The Basics of Electronic Pet Doors

1-Way Activation Electronic Pet Doors

Some doors are designed to keep out neighboring and feral cats, while allowing a collar tag wearing pet to enter the house. This category of Electronic Pet Doors will provide a deterrent to animals outside that try to push in the flap. They typically do not provide a deterrent to animals leaving the house, meaning the locking feature works in only one-direction (1-Way Activation).

One way locking pet doors employ a retracting "STOP" to keep the flap from being pushed INTO the house. As your collar tag wearing pet approaches, this "Stop" retracts and allows the flap to be pushed inward. Due to the design of these locking pet doors, customers have found that certain nuisance animals such as raccoons can lift the flap upward and outward, thus gaining access into the house. For this reason, this category of electronic pet doors is not considered "Raccoon Proof". Moore Pet has identified these types of electronic pet doors with the symbol on the left for your convenience.

Example of Locking Mechanisms
Representative of all 1-Way Activation Electronic Pet Doors

[photo] 1-Way Activation / Locked

Situations for Use:

1. Keep out Feral cats in the area (When pets are in 'heat', keeps your home from turning into a "Love Shack").
2. Keep out other neighborhood cats...works for bullies and friends that just don't want to go home.
3. Deterrent for other cats confusing your cats food bowl as their own.
4. Keeping other cats from coming into your house and 'spraying'.

2-Way Activation Electronic Pet Doors

This category of electronic pet doors controls access in BOTH directions. The collar tag is required to activate the pet door when entering and leaving the house.The locking mechanisms on these doors are structurally different and varied to achieve this action. They range in design from retracting pin locks to plastic bolts that engage the flap in such a manner that a pushing action will not open the door. Because of how these locking mechanisms work, they are also raccoon proof by nature of their design. The differentiating characteristics you will see i this category is summarized in the overall quality and life of the pet door. A plastic pet door for $100 will not last as long as a Solo Automatic for example.

Situations for Use:

1. Allowing one pet to go outside while keeping another inside the house.
2. Cat Owners who have persistent problems with larger Tom Cats that "break through" other inexpensive electronic doors.
3. Dog Owners who have friends that seem to follow them everywhere they go.
4. Keep out nuisance animals that are using the pet door (Raccoons, skunks, opossums, etc.)

Note: Most dog owners do not have problems with nuisance animals due to the scent and the activity of the dog. For many dog owners manual flap doors are more desirable and pet friendly.

Example of Locking Mechanisms
Solo Automatic Locking Mechanism

[photo] Solo Automatic Locking Mechanism

[photo] Solo Automatic Pet Door Locking Mechanism-unlocked

PetSafe Electronic Smart Door

[photo] PetSafe Electronic flap view / bottom

[photo] PetSafe Electronic Door / locking ridge

Cat Mate Elite Series

[photo] Cta Mate Elite Open

General Electronic Door Misconceptions:

Electronic Pet Doors seal and Insulate Better than other types of doors
There is not an electronic door currently made that insulates or seals as well as a dual flexible flap doors.

Electronic Pet Doors are deterrents for criminals

This is often a leading reason first time pet door buyers look at electronic doors. The truth is that there is not door made with the intelligence to allow your pet inside, but not criminal. Pet Doors that have a sturdy locking security panel provide fare more security.

Electronic doors are better quality, because they are electronic
You get what you pay for. Your better quality doors tend to be non-electronic, it is a matter of the function that you require.

Electronic Pet Door Basics

1-Way Activation Electronic Pet Doors

2-Way Activation Electronic Pet Doors