Opening in wall for cat

[KYFARMER]

I have a metal barn with a concrete floor. The barn is cat proof but not mouse proof. I would like to cut a round hole in the metal wall and intall a short (one or two inches) length of pvc pipe to allow my full grown cat to enter.
Does anyone know how small a pipe I can use? Cat in a good healthy size but not huge.
Note: I want to keep hole as small as possible to prevent other animals from entering.

 

[Inspector507]

They make a pet door with a matching electronic collar. Only the animal wearing the right collar can enter through the door. I saw them at Home Depot.

 

[EdKing]

Measure the width of the cats whiskers, and go with a pipe just a little larger than that. Of course, if the cat can fit in, other cat size animals such as skunks, possums, racoons, etc., will also be able to get in.

 

[RanchMan]

I second Jerry's comment, although I've also seen a flavor of those doors that operate using a magnet instead of electronics. I didn't look too closely at them, but they seemed like a good idea to me.

 

[Inspector507]

Ranch Man
They called it electronic........but I think it may have just been a magnet as you said. If the pet doesn't have a magnetic collar on, the door will not open. It looks just like a regular pet door with the flexible flap, only it locks closed.

 

[RanchMan]

Jerry -
Could be - lots of stuff out there puts somewhat inaccurate info on their wares to make them sound "cool" or "high tech" - (Ahh - Marketing! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif)

I did a little search on the web and found that there are a LOT more auto-locking pet doors out there than I first imagined. It appears that some out there definitely use a system based on magnets /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif, some definitely use an electronic transmitter /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif, some - well, it's hard to tell. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

I pasted a couple of links down below for anyone who might be interested in checking them out. I've never seen one other than on my computer screen or on some store shelf, so I don't know how well they work, but it still seems like a good idea to me.

Enjoy! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

These places have both types...
http://www.catdoors.com/cgi/smart.cgi?command=listitems&type=group&group=electronic

This one's called "electronic" but uses a magnet just like you said...
http://www.hitecpet.com/autpetdoorfo1.html

 

[KYFARMER]

I broke down and purchased a cat door. It has a magnet that holds it closed. Now I have to train the cat to open it. I have read that you can prop it open at first and then gradually close it until the cat does it for itself. We will see. Thanks for the suggestions. Bill

 

[RanchMan]

Keep us informed as to how well it works. (I'm really curious.)

 

[Inspector507]

Put some food on the other side of that door....../w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[RanchMan]

You don't suppose his cat's name would be "Pavlov", do you???

/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[TimSullivan]

I have two cats trained to open a flap that is held closed by a spring. It took about two weeks of closing the door a little each day and now they just push it open and slide through. They also have learned to tuck their tails in so the door does not catch them. Both sides are inside the house so no unauthorized entries.

They can't go the other way but that was the design. If they are upstairs they can go to the basement to the liter but then they are stuck there. Well except when my dog pushes the door open with her nose to see where her buddies are and they slide on through. I could not figure out how the cats were opening the door from the basement side until saw the dog spring them.