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Best Cat Door for a Garage Door: Cat Flap Guide

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Let’s look at the best cat door for a garage door. These cat flaps will let your pet come and go as he pleases. 

Cats can be unpredictable sometimes. There are times that they want to snuggle up inside your home, but other times all they want to do is explore the great outdoors.

When your cat is used to both the indoors and outdoors, you may not always be there to let your pet out and back in. That’s when a cat door comes in handy.

When buying a cat door, however, there are many factors to consider, and it is easy to become overwhelmed. Luckily for you, we’ve created this guide to help make the process much easier. We’ll go over specific features, problems, and use cases, so you can have a better idea of what to look for in a cat door.

Should you install a cat door in your garage?

Garage cat doors are best for cats who spend time in your garage (like if their litter box is located there) so they know they can go in and out. Perhaps your cat loves going outside at night, and you want him to have an indoor space to retreat to in case the weather gets bad. It may be best to install a cat flap on your garage or shed door. 

Installing a cat door on a garage door rather than your home’s front door means that your cat won’t be able to disturb you during the night. You also won’t have other cats or wildlife coming into your home. Another benefit of giving your cat access to your garage at night rather than your house is that it will stop your pet bring mice and other prey into your home. 

When installing a cat door into your garage, you may also want to consider how frequently you will use it, as a cat trying to get through the door that is in use can create safety hazards.

Best Cat Door For Garage Door: Buying Guide

It’s easy to just purchase the first cat door you see without thinking about how it might fit in your home. Here, we will give you a buying guide to help you make sure you know all the crucial factors to consider.

We will give you everything you need to know about buying a cat door for your garage door, including what to look for, the types and fits of doors, sizes, and technology, so you will feel confident in purchasing the best door for your feline friend.

What to Look for in a Cat Door

When purchasing a cat door for a garage door, it is important to know all the aspects and issues that can come with having a door, so you will be able to pick something that works best for you. Before purchasing a cat door, it is important to note specific features you would like. For example, do you want your door open all the time? Would you like to be able to control when your cat enters and exits? Would you like to ensure only your cat can come into your home?

Keep your preferences in mind, as many different types of doors can fit almost any situation. 

Types of Cat Flaps and Doors

When you think of cat doors, you likely think of the simple flap doors that fit into a door or garage door and are always open. While these doors are still available and can be a great option, other types of doors, like locking and high-tech doors, are available.

Cat doors these days can include locking systems. So, if you do not want your cat venturing out at night, you can manually lock the door to keep your cat inside.

Cat doors include features like microchips and electronically controlled locking systems. These control when your cat comes in and out and ensure that only your cat is allowed in.

Checking the Fit of Your Cat Door

Before you create holes in your door or garage door, you will want to be sure that your cat door will fit properly. You must check the thickness and type of door to ensure a good fit.

The thickness of your door should be greater than an inch to support most cat doors. You can reinforce your door if it is too thin, but be aware that some cat doors will not fit doors that are too thick.

When installing a cat door in a garage door, you must know what type of door you have. If your garage door has panels, the panel where you’re installing the door should be slightly larger than the cat door for proper installation. 

Cat Door Sizes

For your cat’s safety, it is vital to know their exact measurements before purchasing a cat door. To do this, be sure to measure both your cat’s width and height.

To get an accurate measure of width, take a tape measure and horizontally measure the widest part of your cat. For height, measure vertically.

Cat Door Technology

Technology like microchips and four-way cat doors can control who comes in and out of your cat door and when they do.

Cat door microchips can help you keep unwanted visitors from your home. These doors come with a reader that scans a microchip in your cat’s collar to let them in or out automatically. The door will not open if an animal without the correct chip approaches it.

Four-way doors are usually manually controlled and help you only let your cat in or out at certain times of the day. You can set them to be on or off entirely, or you can calibrate them to let your cat out but not back in, or in but not back out.

Cat doors can be fancy these days, so high-tech cat doors may be a good choice for you if you and your feline have specific needs.

Cat Flap FAQs

Here are some commonly asked questions about cat flaps, doors, and portals:

How do I keep other animals from using my cat door?

You can buy a cat door that requires a microchip to open or get one with a manual lock that you can control.

Can I install a cat door in any door?

Most cat doors will fit into any type of door, but check the measurements and door type before making any holes.

What is the best type of cat door?

The best type of cat door for you depends on your needs. If you want to be able to let your cat in and out at specific times, a four-way door may be best. If you’re concerned about other animals coming into your home, a microchip-controlled door may be best.

How do I install a cat flap?

Most cat doors come with installation instructions. Once you have the right door, follow the instructions to install it on your door or garage door. If you’re unsure, you can always ask a professional to install it.

Conclusion

We know there’s a lot of information out there on cat doors. We hope this guide has made the cat door buying process less overwhelming and will help you find a cat door that fits your needs.

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