various rooms, a bathroom, a balcony, a street;
• the size and material of the product into which the cat doors will be installed;
• dimensions of the animal;
• a type of door that your pet will like.

The best way to choose the right type of aisle for your cat is to take your four-legged friend with you to the store. There, professionals will correctly calculate the dimensions of the animal and select the best option. If it is not possible to bring an animal with you, it is worth deciding in advance on the size of the pet, as well as the place where the selected product will be embedded.

There are certain brands that offer quality products. The most popular doors on our market are doors from Trixie and Ferplast. You can also purchase the desired product online, but you will have to pay extra for delivery.

Cat flap in door

Products are produced in 3 main types.

• Manhole - made in the form of a window or tunnel and is intended mainly for installation on interior models. This device does not have its own flaps; in fact, it is a version of the hole. At best, it is equipped with a curtain that acts as a brush. When a cat goes to the toilet, it also cleans its fur. The downside of the product is that the curtain does not protect against smell and noise. The animal will not shit under the door, but the smell remains audible. In the photo there is a hole for a cat.
• The window is equipped with a sash mounted on hinges. The door opens freely, the animal can push it in any direction when entering or leaving the room. The smell is thus blocked. If desired, a lock or latch is installed on the door when they want to close the room from the cat.

The downside of the product is that the lock is unreliable. So this option is not suitable for the front door. In addition, the sash makes a rather loud sound when it opens or closes.

• The door itself is, or rather, a tunnel with a hinged flap. Typically made of wood or plastic. The presence of a tunnel makes it difficult to use such a model for unauthorized access to the house. However, the product is noticeably more expensive. But if cats shit under the front door, then this option can be considered the best. The photo shows the finished product.

Modern modifications can provide other benefits. For example, folding tunnel doors with a magnetic latch. The magnet is weak enough, the animal can easily open the doors, but at the same time they immediately slam shut and close tightly. Thus, the home remains protected from insects, and heat will not escape through a loosely closed hole.

Ferplast Swing Microchip

Automatic cat door with microchip detector made of brown plastic. The unique system, which includes a microchip, is patented by Ferplast.

The model is suitable for installation in glass, plastic and wooden doors, as well as in walls. The opening system works as follows: the antenna reads the microchip that is installed in the cat’s collar when it approaches the door.

The door memory can store 32 ISO chips at a time. Chips are written to the system memory by pressing the memory button.

The entry and exit indicator informs the owner where the pet is currently located. It has 4 operating modes: input, output, closed and microchip input. Product dimensions: 22.5×25.2 cm.

• Plus: suitable for installation in entrance doors.
• Disadvantage: high cost.

Price: 17998 rub. More details about the product

Flamingo leaf door

The plastic leaf door (window type) has two working positions: entry, exit. The model is made of high quality white plastic.

Suitable for inserting into glass and wooden interior doors. Product dimensions: 19.2x20 cm. Passage depth: 16.5x17.4 cm.

The passage opening can be expanded with additional tunnels, which must be purchased separately.

• Plus: easy to install.
• Minus: not suitable for entrance doors.

Price: 1068 rub. More details about the product

Extended XL cat door Trixie 3867

The larger model TX-3867 can be installed on doors with a thickness of 17-34 mm. With the help of additional tunnel elements, the passage depth can be expanded to 45 mm.

The door is fixed in a vertical position using a magnetic clamp at the bottom of the product immediately after the cat passes through - this is protection from drafts. The presence of a sealing edging allows for silent closing of the sash.

• Plus: it closes without slamming.
• Cons: high price.

Price: 1850 rub. More details about the product

Ferplast Swing 7 set

The automatic folding model for cats and small dogs made of non-toxic plastic is equipped with a draft prevention system. Works in 4 modes, has 4 locking directions.

Installed in doors made of glass, wood, metal or in walls. The last passage indicator helps the owner to know where the animal is: on the street or in the house.

The door is opened using a magnetic key, which is attached to the animal's collar. Product size: 25.2×22.5 cm. Passage depth: 9.6 cm.

• Plus: automatic opening using a magnetic key.
• Disadvantage: high cost.

Price: 2999 rub. More details about the product

Advantages and disadvantages of the solution

Constructing a manhole with your own hands or purchasing a finished product is actually a very practical solution.

