Cat flap

Cat flap in use

A cat flap (also known as a cat door or, in particular, slightly larger models as a dog door or dog flap ) is a passage for cats or dogs to enable them to enter and exit houses, apartments and interiors independently of humans. It is usually installed in doors, windows or in masonry.

Original cat flap

Cat flap flaps usually consist of a simple one-way or two-way flap mounted in a frame. A brush seal is usually used to reduce the draft . Pet flaps are not completely draft-free and are not suitable for use in passive houses . Likewise, usual cat flaps do not close watertight, in particular not driving rain- proof .

4-way closure

larger flap for dogs

4-way controller on a cat flap for the options “access only” or “exit only”, both or “closed”; on the right in the picture: RFID-controlled locking pin

Many cat flaps have a mechanism that controls access. The direction in which the flap opens can be set using a slide or lever. Here you can set that the flap is completely closed or can be opened on both sides, as well as only on one side, so that a pet can only walk in or only out.

access control

Electronically controlled cat flaps are increasingly used. The pet wears a collar with an infrared transmitter, magnetic key or RFID transponder or an implanted transponder . A corresponding receiver in the flap then only releases the path for the appropriately equipped animals. This is usually to prevent strange animals from entering certain areas, usually the house or apartment of the pet owner. In the meantime, however, flaps are also available that allow control in both directions and thus z. B. only allow certain animals of a holder to move freely. Most models are battery operated.

In addition, some electronic flaps have a twilight sensor that, if required, locks the flap to the outside in the dark, or a time control with which the passage can be limited in time.

Tightly closing pet doors

In contrast to simple swing doors of the cat flaps, fully insulated and tightly closing access options, which are then predominantly referred to as pet doors , usually require a power connection, respond to implanted or in a collar pet chips and open or close the door by means of an electric motor without this Animal would have to touch the door or a trigger. The U-value is, according to a European producer at up to 0.523 W / (m²K) In English-speaking respective doors with waterproof and gedämmtem vertical closure are available.

Web links

Commons : pet door - collection of pictures, videos, and audio files

Wiktionary: cat flap - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

↑ PetWalk: Technical data

[1] PetWalk: Technical data