How to Make a Cat Door

Cat doors are great for when little Whiskers wants to go out to play, but you have your hands too full to open the door. By making your own cat door, you can save money and be doing your four legged friend a favor.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plexiglass
• Hinges
• Saber or jig-saw

1. Start by measuring out the size of your cat door. A 5"x5" square opening is a perfectly sufficient sized cat door for most house cats, but if your little friend is a larger breed, or is obese, you may need to make a larger cat door.

2. Trace out the shape of the opening of the cat door on your door. Make the bottom of the hole approximately 3 inches above the bottom of the door. It may help to remove the door from it's frame and place it on a sturdy work bench or sawhorse.

3. Use a jigsaw or saber saw to cut out the opening of the cat door. If necessary, drill a hole at one corner of the square that is large enough for the blade to fit through. Use this hole to start your sawing.

4. Now, cut out a piece of plexiglass for the actual cat door. Make it one inch wider and taller than the opening of your cat door. For example, for a 5"x5" cat door, cut the plexiglass to 6"x6".

5. Install a two-way hinge at the top of the square opening for the cat door, then attach the plexiglass to the hinge. You should now see what looks like a functioning cat door.

Tips & Warnings

• Measure twice and cut once. Taking your time will reward you with higher quality results.
• Always wear safety gear when using power tools.
• The addition of a cat door may let the hot or cold air out of your house during the seasons.

[greatnews]

on 8/16/2009 Great article! 5 *'s and a recommend, of course.