• There is no need to purchase cat litter, and this significantly reduces costs.
• The animal does not shit under the door or in any other place, since it can always come out.
• Eliminates the need to clean cat litter.
• The risk of infection to people is reduced, since the cat does not spread the filler on its paws. And the latter absorbs smell, dirt, and pathogenic microflora.

Do-it-yourself door for a cat to the toilet

The technology for making such a craft is very simple. As a rule, the doors themselves are made of wood. Since such material is almost always available to the home craftsman. However, you can use plastic sheets, cable, and fabric.

1. Remove the door from its hinges and place it on a flat surface.
2. Cut a hole in the canvas of the required size - from 10*10 to 15*15 cm.

In this form, the sash can be installed back: the hole is enough so that the cat does not shit under the door, but passes through freely. However, the appearance of this design is not aesthetic and does not protect against odor.

1. Make 4 wooden planks according to size and close the ends of the resulting hole.
2. Hinges or hinges are attached to the opening, depending on whether the doors will rotate or tilt.
3. The door is cut out of light wood or a sheet of plastic and hung on hinges. The cat opens the door only lightly, without effort, so the rotation should be very light.
4. The interior or entrance door is installed in its original place.

This video demonstrates how to make a cat door yourself.

We make it ourselves: choosing materials and components

The main tools of masters and craftswomen here are imagination, design skills and small financial investments. On the Internet there are many photos and videos of homemade windows - these are just passages in the form of old frames, and cut plastic bottles, and even creative ones with carvings. There is a lot of room for imagination here; you can combine different ideas or create and invent something new.

What materials and components may be needed:

1. Tree. More often, the jamb for the manhole is made of wood, and the door itself can also be made of wood.
2. Plastic is the most common and cheapest material. Cable ducts and various pieces of sheets are used to make passages for cats.
3. Rubber is necessary for insulation and lining to prevent doors and windows from knocking.
4. Espagnols and hinges ensure the mobility of the product.
5. Fabric or other decorations.

With your own hands, you need to assemble the product according to your taste and size, usually 10x10 cm or 15x15 cm. Before installation, you need to check the operation of all parts, including locks, hinges and latches.

Installation

The most cumbersome and rather difficult thing is to install the device yourself.

There are specific instructions for this:

1. Remove the desired door from its hinges and place it on a flat surface.
2. Measure and cut a hole in it at the desired height from the floor.
3. We install hinges and hinges or other parts of your passage.
4. Put your door back in place.

Manholes for dogs and cats are sold in various sizes. The packaging contains information regarding the size of the hole and the weight of the animal. Models designed for a small dog are suitable for a cat. The largest door is expensive; large, strong dogs need a durable, massive structure. Some models are designed for animals weighing up to 100 kg.

DIY cat door

Sometimes it may seem that your beloved cat wants to unsettle you due to its desire to move freely around the house. Now she needs to go to the balcony, now from the balcony, now into the room, now out of the room. And every now and then you have to walk behind your pet and open and close the door while caring for it. What to do in such a situation? Some owners prefer to install a cat door themselves rather than endlessly groom their pet.

Such a door will allow the cat to independently enter and exit from one room to another whenever she wants. A quality cat door can be installed in both interior and exterior door systems. The simplest cat door can be made using wood or plastic. To ensure safety, the structure is equipped with a latch and a sash.

Make holes

Press the drill bit firmly into each corner to create a small dent about half a centimeter from the guide. This will keep your drill bit from wandering as you drill through the steel. Once you have placed a dent in each corner, place the point of the drill bit into the dent and begin drilling slowly. You must go straight down through the door, thereby creating one hole in each corner.

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Types of passages for pets

All designs have their own distinctive features; as for the cat door, it may differ in size and type of material. To make a passage for an animal, in addition to plastic and wood, aluminum can also be used.

The simplest option, which is most popular, is a manhole in the form of flaps. The frame for it is made of aluminum, and the doors are made of plastic. Such a door, made by yourself, will not affect the degree of thermal insulation in the house. Therefore, it can even be installed on an external door system.

If you are afraid that a strange cat will enter your house, then you can purchase a special sensor that receives and transmits a signal that comes from a microchip built into the cat’s collar. This means that besides your pet, no one else will get into the house. However, before you get started, you should measure the dimensions of the cat, which will allow you to decide on the size and shape of the door.

