The PlexiDor line of manual pet doors is the best dog door or cat door for cold weather.
These doors will function down to –40 degrees F/C. The door will still work below this temperature, but it will get frosty and the weather seal will freeze to the frame.
The PlexiDor costs more to purchase than many other pet doors. On the other hand, it is one of the cheapest doors to own over its lifetime.
Over a ten-year period, these pet doors require very little maintenance, there are no flaps to replace, and they are energy efficient, saving money on heating and cooling.
No, the saloon-style PlexiDor is a manual pet door; the dog or cat pushes it open as they go through.
No, pets don't get stuck.
Even if the pet were to start going outside, turn, and go back inside with say the tail still in the door, the panels open so easily that the pet can't get stuck.
The PlexiDor has been on the market since 1985 without even one report of a pet getting stuck.
No, the pet's tail won't get hurt.
Theoretically, a cat or dog with a long tail could go outside and hesitate long enough for the tip of the tail to still be in the door when the panels close, but they close so gently that the tail won't be damaged. If this were to happen, most cats and dogs would look back and wonder what's touching their tail.
Cats are able to open the PlexiDor without problems.
The cat door has a small single panel that is easy for a cat to push open. Even the larger doors open so easily that many families have a cat or small dog sharing a door with a very large dog.
Yes, the small PlexiDor intended for cats and small dogs has several settings on the lock.
The door can be set to:
Open from both inside and outside Be closed from both inside and outside Open in one direction only
That is, you can set it to allow your pets to come in, but not go out again.
Small pets can usually open and go through a large or extra large PlexiDor.
The panels swing easily and most cats and small dogs figure out how to use one half of the large or extra large door.
Once puppies get big enough to scamper about, they're likely to figure out the pet door and how to open it.
You may need to separate the puppies from the door to keep them safely inside.
If your pet is the eager kind that runs towards the door at full speed, it's a good idea to put up a signal stating the door is locked.
No matter which type of door you choose, some pets will run head-first into the door when it's locked – they don't know it's locked.
All PlexiDor pet doors are made in the USA, in Bradenton, Florida.
Manufacturing, warehouse, and offices are all located in Bradenton. The door has been made there since 1985.
If you lose your keys, call our customer service at 800-749-9609.
For the manual PlexiDor, all keys are the same. It doesn't matter since the key is used inside the house – the door cannot be unlocked from the outside.
The electronic PlexiDor is different; the collar keys that open and close the door work with RFID, and there are innumerable different codes.
The opening for the pet is smaller than the overall door size, because of the frame. Please see the following:
Pet Door Size Opening for pet
Small 6 1/2” x 7 1/4”
Medium 9” x 12”
Large 11 3/4” x 16”
Extra Large 15 3/4” x 23 5/8”
Electronic 12 5/8” x 19 5/8”
The below size chart shows installation cut hole, opening for pet, and overall size, click on it to get the full size version.
The PlexiDor has not been rated with an R value. However, the door was designed for extreme climates.
PlexiDors offer excellent protection against weather and the doors are popular in Canada, Alaska, and Switzerland because of the good insulation and excellent weather seal.
Under normal weather conditions, the wind cannot blow a PlexiDor open.
The door has a spring that keeps panels closed up to wind speeds of about 30 miles per hour.
Cats are generally more comfortable going through small openings than dogs are. And, they're built differently, so a 24 pound dog needs more space than a 24 pound cat.
Yes, you can paint the PlexiDor frames and accessories.
Talk to an experienced paint sales person to get help choosing the right type of paint. They can also give advice on preparing the surface the best way for the paint you choose.
It depends on what pet door you get. A high quality dog door or cat door will have safety features to ensure the security of your home.
Many cheaper flap doors can be forced open or kicked in – but the dog on the other side of the door is usually enough to deter such attempts.
Installation prices will vary, depending on installation location and materials.
For instance, getting a PlexiDor installed in a house door usually ranges between $200-$350.
Yes, compared to opening a household door, an energy-efficient pet door can save money on heating and cooling.
Every time a human-size household door is opened to let a dog or cat in or out, the air inside the home blends with the air outside.
Condensation can in extreme cases freeze the dog door shut, but it is possible to fix the problem.
