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The Best Dog Doors and Cat Doors

Pet doors are the single most useful and essential pet product you can buy for your pet, and there are hundreds of doggy door options to choose from. Dog doors and cat doors help with potty training, free you from 'doorman' duty, and, most of all, give your pet freedom to go in and out as they please. Large dog doors give guard dogs access to every area of the property while pet doors for walls and pet doors for windows can give your pet an escape route in case of fire or other emergencies.

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Pet Doors FAQs

Are all pet doors weatherproof?

Some pet doors for dogs and cats guard against the weather better than others. A well-made pet door will keep the weather outside while letting your pets inside, as well as be durable enough to withstand the elements. The quality of the installation, from weatherstripping to caulking wall kits, usually determines how well a door holds up to weather. Top choices for weather-proof doors would be brands like Endura Flap or Hale. Check out the dog door reviews and see how our happy customers just rave about these brands.

How will a pet door handle home security?

Pet doors generally come with a way of closing the flap, whether it be a knob or a slide-in cover. In addition, some dog doors for small dogs and medium-sized dog door models are far too tiny for a full-grown person to fit through. The higher quality pet doors will have more secure locking covers to insert when you want to prevent anything from using your pet door. You can also purchase an additional steel security cover to fit over your pet door for more peace of mind. It goes especially well with dog doors for big dogs. Also, we have some cat doors that have one-way door locks and some that are electronic too.

Why would I pay hundreds of dollars for a pet door?

You pay for quality, so when you buy a more expensive pet door you are buying a higher degree of energy efficiency as well as durability. Better insulated pet doors will save you money on your AC/heating bills. Higher quality pet doors require fewer replacement parts, and usually carry better warranties than lower quality options. Better doors usually have cold weather resistance, a multi-year warranty, and be suitable for both dog owners and their pooch.

What if I want a good pet door but I’m on a budget? Is there a mid-range pet door?

There are pet doors available that will do a decent job while sticking to a tighter budget. They may need parts replaced after a rough season, but many customers have these pet doors last for years. Take a look at the Ideal Ruff Weather, Ideal Draftstopper, PetSafe Extreme Weather, or PetSafe Wall Entry pet doors.

Will I have to replace flaps and parts every year?

It depends on the pet door you choose. Higher quality pet doors may not require replacement flaps for your pet’s entire life, while less expensive pet doors might need new flaps after every rough season. If you don’t want to replace flaps, investing in one of the more expensive pet doors can pay off in the long run, as these heavy-duty and energy-efficient options last much longer.

Can I install the pet door myself, or do I need to hire a professional?

The level of difficulty varies for each type of pet door, and your skillset will determine if a professional will be needed. If you will be cutting a hole through your wall, we usually do recommend a professional since there are factors like electrical wires and pipes to be careful around. Cutting a hole through a door is much simpler, and if you have the right tools many people can manage that installation on their own. You would also want to check the local building code if you are looking to put this in a door through the garage, as there is not a fire-rated pet door and you don't want to violate any codes. To make the opening for the pet requires you to cut a hole in the door and once it is compromised you lose that rating, which is the reason there is no fire-rated pet door on the market, it's pretty much impossible to make. If you’re installing a no tools required patio panel insert or sash window insert, you can place the pet door in your track within minutes.

Where do I measure my pet for a pet door?

Measure your pet from the floor to just comfortably above the top of its back ('withers'). Don't measure to the top of your pet's head. All pets normally duck their heads when passing through a pet door and pick their paws up (unless they're ill or arthritic). For width, open a door the minimum distance the pet needs to walk through comfortably. Another approach is to cut an opening in a piece of cardboard and see if your pet can pass through it easily. Don't push.

We recommend that the top of the flap be about the same height as the top of the pet's shoulder. Remember to give a little extra height for a wall-thru installation or when tall and short pets must share the same door.

I took my new panel pet door home and it was too short (or too tall), what do I do?

A frequent misconception is that all sliding glass doors are the same height. People frequently say "I have a standard height sliding glass door". Not necessarily so. In fact, sliding glass doors vary in height from around 74" to over 10 feet in height and the maximum adjustment range of any pet door is only about 4". So, you really should take a moment to measure before you purchase.

How do I measure my sliding glass door for a pet door installation?

Measure inside the track, very top to the very bottom (see illustration), then select the door that falls within that height range. Remember that you'll need some clearance to get the door over the track wall and into the track.

Do you make a doggie door for conventional up-and-down sliding sash windows?

Yes, we do. The Thermo-Sash door is the perfect pet door for this.

Do you offer custom-sized pet doors?

