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Cat door in window (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I have a horizontal gliding window that opens to my patio and I wanted to put a cat door in it so these little buggers can get out. I looked at buying one, but wow they're expensive.

My thoughts are to build a frame out of 1x1"s and have plexiglass in between it with one of those door flaps you can buy to install into it.

Would that work? Be sufficient enough? The window is never in the sun and not exposed to a lot of elements at all, so I don't think I need to go over the top.

And before anyone gets up in arms, the patio is netted in and the cats can't escape. They're not free roam, just allowed to be outside in their controlled area.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (7 children)

Seems fine. If you don't need to see out that part of the window you could just put the flap in a piece of plywood. Check the scrap bin at Lowe's for one that's close to the right size. Maybe put adhesive weatherstripping around the edge to hold it in well.

How did you net it? We have a small side yard that's fenced/gated. I've been wondering how i could cover it to give my kitties a play zone.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I just helped my folks turn a porch into a catio - we used a layer of chicken wire on the inside with a layer of fabric bug screen on the outside. Years ago one of our cats got startled and ran right through a screen on our screen porch (fell one story into deep snow and kept right on going. He was fine, my dad was pissed). For this one we built wooden frames and stapled the screen and chicken wire on and attached those to the porch with wood screws. You could run slats from house to fence for support.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

That's a good idea. I bet i can find pics or videos.

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