• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cottage at the Crossroads

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Gardening
  • Recipes
  • Canning
  • DIY
  • Holidays
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Gardening
    • Recipes
    • Canning
    • DIY
    • Holidays
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » DIY » Crafts

    DIY Cat Door Fix

    By: Jane · Updated: 1 Feb, '15 · This post may contain affiliate links · 20 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    Do you have cats? Do they hate to go through that heavy plastic covering on their cat door? Well, I have an easy cat door fix for you today! 

    Do your cats refuse to go through the heavy plastic door on their cat door? Here's the easy solution to your problem | cottage at the crossroads

    Cat Flap Curtain

    We have 2 indoor cats and 1 outdoor kitty that we let inside during cold weather.  When we moved to the Crossroads, we installed a cat door in the back door which opens onto the back porch. As soon as we got the cat door installed, the cats refused to go through the heavy plastic door. We enticed them to the other side a few times with treats and they would push through it, but it frightened them! The trouble is that we placed the litter box on the back porch and we needed them to find it quickly. I remembered that one of my friends had told me that her cats were afraid of the plastic door so she just removed it. And that's what we did.

    During moderate weather, it's not a problem having a hole in the back door. But when it's really hot and the air conditioning is running or really cold and the heat is on, the cat door becomes an energy waster! So to prevent the air from moving through the hole in the door, I just taped a plastic baggie over it. 

    Easy cat door fix | cottage at the crossroads

    That solved the problem, but it's not very attractive, especially when you use duct tape!!! This bag was in need of replacing, so I finally came up with a more attractive solution.

    Easy cat door fix | cottage at the crossroads

    I found some fabric in my stash left over from when I made the no-sew cafe curtains for the kitchen.

    Easy cat door fix | cottage at the crossroads

    I don't have a tutorial on how to make these because I wasn't blogging back then. Basically I bought one curtain panel and cut it into 4 parts. Then I used fabric glue to hem them. Whenever I wash them, some of the glue comes undone, but I just add a little more, press them, and they're good to go. Anyway, the fabric is a nice medium weight. 

    Easy cat door fix | cottage at the crossroads

    All I did was to find a plastic baggie the size that fit over my cat door and traced around the baggie and then cut the fabric. 

    Easy cat door fix | cottage at the crossroads

    I found that I had to trim the fabric about ½ inch to fit down inside the baggie. 

    Easy cat door fix | cottage at the crossroads

    Then I just taped it to the door with some duct tape. This time I did use white rather than the regular, silver color! Now, do you notice something? In case you missed it, the chandelier in the design is upside down. What I discovered is that the weight of the hem in the fabric helps the fabric hang better in the baggie, so if you try the same thing, I would suggest added a hem to your fabric before putting it in the baggie. Just that little bit of extra weight makes it hang so much better! Do you think anyone will notice the upside down chandelier?

    Easy cat door fix | cottage at the crossroads

    I don't think Rascal will notice. Here he's using his paw to pull up the edge of the baggie so he can get through.

    Easy cat door fix | cottage at the crossroads

    And here he is coming back into the kitchen! Adding the fabric inside the baggie really does make this hole in the door a little more attractive, not to mention making it more energy efficient. It's doing a great job of keeping the cold air from entering the kitchen during these cold, winter days!

    So glad I found an easy cat door fix! Stay warm, my friends!

    More DIY

    • Peat pot with pumpkin 1
      Thrifty Peat Pot Pumpkin Holder
    • Lattice panel above faux fireplace 2
      Upcycled Wood Lattice Wall Panel for Fall Decor
    • Ruffled tea towel cherry bowl and sign 2 square
      No Sew Ruffled Tea Towel
    • Bunko girls on steps 2
      Bunco Friends Lunch and Crafting Time

    Sharing is caring!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Mariella Yu

      October 16, 2019 at 8:46 am

      Sorry if this is a dumb question but can you not use a regular doggy door for a cat? I guess maybe it depends how big your cat is...

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        October 16, 2019 at 10:53 am

        Gosh! I've never thought about using a doggy door as a cat door. The biggest issue with my cat was that he was afraid of the plastic covering. I have since lost both of my darling kitties. We have an outdoor cat that I let inside the house when it's cold, but she prefers to be outside most of the time.

        Reply
    2. cat flap

      January 21, 2017 at 9:12 am

      Brilliant idea Jane thank you too much for this interesting post 😉 😀

      Reply
    3. Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage

      January 13, 2015 at 9:41 pm

      I wish Sushi could squeeze through that hole! It's freezing outside and when she goes out, so do I!