In pet stores, you can be offered 3 options for doors for animals: a window, a manhole and a door. Before you make any of these options yourself, familiarize yourself with the features of these devices. The manhole allows the cat access from one room in the house to another or provides access to the street. As a rule, the manhole does not have doors and is installed in interior door structures. The disadvantage of this move for the cat is the penetration of foreign odors and noises from one room to another.

Electronic door

The design of the product is similar to a mortise door, but is supplemented with electronic sensors that protect the entrance from the entry of foreign animals into the home. Electronic doors are opened using a chip built into the collar of a domestic cat.

This system is ideal for country houses, since with the help of sensors you can track the movements of the animal and always know where it is.

Cat door. Do it yourself!

To avoid mistakes, plan your work on arranging a cat hole and follow the plan exactly. To begin, remove the door in which you plan to install a shutter for your pet from its hinges. Place it on a flat surface.

Now cut a hole at the bottom of the door leaf, which can be from 10x10 cm to 15x15 cm. It all depends on the size of your pet. To ensure your door remains aesthetically pleasing, the base of the cat hole should be treated to form a frame. At the top of the cat hole, install swivel and swivel hinges or hinges. Now fasten the finished doors on their hinges and install the door leaf in place.

A cat toilet door made of wood may be too heavy for the animal, which is why your pet will not be able to open it. Therefore, perhaps the best option would be to install a plastic door. A latch, for example, a regular latch, can act as a lock.

If you have any questions about making a door for a cat, then write comments on the article.

Work order

The primary task is to determine the area on the door for installing the cat pass. The easiest way is to cut out a small entrance for the animal in a wooden door leaf. It is more difficult to do this in metal or glass. Therefore, a cat door is planned at the stage of arranging the entrance passage, then it can be installed in the door with your own hands without any problems.

Standard models do not provide additional passages for pets, so it is recommended to make metal-plastic or steel door structures to order. And you can install the cat door itself.

To calculate the parameters of the door, you must first measure the pet, taking into account the possible growth if it is still young. A cat, cat or dog should be comfortable going through the hole in the door. The optimal hole diameter for cats is 15-20 cm.

After determining the design parameters, appropriate markings are made on the front door leaf. After this, it must be removed from the hinges, placed on a flat horizontal surface, for example, a table, and carefully cut a hole for the hole along the marking lines.

Templates are sold specifically for such purposes, which are fixed to the door with adhesive tape. With its help, the hole is as smooth as possible. And the procedure itself does not take much time, the main thing is to position the template exactly in the center of the canvas.

Next, using a template or self-made markings, holes of the required diameter are drilled into the door so that a jigsaw file can fit into them. It is recommended to carry out all work related to cutting in special clothing and safety glasses.

The next step is to draw straight lines along the contour of the finished holes to connect them, insert a jigsaw and cut out the material. If you plan to make the door yourself, then this cut-out piece of canvas will work best.

A DIY cat door is carefully sanded with sandpaper, then the dust is completely removed. Then the finished door is applied to the hole, and the matches of the parameters are checked. The door mounting points are marked on the door leaf and holes are drilled for the mounting bolts.

Door fixation options may vary depending on its shape. After completing the assembly of the structure, it must be completely cleaned of dust and checked for functionality. The hole for the cat is ready, all that remains is to teach your pet how to use it. If desired, the structure can be decorated with some other more attractive material.

Main types

Cat doors come in different types. Manhole is the simplest option. This is an interior solution, since it is not suitable for the role of an entrance door. This is a kind of hole through which the cat gets into the room it needs. In order not to spoil the design of the apartment, the manhole is made in an interesting and original shape. You can install special brushes. When the animal enters the room, excess hair will remain on the brush. Such a unique passage will become an ally in the fight for cleanliness.

The disadvantage of this design is that, if necessary, it is impossible to isolate the pet. Also, the hole will not be able to prevent foreign odors and sounds from entering the room.

Window

A window differs from a manhole in the presence of a movable door. It consists of a metal or wooden frame and a movable plastic plate. Just like a manhole is not suitable for the front door, since uninvited guests, such as stray cats, can enter the house through it. If you install a sash lock, you can prevent the neighbor's cats from entering the apartment, but this process will also have to be controlled by the owners.

