Cat-door dilemma

July 22, 2005 4:21 PM

Cat-door query...

We are building a detached garage and will be acquiring a cat in the coming months. I am wondering if anyone has good experience with a mechanized/electronic/automatic cat door that will allow feline passage but restrict varmints. The internets are full of suggestions but most look suspect.

posted by docpops to Pets & Animals (8 answers total)

Nothing as fancy as this?
posted by Catch at 4:49 PM on July 22, 2005

There are catdoor/magnetized collar solutions in Petsmart that are solid. The bigger problem will be working out a system so that the cat can't go out when the varmits (either of the diseased or big-teethed variety) are also outside.
posted by dness2 at 4:52 PM on July 22, 2005

Unless you're in a really infested area, most cats will have no problems restricting the varmits without mechanical assistance.
posted by nenequesadilla at 6:13 PM on July 22, 2005

Well, no cat I ever owned would tolerate wearing a collar so I couldn't say. I do know that no varmint smaller than another tougher, meaner cat ever dared come through my cat door. And when one did I kicked its ass and that was that.
posted by Decani at 7:58 PM on July 22, 2005

I came home one night to find that racoons had come in through the cat door. They're really cute, but not good to have in the house. The terrified cats were hiding. Resolved by latching the cat door when the humans were not home.
posted by Mom at 8:45 PM on July 22, 2005

Lots of good suggestions were offered when I asked a similar question last year. Hope one of them helps!
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 10:01 PM on July 22, 2005

I've got a magnetic cat door. The cats only took a few days to get used to the collar. They're quite cheap and work OK. They come with quite a long guarantee, which means that when they do stop working you can just write off for another one.

The only thing that comes through mine which shouldn't is a massive neighbourhood tom we've nicknamed "ginger fucker". I've yet to work out whether he gets in because he's got the same type of collar, or whether he gets in through being very strong.
posted by handee at 5:09 AM on July 23, 2005

Racoons will get in no matter what system you use. They will bust out the plastic door of the magnetic system. If the door is too small, they have also been known to tear out the entire flap and frame to make a large enough hole (this happened to my parents). My solution to such problems was to get a dog. Worked like a charm, and I've even seen my cats a few time since as well!
posted by johngumbo at 12:36 PM on July 23, 2005