The first thing to do is make sure there's sufficient insulation in the hole where the dog door or cat door is installed.
The PlexiDor Glass Series is a prefabricated one-piece glass door insert, designed to fit French doors and patio doors.
The mounting hole for your old pet door probably won't be exactly the same as for the PlexiDor, but you can usually alter the existing hole to fit.
Give our customer service a call at 800-749-9609 option 3. They are experienced and can help you find the closest fit, and give ideas on how to manage the existing hole.
Yes, an episode of “This Old House” featured a PlexiDor wall installation
You can see the video on their website; the door installation starts right after 16 minutes into the video. They talk about why they're putting the door where they're putting it, how they decided how big the door would need to be, and show the installation.
Yes, “This Old House” featured a PlexiDor wall model, showing the installation from making the hole to the completed installation.
You can see the video on their website and read the article with step-by-step instructions.
The PlexiDor dog doors and cat door have been developed together with pet owners, to find solutions that satisfy the demands of both pets and people.
For example, most pet owners don’t want to replace flaps, so the PlexiDor doesn’t have flaps.
The PlexiDor is sturdy, energy efficient, secure, and doesn't require replacement flaps.
Some of the features that distinguish the PlexiDor from other cat doors and dog doors include:
Heavy Duty Hardened Aluminum Frames
The anodized aluminum frame – interior and exterior – won’t rust, crack, bend, or warp.
The PlexiDor cat door is intended for cats up to 24 lbs and dogs up to 9 lbs.
The extra large PlexiDor is constructed to withstand daily use by dogs up to 220 pounds, and the panels are different than on the smaller models.
Dogs larger than 220 pounds may still be able to use the door – it will depend on their build.
Most pet doors are manual, but if you want control of which animals can open the door, an automatic door is a better choice.
On a manual dog door or cat door, the pet pushes the door open when going through.
The medium and large size PlexiDors are constructed the same way.
The medium door is suitable for dogs up to 40 pounds and the large for dogs up to 100 pounds. In a multi-pet household, a smaller dog or a cat is usually able to open these doors without problems.
When the door is closed, the PlexiDor panels and weather seal are tight enough to keep bugs out of the house.
We have feedback from customers in areas with big problems with black flies, and the flies do not enter through the PlexiDor.
The regular PlexiDor dog doors and cat door come with a 10 year warranty. The electronic doors have a 5 year warranty. All PlexiDor pet door products include a 90 day money back guarantee.
The PlexiDor panels are always see-through, but the frame is available in white, bronze, or brushed aluminum. The PlexiDor awning is available in white or bronze.
The doors come in sizes small, medium, large, and extra large.
The PlexiDor Extra Large is constructed for dogs up to 220 pounds and will accommodate very large breeds such as Irish Wolfhounds, Great Pyrenees, Newfoundlands, and Great Danes.
Dog doors for pets this size face some unique challenges; a traditional flap door can't stand up to the power produced by a 220 pound dog hitting it at full speed.
The PlexiDor cat door accommodates cats up to 24 pounds and is sufficient even for very large cats.
An average size Labrador will need a large PlexiDor dog door.
Labradors come in a variety of sizes and there's a difference between English labs and American labs.
An average size Chihuahua will need a small PlexiDor.
The average size Chihuahua weighs between 3 and 6 pounds. The small PlexiDor is constructed for dogs up to 9 pounds and cats up to 24 pounds.
An average size Beagle will need a medium PlexiDor.
The average size Beagle weighs between 18 and 30 pounds. The PlexiDor Medium is constructed for dogs up to 40 pounds and a perfect fit.
Yes, there is an awning available, and a sliding track system that makes it easier to attach the security plate.
The PlexiDor Awning prevents rain, sun, snow, and wind from entering through a pet door.
The PlexiDor has heavy duty springs concealed in the frame that close the panels once the pet has gone through.
The springs allow the panels to open easily without blowing open – it's important that the pet can go through without much effort – and close quickly and securely.
In extreme weather conditions, the aluminum tunnel can be cold and slippery, but the problem can be solved.
The PlexiDor wall models come with an aluminum tunnel that covers the sides, top, and bottom of the hole through the wall.
Feel free to call us at 800-749-9609. You can also browse the learning center by category at the main Learning Center page, or try a new search here:
