One thing about cats, which most cat owners know, is that they act like you’re there to serve them. Admit it, that princess-like behavior is part of what allures us to them. Mind you this behavior is also a source of problems for some cat owners. Cats holed up and lacking the chance to explore and roam around can become problems. Should your cat now have its own path out of the house, you might get pestered all day to let it out, until you give in. Later, you’ll worry whether they tried to come back and you weren’t there to let them in. One solution to this is to start shopping for cat flaps – unless you want to both get constantly annoyed by the pestering and the follow up worry.
Pet doors for cats are basically frames with plastic flaps that usually swing open both ways. Most models offer a simple but effective plastic flap you install on your door, but with other models, the flap has settings like open only, close only, open both ways, and lock. With some models, you can have a setting wherein the flap opens and then locks – good when you’re waiting for your cat to get home. Once your cat comes home, it stays home.
There various cat flaps that can be installed on many types or doors, and even on walls. Sometimes the wall is thick that extra tunnels are needed to extend the frame into the wall. For those cat owners aware that cat flaps can let the heat out, there are insulated cat flaps that minimize energy loss through three (not just one) flap used. This minimizes the heat loss every time the flap opens. The idea is one flap open means another behind it already closed off.
Cat flaps are also generally smaller than those used by dogs. Because of that they are much less prone to being used by burglars. Also, be sure to install the cat flap at the lowest point of your door. This is convenient for your cat, as it can simply walk in or out.
If you’re still thinking that other animals, like racoons, or your neighbor’s cat, or even a small child, can get through the flap, you should consider getting automatic pet doors or flaps. With automatic flaps, your cat wears a collar that triggers the door to open when the cat is near it, and close when your cat has walked a distance from it. So your cat has to be near the door; animals without the collar cannot enter. You do need to check up regularly on the collar’s batteries – if it ever runs out and you’re not at home, your cat may not be able to get out of or get in your house (since the door won’t activate).
Remember to settle down on normal or automatic cat flaps, whether to get one for door or wall installation, whether extra tunnels are needed, and whether you want insulated cat flaps.