      Reply
    4. Mary

      January 12, 2015 at 5:24 am

      Too fun Jane! We had a door cut into wall with access to a closet for our litter box when we had cats. It was always bare with no flap because our cats didn't like the plastic either. It was problem keeping the dogs out though. I bet I don't need to tell you that dogs and litter boxes don't mix 🙂

      Reply
    5. Kathleen G

      January 11, 2015 at 10:21 pm

      How cute! our catbox is in an extra room. We had a doggie door and it was fine during the day, but our cat, who had no problem going through it, would bring in wonderful big black Paloe Verde flying bugs in to play with! now with little dogs, we no longer have it. Kathleen in Az

      Reply
    6. Gina

      January 11, 2015 at 8:42 pm

      I could never leave that hole uncovered. Living in the South we'd have so many critters, large & small, crawling through that hole that I'd have to move out! Truly love your cover idea. May add that to the one we have. So cute!

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        January 11, 2015 at 9:01 pm

        Gina, I don't think I explained very well that the kitchen door leads to an enclosed back porch that is unheated. I don't even want to think what might crawl through that opening if it lead to the outside!

        Reply
    7. Bev

      January 11, 2015 at 6:14 pm

      Oooooh, something I MIGHT consider. We don't have a cat door just yet. I have been contemplating it since we moved into our bungalow last summer. Hubby wants a cat door I'm still not sure only because it can get VERY cold here in Michigan and even though the cat door would on the door in the mud room, I still don't know if I want one there. I'm still thinking about BUT if I do, I will definitely make a door like yours! It's so pretty, thanks for sharing! -Bev

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        January 11, 2015 at 8:58 pm

        Bev, the fabric does dress it up a bit, doesn't it?

        Reply
    8. Susan in SC

      January 11, 2015 at 6:10 pm

      So cute! Aren't you clever

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        January 11, 2015 at 8:57 pm

        Susan, we'll do anything for our fur friends, won't we?

        Reply
    9. Patty

      January 11, 2015 at 1:32 pm

      We have two cats (indoor only) and two litter boxes. I am trying to come up with a place to put them so they won't be seen but haven't had any luck. When I do, I will certainly use this idea. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        January 11, 2015 at 8:56 pm

        Our littler box is hidden underneath a table with a skirt, Patty. I don't think I've ever shown that on the blog but the skirt works great to disguise the box!

        Reply
    10. Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage

      January 11, 2015 at 11:58 am

      This is so great and so sweet. Loooove this idea Jane. Happy Sunday.
      Kris

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        January 11, 2015 at 8:54 pm

        Awww, you're so sweet, Kris! Thanks for stopping by today!

        Reply
    11. Barbara (WA)

      January 10, 2015 at 9:45 pm

      A smart solution!

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        January 11, 2015 at 8:53 pm

        Barbara, I don't why I haven't thought to add fabric before now!

        Reply
    12. Dawn

      January 10, 2015 at 6:45 pm

      Genius Jane, and it looks adorable too. What a great, decorative solution.

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        January 11, 2015 at 8:52 pm

        Thanks Dawn! The fabric sure looks better than a plain baggie!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads

    We're Jane and Leo!

    Thanks for stopping by! We're renovating and preserving our family's 100 year old home place where we garden, complete a few DIY projects, and do some cooking. Please leave us a comment so that we'll know that you were here.

    about →

    Reader Favorites

    • Setting up a gardening journal
      How to Set Up a Garden Journal
    • Wooden garden obelisks
      DIY Wooden Garden Obelisk
    • Sweet cucumber relish featured
      Sweet Cucumber Relish
    • Cucumbers in raised beds
      Growing Cucumbers in Raised Beds

    Gardening How-tos

    • Best way to remove weeds from large area
      Best Ways To Remove Weeds From a Large Area
    • Potting mix vs. Potting soil
      Potting Mix vs. Potting Soil
    • How to dry and store fresh garden herbs
      How To Dry Herbs
    • 1
      Instant Pot Canning Basics

    Growing Vegetables

    • Fall decor 063
      Our Fall Vegetable Garden
    • Garden and yard may 2013 132
      Evolution of a Garden
    • Celebrity tomatoes in cages
      How to Grow Your Own Tomatoes
    • Growing lettuce in containers 030
      Growing Lettuce in Containers

    Footer

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    © 2021 Cottage at the Crossroads · All Rights Reserved

    Contact Us · Privacy

    38 shares