How to Cover a Cat Door Hole

On this page (8 sections)

1. How do you measure a cat door hole for a cover?
2. Which closing panel should you choose?
3. How do you fit a closing panel over the hole?
4. Can you cover a cat door hole in a sliding glass door?
5. How do you stop drafts around an unused cat door?
6. What if you want to remove the cat door completely?
7. How do you keep the cover tidy and working?
8. Which cover fits your cat door hole?

Here's how to cover a cat door hole: fit a closing panel over the flap frame so the opening is sealed without taking the door off its hinges. Measure the flap opening first, match the panel to your door model, and add a draft stopper at the base if air still slips past.

A closing panel is the tidy option because it keeps the frame in place and can be removed later if you get another pet. The steps below cover measuring, choosing a cover, sealing the base, and handling a door you no longer want.

How do you measure a cat door hole for a cover?

Measure the flap opening, not the outer frame. Use a tape measure on the height and width of the hole the flap sits in, and write both figures down in inches.

Most closing panels are sold by the size of the panel that replaces the flap, so the number that matters is the inner opening. A medium panel such as the PetSafe cover measures 8¾ by 14¼ inches.

If your opening is close to but not exactly that size, expect the panel not to seat flat.

Check the model of the door as well as the size. PetSafe says its closing panel fits the Freedom Aluminum Pet Door, Wall Entry Pet Door, Sliding Glass Pet Door, and Extreme Weather Sliding Glass Pet Door.

A panel made for one of those won't fit an unrelated brand just because the inches look similar.

Take the measurement twice and photograph the frame and flap. That way you can compare the cover's size to your opening before you buy, and you'll have the model details on hand.

Which closing panel should you choose?

Start with the panel made for your door model, then check its size against your opening. Two options cover the common PetSafe doors, and the right one depends on which door you have.

Best for PetSafe's standard doors

The PetSafe Closing Panel Pet Door Cover suits the brand's aluminum, wall-entry, and sliding glass doors. It's a durable plastic panel in a tan color that slides into place to block the exit.

PetSafe describes it as rust-proof and says it comes in four sizes to match different door sizes. The medium panel fits the medium doors in the models listed above.

If your door is a different size, look for the matching panel size rather than forcing this one in.

This is the pick for most readers because it matches the doors most people install and keeps the frame usable. Order the size that matches your opening, not the size that matches your cat.

Best for the Extreme Weather model

The Viecam Snap-On Closing Panel fits PetSafe Extreme Weather dog doors that use closing panel model 700-1099. It's a white medium panel sized about 15 by 10.5 inches.

Viecam says to measure the inner panel size, not the door frame, and warns that any difference means it won't fit. Check the back of your existing panel for model 700-1099 before ordering.

Viecam also gives the manufacturer model number as MPA00-12827.

Choose this one if your door is the Extreme Weather model and you want a replacement panel in white. Skip it if your door uses a different closing panel model or a different size.

How do you fit a closing panel over the hole?

Slide or snap the panel into the door's panel channel and press it until it sits flush. The exact method depends on the cover, so follow the steps that match your door.

For a slide-in panel like the PetSafe cover, line the panel up with the channel at the top of the frame and ease it down. It should move freely and stop in the same place the flap frame does.

If it catches, lift it out and check that no debris or flap parts are in the channel.

For a snap-on panel like the Viecam cover, align it over the opening and press around the edges. Work around the perimeter rather than pushing hard on one corner.

A panel that won't click flat is the wrong size or model, and forcing it can crack the plastic.

Check the fit by running a hand around the edge. A sealed opening feels even with no lip to catch a finger.

Add a small strip of weatherstripping behind the panel only if your door's instructions allow it.

Can you cover a cat door hole in a sliding glass door?

Yes, but the cover must suit the sliding panel setup. Most sliding glass pet doors use an insert panel, and closing panels for those models slide in the same way as the flap.

PetSafe's closing panel lists its sliding glass door among the compatible models, so check the panel size against your insert. If your pet door sits in a separate insert rather than the glass itself, the panel covers the opening in the insert.

When you no longer need the pet opening at all, you can remove the insert and return the sliding door to a full glass panel. That's a bigger job than fitting a cover and may need a glazier.

For now, a closing panel keeps the opening sealed without touching the glass.

How do you stop drafts around an unused cat door?

Seal the flap opening first, then block air at the base of the door. A closing panel handles the hole itself.

The gap under the door is separate and often the bigger draft source.

An under-door draft stopper is the simple fix for that base gap. The Evelots 2-pack is a weighted fabric blocker in a cat and dog design, 38 inches long.

It's weighted with sand to stay in place and has hanging loops for storage.

Evelots says it blocks cold air, noise, dust, and wind, and that it fits most doors and windows. It also notes a maximum gap fill of 4 inches.

Measure the gap under your door before ordering, since a thick pile or a raised threshold changes what fits.

This is the pick for a door that still opens and closes. The stopper moves with the door and needs no tools.

It won't seal the flap opening, so pair it with a panel when the hole itself lets air through.

What if you want to remove the cat door completely?

Removing the door and patching the hole is the permanent option. It makes sense when the door is old, the flap is broken, or you're selling the home and want a plain door.

On a wooden door, the usual method is to take off the frame, fill the opening with a wooden patch cut to fit, and finish it to match. On a metal or composite door, patching is harder and often needs a panel or a replacement door slab.

If the cat door is in a wall rather than a door, the job changes. The opening needs framing and patching to match the wall.

Our guide to how to install a dog door in a wall shows how those openings are built, which helps you plan the reverse.

Before you remove anything, decide whether a future pet might need the opening. Keeping the frame and using a cover leaves that option open.

If you're unsure which pet door type suits your home, our comparison of dog door vs cat door covers the differences.

How do you keep the cover tidy and working?

Check the panel and stopper every few months and clean them when they collect dust. A cover that sits loose or a stopper that has shifted lets air through again.

Wipe the panel with a damp cloth and dry it before sliding it back in. Check the channel for hair and grit, which can stop the panel seating flush.

For the fabric stopper, shake it out and spot clean it, then let it dry fully before putting it back.

Look at the seal around the frame as well. A worn flap frame can let air past even with a panel in place.

If the frame is cracked or the screws are loose, tightening or replacing the frame may do more than any cover.

Which cover fits your cat door hole?

For most PetSafe doors, the PetSafe Closing Panel is the pick because it's made for the brand's common models and slides into the existing channel. Choose the Viecam snap-on panel if you have an Extreme Weather medium door that uses model 700-1099.

Add the Evelots draft stopper when the base gap is the real draft.

Measure the flap opening and note your door model before ordering. That one step decides whether how you cover a cat door hole works the first time.

If you're fitting a new door rather than covering an old one, see our guide to how to install a dog door and browse cat doors for the right size for your pet.

Frequently asked questions

Can you cover a cat door hole without removing the door?

Yes. A closing panel fits over or into the existing flap frame and blocks the opening while the door stays on its hinges.

Measure the panel area rather than the outer frame, then match the cover to the door's model.

What is the cheapest way to stop drafts from an unused cat door?

An under-door draft stopper is the lowest-cost option when the door still opens and closes normally. It blocks air at the base of the door and needs no tools.

It won't seal the flap opening itself, so use it alongside a panel if air still gets through.

Will a closing panel fit my dog door too?

Only if the door is a compatible PetSafe model and the panel size matches. PetSafe panels are sold to fit specific doors, so a medium panel for one model may not fit another brand.

Compare the panel size to your door before ordering.