Window with sash

The simple design resembles a manhole, complemented by a hinged door. The opening is usually rectangular or square in shape and is covered by a door that can operate in both directions.

• The door opens by simply pressing the head.
• With its help, you can limit the cat's movement by installing a clamp.
• The product is mounted, like a manhole, on interior doors or at the entrance of country houses.

Its main drawback is the loud knocking sound when the sash is closed and the risk of pinching your pet's tail.

What to consider when choosing

When choosing a door for a cat, you should first decide: it will be a passage to the toilet or for other interior movements. Perhaps through the hole the pet will go out onto the loggia or onto the street. You will also have to choose the material from which the door will be made. Next, you should decide on the size and think about which type will suit you and your pet best.

If you are the owner of several purrs, then count on the most well-fed one. Add 5 cm to all parameters of the animal - this will be the size of the passage. If you don't want your sleep to be interrupted by a slamming door, don't cut a window into your bedroom door. Place such structures on the doors to the bathroom and toilet rooms.

Rating of cat doors

1. Trixie window for cats;
2. Ferplast Swing Microchip – automatic door with microchip detector;
3. Flamingo leaf door;
4. Trixie 3867 XL Large Cat Door;
5. Ferplast Swing 7 set – with magnet.

Trixie cat window – choice for interior doors

The passage for a cat in the door is like a “window”. The model is made of white plastic. The movable shutter is transparent. Suitable for cats of all ages and small breed dogs. Product dimensions: 17.7×18.7 cm. Hole depth – 17-34 mm. The depth can be expanded with additional elements.

• Plus: quiet mechanism.
• Minus: does not have locks.

Price: 1742 rub. More details about the product

How to make it yourself

Tools and materials

Having studied the listed types of cat doors, you can see that such a design can be made with your own hands. So, if you have already chosen the appropriate option, then decide on the material. You will need:

The frame must be wooden; the door is also made from this material. Plastic is an inexpensive material; manholes are made from it. Rubber is useful for increasing sound insulation; it is laid around the perimeter of the door. You can decorate the passage with fabric.

Types of shutters for cats

Passage

Today, stores offer cat and dog owners a huge assortment of windows, manholes and even tunnels designed for the convenience of moving pets around the apartment or from home to the street. Some of them can be ordered. But why overpay if even a beginner can handle this type of construction work with his own hands?

The simplest design for a cat, made independently, is a hole corresponding to the size of the pet, without a sash. Of course, there is no question of openings in the front door - this is, rather, an interior option.

If you are worried that the cat may get injured, the opening can be treated with a smooth, soft and pleasant-to-touch cloth, preferably with lint. At the moment of sliding in the hole, such “upholstery” will allow you to collect shedding hair from the animal.

The only drawback is that there are situations when the animal needs to be isolated from the premises for a while. For a particularly persistent dog or cat, you will need to move heavy furniture and cover the opening with it, which is not very convenient, especially if there is no man nearby. You should also forget about sound insulation - extraneous noises and odors will penetrate into the room, no matter how hard you try to get rid of it.

Window in the door

Another example of a DIY cat device is a door that swings open thanks to a hinge mechanism. Although the product does not have sufficient tightness, the isolation from the outside world is already noticeable compared to the previous copy. The light weight of the door allows the pet to freely open it with the front part of its body, after which the door slams shut on its own.

One of the noticeable shortcomings is that when closing, the sash hits the frame, causing a loud knock to be heard. The folding window for cats today is considered an obsolete item.

Mortise device

A mortise door is a device that looks great. The product can be made of wood or plastic and can be created in many ways. As for the structure, it is equipped with individual parts and a connecting tunnel.

The hatch is located in the formed hole in the wall plane, thus masking the cut areas. Before fixing the passage in the doors for a cat or dog, you must first take measurements of the thickness of the door panel. Tunnels are usually fastened together in several pieces at once; as an option, they can be trimmed, which means there is no particular difficulty in selecting the required size.

The door, made of treated wood or high-strength thermoplastic, is durable and resistant to moisture. Equip a rim on the outer surface of the sashes and frame, which helps close the hole quite easily and hermetically - the closure itself occurs without any noise or knocking.

