Does Your Kitty Need a Wall Exit? Try the Cat Flap Tunnel!

Cat flaps are used to allow our beloved kitty to go in and out of the house whenever she wants to without bothering anyone to open and close the door for her. For cat owners, cat doors are indeed a significant house accessory since cats are inevitably fond of going, traveling and playing outside. Usually, cat flaps are installed on doors. But if you can’t install a pet flap on your door because of certain circumstances, then you could opt to install it on a window. If a window installment is also not possible (for example, your window is situated too high or you’re afraid to damage the glass), do you think you can still provide your kitty with a pet door? Of course you can: through a cat flap tunnel.

A cat flap tunnel is basically a small tunnel that is just appropriate for the size of a standard cat. Because walls are a lot thicker than most doors, basic cat flaps do not have the width to match that of a wall. In this case, the tunnel has to act as a connection between the outdoor and the indoor panel of the flap. Through this, cats may now pass through walls, may they be thick or not. For some, cat flap tunnels are used as extensions when they are installed on a thick door, say a double glazed back door.

Most of the cat doors available on the market can be installed on a surface with a thickness of 0 to 2 inches. Cat flap tunnels usually come in sections of 7 to 8 inches which may be bought separately (depending on the width of the wall and the depth that the flap needs to cover). Installing a cat door tunnel is more complicated than merely installing a cat door. It requires a lot of drilling and hammering. Obviously, one needs a hole in the wall in order to place a tunnel and a flap on it.

Cat flap tunnels are usually used in kitchen walls, most especially if the kitchen has no backyard door. In this case, kitty can freely go outside to exercise, to wander around the backyard, or to find an alternative for her litter box . Also, installing a flap on the wall is sometimes more advantageous than fixing it on a door. Replacing a flap on a door is costly, not to mention the situation when you are forced to replace the door itself because you don’t need a flap anymore. But if you install it on a wall, all you need to do is cover the wall with a furniture or cement.

Choosing a tunnel should depend on the needs of your cat. Although your personal preference and judgment matter, you must place your cat’s demands at the top of your considerations. For instance, you must always keep in mind the size of your pet. The size of the tunnel must be big enough to allow her to pass through. The space should be appropriate: not too narrow and not too spacious. In installing the tunnel, always make sure that you place it on an accessible location. Measurements should be accurately taken in order to determine to correct and the most comfortable placement of the flap. When you install, ensure that the drilling is properly done and all the screws are tightly secured to protect your cat from scratches and other harm. You can always ask somebody skillful on drilling to assist you or do the installing for you.