Finding a cat door that works well in cold weather can be a challenge. If your cat door isn’t well insulated, it can end up costing you a fortune in heating bills. Continue reading this article for ratings and reviews of the best-insulated cat doors on the market. If you just want to know the best cat door for cold weather, we recommend the Freedom Pet Pass Energy-Efficient Pet Door (Buy Online).
Best Cat Door for Cold Weather
Freedom Pass Energy Efficient Cat Door
The Freedom Pet Pass Cat Door (Buy Online) is the best cat door for cold weather on the market. This door is rated to handle temperatures as low as -40 Fahrenheit, and it can keep the heat out when the mercury rises to as high as 160 Fahrenheit.
The key feature that sets this door apart from all the other pet doors is the DoubleMag technology. This magnetic sealing system ensures that the door flap seals tight every time the door closes. The magnets form an airtight seal along the whole perimeter of the flap, so you can be sure your house will stay warm no matter how hard the wind is blowing.
The DoubleMag seal is so strong it has been lab certified to exceed the Energy Star requirements for doors and windows. The magnets that hold the flap in place are also so powerful that a number of freedom pet pass reviews state that this door won’t blow open even in very windy locations.
The tight seal won’t be a problem for your cat though since they will easily be able to push the flap open. Just make sure you get the right size pet door for your cat based on their weight in pounds since a door that is too large and heavy can be a little hard for a cat to open.
The frame on this door is made of PVC which has a higher R-Value than the aluminum frames you commonly see on other pet doors on the market. The freedom pet pass door also comes with a locking security panel that will keep your house safe when you are not at home or on vacation. This door is also built to last since it is made in the USA with high-quality materials, and it comes with a 3-year limited warranty on any defects.
Perfect Pet The All-Weather Energy Efficient Pet Door
The Perfect Pet The All-Weather Energy Efficient Pet Door (Buy Online) is an extremely durable door that can withstand anything mother nature has to offer. This pet door has a dual flap design, and a highly insulated frame that helps keep the heat in, and the cold out.
The dual flap design solves one of the major heat loss issues commonly found in most pet doors. Unlike a single flap door, the dual flap door traps a 3-inch pocket of air between the two flaps to provide added insulation. This air pocket acts like a large thermal barrier, which helps keep the warmth in your house from easily escaping.
The dual flap design is also more resistant to wind since the two flaps are much harder to blow open. This door also comes with a solid plastic insert, that you can slide into the frame to block off access to the door completely when you are away, or when the wind is really howling.
The frame of this door is made of foam molded plastic which has a very high R-Value. The foam in the frame will reduce heat loss far better than aluminum frames, and it is even better than pure PVC framed models.
This door also has a telescoping frame, so you can mount it on doors of varying thickness. You can also get an optional wall mount upgrade for this door if that is your preferred installation method.
PetSafe Extreme Weather Energy Efficient Pet Door
The PetSafe Extreme Weather Energy Efficient Pet Door (Buy Online) is one of the most popular winter pet doors on the market. This door uses a three-flap system to provide 35 times more insulation than a comparable single flap door.
The three flaps on this door are designed to resist very cold winter weather. The inward facing and outward facing flaps are made of normal tinted vinyl. While the center flap is made of a special piece of vinyl that has a sealed pocket of air incorporated into it. This added air pocket increases the R-Value of this door by a significant margin. While at the same time the flap is still very flexible and easy to open.
This door also comes with one snap-on closing panel, so you can seal the door off if you want to keep your cat from going outside for any reason. You can also get an optional second closing panel, which can be helpful in especially inclement weather.
Some Petsafe extreme weather pet door reviews do mention that this door can blow open in certain circumstances. This is usually not much of a problem in most areas, but if you live in a windy location you might want to choose a more airtight option. If you do live in a windy area, the Freedom Pass Energy Efficient Cat Door mentioned above is a much better alternative for anyone who wants a cat door that can withstand strong winds and harsh weather.
Ideal Pet Products VIP Vinyl Insulated Pet Patio Door
The Ideal Pet Products VIP Vinyl Insulated Pet Patio Door (Buy Online) is an easy to install cat door that can withstand cold winter weather. This cat door is perfect for anyone who wants a cat door but doesn’t want to go through all the trouble of the installation process.
