Pet Doors Make Life Easier for Everyone

If you´re tired of constantly having to get up and open and close the door to let your pets in and out, patio pet doors are an easy and convenient solution.

Pet doors are available for cats and dogs of just about any size. Most of these doors have some kind of vinyl, weather-resistant flap that´s easy enough for the animal to nudge through but heavy enough to keep the weather outside. Electronic access systems, linked via radio frequency to your pet´s collar, help keep uninvited guests out. These units don´t even have to be near a wall outlet because, in some cases, they run off of a 9-volt battery.

Often used by cat owners to keep raccoons out, the electronic door locks and unlocks when the animal gets near the door. This way, raccoons, squirrels and stray cats cannot get in. Raccoons are quite common in suburban areas, as they can smell cat and dog food that´s been left outside.

One electronic cat door uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags for up to eight cats, allowing the owner to control the access of each tagged cat. This model, like some others, had a timer to restrict access at certain times of the day. This option comes in handy if you don´t want your cats prowling around outside at night.

The pet doors range from tool-free set ups for the typical patio dog doors that everyone has seen, to semi-permanent ones for wooden doors or brick walls. Some pet doors are designed for window installation. These are called ´sash window inserts´ and install like a room air conditioning unit. This is a good option for pet owners who own cats and dogs. This is a cost-effective way of letting the cat get out while restricting the dog to the inside or outside.

They also come in all kinds of styles to match just about any decor. Price will depend on what kind of features and installation you want. A custom French-door with electronic locks will be more expensive than a sliding patio-door style set up. If you go the custom door route, the larger the opening the more expensive the door will be.

Speaking of size, it´s always important to measure your dog or cat from the shoulders to the ground and make allowances for growth and pregnancy. Also, consider the number of pets you have and if they tend to race in or out at once. A larger pet door would be a better choice in this case. Also, consider ramps if you have older pets.