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Electronic pet door companies typically talk
about keeping out stray cats, not wild animals. We think
that small rodents, insects, snakes, skunks, possums and
most other critters are kept out as well.
However, there are cases where a raccoon has
been able to defeat nearly every one of them. What to do?
We have identified two solutions:
- Best bet is to buy a pet door that's
going to work. Unlike other electronic pet doors,
they control in both directions, not just against
intruders. So a raccoon cannot hook the flap with his
claw, pull it open and duck under to get in. Here's the
list that we believe will work:
Plexidor Electronic Door,
Hi Tech Power Pet Door,
Cat Mate Elite Series and
PetSafe Smart Door Large and Medium.
- A customer suggested this: "I did
poke around on the internet, and found a potential
solution--someone had put their cat door several feet
off the ground, so that the cat had to jump up to a
platform before entering. Since raccoons don't jump like
cats, this should be an effective deterrent."
- Another suggested this:
"Installing a small radio tuned to a talk show to
suggest human presence. Another was spraying an orange
terpine spray on the door area. Both claim transparency
to cats, but how long they will fool a smart 'coon was
not defined in the postings.
- Lastly, I found a site
"guaranteeing" a critter repellent specially suited for
'coons called "Shake-Away". It is said to make the
'coons avoid the area and contains powdered fox urine.
They say the 'coon fears trespassing larger animal
territories and will not frequent the location once you
treat it as directed. It also claims it will NOT to
spook your pets." Unfortunately, we have some indication
that this may not be as successful as we had hoped.
We'd like to solicit feedback from anyone trying these or
other solutions. Contact Alan at
alan@petdoors.com.
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Smart Guy!
But Messy!
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Plexidor Electronic
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Cat Mate Elite |