Electronic cat door

A magnet equipped on one side reliably holds the door closed, but does not interfere with the movement of the dog or cat. Moreover, the door will not swing limply under the influence of wind and draft.

On sale you can see products equipped with an electronic cat door; you won’t be able to make one yourself. The device is computerized; a collar is included with the electronic device, which is put on the animal. A program is activated on the display that identifies this particular collar and allows only the pet wearing it into the house.

Especially expensive devices help determine the location of pets, namely the vector of their movement. How does it work? If an animal is in the house, the LED changes color, and vice versa.

A simple door option for cats and dogs

If you want to make a cat flap with your own hands, first of all, go shopping and choose a cat flap that you like. Visually study the intricacies of manufacturing and start purchasing the necessary materials.

So, you will need a sheet of transparent plastic; you can get it by cutting it, for example, from the lid of a bucket. A wooden device is not suitable - the cat is unlikely to want to open the heavy door. A latch or latch is suitable for the lock. Installed locking devices on each side of the door will allow you to close the structure exclusively at the exit from the room or at the entrance.

Repair and construction work is carried out with a previously removed door structure placed on a flat surface, be it a large table or the floor.

If you have additional questions about how to make a door for a cat and dog with your own hands, the following video will help you understand the nuances of the process:

Choosing models

Interior doors

The market offers models of canvases made in various styles: classic, high-tech, modern. They differ from each other in the type of assembly:

• Shield ones. Consists of a durable wooden frame. The outer planes of the sections are decorated with laminate, veneer, and other finishing materials. If provided by the project, cut out a hole for decoration or glazing.
• Paneled. The basis of the frame is massive bars. Finishing - from straight or shaped boards, combined with decorative materials.
• Tsargovye. The wooden frame is filled with horizontal bars. Very durable and massive construction. The bars look harmonious with glass and decorative finishes.
• Molded. Lightweight, simple design with a frame made of metal or slats. For reliability, it has an additional vertical stand. The free space is filled with unbreakable glass or transparent plastic. Decorative elements made of metal or wood are used for weighting

All designs for zoning space are equally convenient, but differ in the way they open.

Swing

Swing doors

Swing

The type of construction that occurs more often than others, it is familiar to everyone from childhood. When installing doors of this type, take into account the location of the future passage, as well as the size of the room. When opened, the doors should not occupy most of the room. They are opened by swinging forward or backward; models are single-leaf or double-leaf.

For a narrow opening, install a single-leaf swing door. Such sections are usually built in the bathroom, kitchen, balcony and other small rooms with high humidity, so the material selected for them is moisture- and steam-resistant. Since the doors of such rooms are constantly in use, the design and fittings must be durable to withstand the loads.

For large rooms with wide passages, a double-leaf swing door is suitable. The main canvas can be solid or with glass inserts.

During installation, it is determined which side the structure will open to - the location of the canopies depends on this.

Sliding

Sliding doors

Sliding

To save room space, install interior sliding doors with your own hands. By type of opening they are:

• Bivalve. Two doors, opening, move apart in different directions. The design of the roller mechanism determines whether the doors will open simultaneously or each separately, regardless of the position of the other.
• Recoil. Suitable for small openings. They are a single-leaf section that moves along guides in a one-way manner.
• Cassette. When opened, the sections hide into the wall rather than moving along it. To install such a structure, it is necessary to widen the opening and make an additional niche in the wall. The finished structure, opening the opening, takes up minimal space

A type of sliding structure includes sliding doors. They are installed along guides of varying lengths. They can consist of several doors, which, when moving, act as a transformer - they can become a solid wall or create a single space between rooms.

If you need to repair the cassette door, you will need to dismantle the wall.

Folding

Folding doors

Folding Features of the mechanism allow interconnected sections to fold like a fan. Accordion doors are compact and convenient, but when folded, the sections block part of the doorway. Installing them is not difficult at all; it can even be done from two blinds.

Exclusive

Exclusive doors

Exclusive For lovers of the exotic, there are a lot of thematic options for making door panels. Ordinary sliding doors made in Japanese style are increasingly gaining popularity. A wooden lattice made of thin slats is installed on the frame, and the thinnest transparent rice paper is attached to them. The paper perfectly transmits natural light, and the structure itself gives an oriental flavor to the room.

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