Which smart pet door suits your home and your pet
Updated
A pet door lets your cat or dog in and out, and a smart one can limit who. Choose by where it installs, how it recognizes your pet, and what your lease or HOA allows.
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Start with your pet and your door
Three facts decide most of the choice: your pet’s size, how many pets use the door, and what kind of door or wall you have. Measure your pet’s shoulder height for dogs or back height for cats, and add an inch or two of clearance. Measure the widest part of the body, usually the chest. A flap that is too small causes pets to get stuck. A flap that is too large wastes energy and lets in more weather.
Count the animals. A single cat can use a small door. A household with a small dog and a large one needs two sizes or a design with an adjustable flap height.
Where it installs
| Installation | Fits | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Door panel | Hollow-core and solid wood doors, many steel doors with a kit | Requires cutting a hole; not for most rentals; may affect a fire-rated door |
| Sliding glass insert | Sliding patio doors; a panel replaces the glass or fits in the track | Uses the track; a good fit for renters if removable; check the security lock |
| Wall | Exterior wall with a tunnel or frame | Contractor work, permits may apply, owners only |
| Window insert | Window sash opening | Limits window use; fits temporary or seasonal use |
Renters should look first at a removable sliding glass insert or a window panel. Cutting a hole in a door changes the unit, and the landlord can require repairs. HOAs may restrict changes to exterior doors; read the CC&Rs and ask in writing. Rules vary by state and city; ask a local attorney or tenant organization if unsure.
How a smart pet door knows who is coming
- Microchip reader: reads the chip already implanted in your pet. The chip holds only an identification number. The American Veterinary Medical Association says owners must register the microchip and keep contact information current in the registry. A door programs your pet’s chip number into its memory.
- Collar tag (RFID or magnet): a small tag on the collar unlocks the door. It works for pets with no chip, but the tag can fall off or be lost.
- App, schedule and lock modes: lock the door at night, allow only exit, or allow only entry. Timer modes keep pets in during storms or out of the house at bedtime.
- Basic flap: no electronics. It is the cheapest and simplest, but any animal that fits can enter.
Check how many chips or tags the model can store, whether it works with your pet’s chip type, and what happens when the batteries run low. Choose a door that locks automatically or stays closed if power fails, and test it with each pet.
Keeping unwanted visitors out
An open pet door can let in raccoons, opossums and stray cats. The CDC says the way to avoid rabies in the U.S. is to keep your distance from wildlife, and it advises that pet owners keep pets current on rabies vaccines and keep pets away from wild animals as much as possible. A selective-entry door that opens only for your pet’s chip or tag reduces the chance of other animals walking in, and a lock mode at night helps further.
If you find a wild animal inside the home, do not try to handle it. Call local animal control or a wildlife professional.
Weather, energy and security
- Look for a flap with a magnetic seal, a double flap or an insulated frame to reduce drafts.
- Think about security: a human cannot normally fit through a small cat door, but a large dog door is a larger opening. Choose a door with a lockable cover and use it when you leave for several days.
- Place it where your pet can see the entry and near a path the pet already uses.
- Do not place a pet door where a young child could crawl through into a yard, pool area or street.
Pair it with sensors and cameras
Pets moving through a door will set off motion sensors and cameras. Use a pet-immune sensor or mount it away from the door path. See our page on motion sensors and pets for tips. A camera aimed at the door shows when your pet comes and goes without recording the interior.
Shop by need
Cat or small dog, owner with a door
What to look for: microchip or tag access, flap size for your pet, magnetic seal, battery indicator, lock modes
Typical price: $100–$350
See options on AmazonRenter with a sliding glass door
What to look for: sliding glass insert with panel, adjustable height, locking cover, removable without tools
Typical price: $120–$320
See options on AmazonSimple, low-cost flap for one pet
What to look for: correct size for shoulder height, magnetic closure, locking panel, insulated frame
Typical price: $25–$100
See options on AmazonFrequently asked questions
Do smart pet doors work with any microchip?
Not always. Check the door’s list of supported chip formats and ask your vet which kind your pet has. Register the chip and keep your contact information current, as the AVMA advises.
Can a landlord forbid a pet door?
It depends on your lease. A hole in a door is a modification, and a landlord can require repair. A removable sliding glass insert is easier to remove at move-out. Check your lease and ask in writing.
Will a pet door let wildlife in?
A basic flap can. A selective-entry door that opens only for your pet’s chip or collar tag lowers that risk, and a nighttime lock helps. Keep pets current on rabies vaccines and avoid wildlife, as the CDC advises.
How big should a pet door be?
Measure your pet’s shoulder height and the widest part of the chest, then add one to two inches. A door that is too large wastes energy; one that is too small can trap a pet.