Security Pet Doors

The types and benefits of security pet doors

One of the concerns often expressed about pet doors is that if they allow a home's cats and dogs to go in and out, what's to prevent outside animals or even human intruders from coming in? Security pet doors are the answer to this problem. Unlike traditional pet doors, which consist of little more than a plastic flap, a security pet door uses basic anti-intrusion features that provide both freedom to pets and peace of mind to pet owners.

How They Work

Automatic pet doors are unlocked by pet collars that function as "keys." With magnetic pet doors, the key is a magnet. With electronic pet doors, the key transmits a signal via infra-red, ultrasonic, or a radio-frequency (RFID) chip. When a key-wearing pet approaches the security pet door, the signal or magnet causes it to unlock, enabling the pet to go inside or outside. An electronic pet door with an advanced sensing system will even open and close automatically.

Other security pet doors on the market forego collar keys altogether, relying instead on sensors that monitor the way in which an animal approaches the door. For example, a dog would go boldly through the door, "breaking" both the top and bottom sensors, while a cat would sneak up on a lower corner, activating only the bottom sensor, and therefore be denied access.