This door easily slips into the frame of a sliding patio door, so it can be set up as a temporary cat door, or you can leave it up all season. The durable vinyl frame has a full-length window, so it won’t darken your doorway when it is in use. It also comes with all the bolts and clips you will need to make sure it stays safely in place.
This door uses a single insulated flap to keep heat loss to a minimum. The flap has three air-filled Lexan pockets that help insulate your house from the cold winter weather. The tri-fold flap is also very easy to open since the seams make it very flexible, so even very small cats will be able to open it.
SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap
The SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap (Buy Online) is a great door if you want to keep any unwanted critters from getting into your house during the winter. This door comes with a built-in microchip reader that can read a cats RFID implant to prevent unauthorized access.
If your cat has an RFID implant this door has a built-in reader that is compatible with 9, 10, and 15 digit microchips. You will first have to program the door to accept your cat’s RFID tag in order to store their ID in the doors memory. After that, your cat can come and go as they please, but nothing else can enter or exit.
The SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap is not as well insulated as some of the other doors on this page. Although it is still a good choice if you live somewhere with a relatively mild climate that doesn’t have extremely cold winters. The real benefit of this door is that it will keep mice, raccoons, and other stray cats out of your house when the cold weather causes them to look for a warm place to huddle up during the winter.
Endura Flap Double Flap Wall Mount Pet Door
The Endura Flap Double Flap Wall Mount Pet Door (Buy Online) is one of the most durable wall mount pet doors on the market. This door has two rigid flaps that can withstand winds up to 50 miles per hour. The flaps are fitted with magnets on three sides to keep the door firmly sealed, which ends up working better than other doors that use a single magnet.
The door is also made of durable aluminum, which means it won’t crack or shatter like weaker plastic alternatives. The aluminum frame on this door is so durable it comes with a 15-year warranty, so it will definitely last for a cats lifetime. This door also comes with a locking cover, and all the mounting hardware and instructions you will need to install it.
PetSafe Wall Entry Pet Door with Telescoping Tunnel
The PetSafe Wall Entry Pet Door with Telescoping Tunnel (Buy Online) is a very popular wall mount pet door. This door has a dual flap design to help keep the cold air out, and the warm air in your house throughout the winter season.
This door also has a durable telescoping aluminum frame that will fit walls that range in thickness from 4.75 inches to 7.25 inches. In addition, This door can also be installed in stucco, brick, or siding with the simple step by step instructions and the cutout template.
The PetSafe Wall Entry Pet Door also comes with a slide in panel that will seal off the door when it is not in use, or if you want to secure it at night or for any other reason. This door is also relatively discrete, so it won’t stick out like a sore thumb and ruin the look of your home’s exterior.
Buying The Best Cat Door for Cold Weather
There are a number of factors to take into account when you pick out the best pet door for cold weather. In the following section we will go over each key point in more detail, so you can know what to look for when you make your final decision.
Insulation
The most important thing you need in a cold weather cat door is insulation. The only way you are going to keep the heat in your house is to prevent it from escaping. Installation acts as a barrier to heat loss by slowing down the transfer of heat from your house to the cold environment outside your window.
A good cold weather cat or dog door needs to have an insulated flap to keep heat from escaping. A dual flap design can provide added insulation by trapping a pocket of air in between the flaps which can slow down air infiltration.
Another thing to look for in a cold weather cat door also is an insulated frame. Plastic or PVC is much better than aluminum since they are less thermally conductive. Moreover, a foam filled frame will work even better since foam has thousands of little air pockets that provide superior insulation.
Tight Seal
If your cat door doesn’t have a tight seal then all the insulation in the world isn’t going to make a difference. A strong wind can blow a cat door open allowing cold winter air to flood into your house unabated. In order to prevent this you need to get a cat door that is as airtight as possible, so you don’t end up pouring all your heating dollars out the proverbial window.
The best cat doors for cold weather will usually have magnetic seals to keep them from blowing open. Some will only have a single magnet in the bottom of the flap, while others will have multiple magnets around their perimeter.
We recommend the Freedom Pet Pass Door (Buy Online) since it has a continuous strip of magnets that provide the best seal available. No matter what door you choose though, just be sure to pick one that has some kind of magnetic sealing system.
