Manhole in the door for a cat, how to do?

The hole can be made both in the interior and in the front door. They differ in the type of structures.

Laz

The simplest solution is a cat hole in the door, that is, a small opening. How it will look depends on the owner. Some decorate the hole, others leave it undecorated.

The main advantage is that such a hole is very easy to make yourself. To do this, you just need to cut a hole in the door to fit the size of the pet (usually 15 by 15 cm) and beat its edges with felt, plastic or other material. It is important to do this so that the cat is not injured on the sharp wooden edges.

By the way, there is also a curious life hack: you can attach a brush-comb to the opening, it will collect the fallen hairs.

Laz also has disadvantages. For obvious reasons, it cannot be done at the front door. In addition, you should not experiment with the door to the toilet or the kitchen. Since the manhole does not have a sash, it does not block out smells and sounds. And it will be difficult to limit the movement of a cat around the house.

flip window

The design is a little more complicated. The hinged window looks like a manhole with a hinged sash. The sash rises at least 90 degrees in both directions. The pet opens the door, pushing it with its muzzle. A latch is also attached to this sash, which does not allow the cat to pass through.

The hinged window is suitable for interior doors: the sash does not let smells and sounds through. However, it is not recommended to install it on the front door, since the latch is too easy to break.

Special door

Progress does not stand still, and today manufacturers offer more and more advanced types of manholes. The latest novelty on the market is the electronic cat door.

The design is made of high quality plastic. It consists of two overlays-frames on the door, a small tunnel and the door itself. A magnet is built into this system, and an RFID tag is attached to the pet’s collar. When a cat approaches, the magnet reads the tag and the lock is released. A pet can pass without problems by pushing the door with its muzzle. But an outside cat or a miniature dog will not be able to enter, because it does not have a special label, so the sash will be blocked.

If your pet has a microchip, wearing a collar with a tag is not necessary at all: the system is able to remember the individual chip number. When a cat appears, the device will scan it. If you have several animals, it’s okay: the door memory can hold more than one number, it depends on the model and manufacturer.

The advantages of the electronic door for the cat are obvious: it is the best option for the front door, the safest and most practical. The main disadvantage is its cost.

How to train a cat to the door?

As practice shows, pets quickly understand why caring owners installed a manhole in the door. Only the construction with a sash can confuse them. But this is easy to fix, you just need to show the animal how it works:

• You will need a treat or a toy and a door design that has not yet been installed;

• Use the treat to beckon the cat through the window;

• First, open the door and let the pet through;

• After that, the result can be fixed by inviting the cat to open the door on its own;

• Does not work? Be patient. Instead of a treat, you can also use your favorite teaser toy.

Photo: Collection