Yes, we have a variety of custom sizes to choose from especially for French doors. There are custom-sized options for both door entry and wall entry and we've also got you covered if you need a dog or cat door for your unusual sliding glass door, or a sideways sliding glass window.

Do you make pet doors for my very large dog? He's over 220 lbs.

Yes, we carry many different sizes and for every installation type. We carry pet doors from small doors to large doors to Extra Large and even Giant-Sized.

I don't want to cut a hole in my front or back wooden door. What do you recommend?

See our line of through-wall, window, or sliding door patio door options. Basically, any place you can open a hole to the outside, you can install a pet door. Call us to discuss your particular problem and options like screen doors, custom-sized flap doors, and high-quality telescoping tunnels.

How can I keep my neighbor's cat (or other animals like skunks, etc) from using the pet door?

Choose an electronic pet door or electronic dog door. These are available for all installation types and all, generally, work the same way: Your pet wears a collar 'key' that the door responds to. They simply unlock and the pet pushes through as he would any pet door. You may use one of these doors to keep one animal in while letting another out. However, be careful here. Some of the smaller sizes control in only one direction. That is to say, they will not unlock for an animal coming in, but they will allow any animal that fits to go out. Others will control in both directions.

How do I adjust the magnet strength on my flap?

Only the Endura Flap has variable magnet strength. You can rearrange the magnets to either make them have increased wind resistance or to make it easier for pets to open. Large sizes will have more magnets and thus have a tougher magnetic closure.

I'm interested in getting a cat door, but all the openings seem very small. Can a cat really fit through it?

Most often, yes. Cats can fit through very small openings. The best way to tell if your cat will fit through an opening would be to get a piece of cardboard and cut out the dimensions of the pet door you are interested in. Try to get your cat to go through this opening. If you can get through it then the flap size should be fine. 

Can you close off the pet door when you're not using it?

Most pet doors (with the exception of kennel use type doors) will come with some way to close it off when not in use. The more common types are the slide in locking covers, such as with the Endura Flap Pet Doors, which provide a weather-resistant and secure cover. These ones will slide in from top to bottom. The Hale Pet Doors have a top load or a side load option available. There are also some locking covers that snap into the front of the pet doors. Cat flaps do not have a locking cover since the flap is rigid, but most will have either a 2-way lock or a 4-way lock.

What's the difference between a single flap and a double door or wall mount?

A single flap pet door has one flap in between the outside and the inside of your house. A double flap has two flaps, usually one on the inside and a second one on the outside of the house. Single flaps are cheaper and depending on your climate, a great choice. Double flaps insulate better and are recommended if you live in areas that get quite cold. Note that it takes a little more patience to train a dog or cat to use a double flap compared with a single flap.

My dog already uses a dog door. Will he have a hard time learning how to use the Endura Flap?

With the proper training, your dog should get the hang of it. To make it easier for your dog to learn how to push the flap open, you can adjust the magnet strength. With the proper training, your dog should get the hang of it.

I'm having trouble installing my door. Does PetDoors.com have any suggestions on how to install them?

Yes, we offer suggestions for how to install your pet door in various materials on our pet door problems page. You can also check out our DIY pet door installation page.

Does PetDoors.com perform installations in my area?

No, PetDoors.com only distributes and ships pet doors from our warehouse. If you need help finding an installer, please refer to our Professional Pet Door Installation page.

I want to replace my existing pet door with a different model, what should I do?

Most of the time you will have to amend the opening, but the only way to see if a replacement door would fit right into your existing cut out would be to measure your current opening. Then look for a product that has matching dimensions.

How high should I put the pet door?

Pet doors must be installed at least 1" above the tallest part of the dog's back and at least 3" from the floor so you do not jeopardize the integrity of the door. We strongly recommend measuring your pet.

I'm not sure if I fit into any of the above categories. I may have a special problem. May I call you for advice?

Of course. Call customer service toll-free at (800) 826-2871 8 am to 4:30 pm Mon-Fri. Patio Pacific is always committed to helping you solve any pet door problem you may have.

Where do I find dog door reviews?

Dog door reviews can be found by clicking on the Orange NNN Review(s). Look in the middle of the page in the Reviews tab. You may have to scroll down to see all reviews.

What are the flaps made of?

Some dog doors have vinyl flaps and aluminum frames, and some have plastic frames and rubber flaps. More high-quality doors will have sturdy frames, insulating door flaps, and technology around their mounting style, like telescoping frames on wall mount pet doors.

Pet Doors for People Doors Comparison Chart

Of all the pet doors we sell, pet doors for people doors are some of the most popular.

See a comparison of the characteristics of the best Pet Doors for Doors on the market.