Pet Doors: Hard Flaps v. Soft Flaps
Hannah Brailsford
You've been researching pet doors for a while now.
Trawling the internet for hours on end, and you've finally decided on a brand. The only issue is they offer both a rigid flap and a soft flap. If this is your first pet door, you're probably wondering what the difference is and why it matters?
Having some experience in pet doors myself, I thought I'd put in the hard yards for you. So here are some handy pros and cons to consider whilst you make your decision.
Hard Flaps
Pro – Most hard flaps come with locking clips attached to the door frame, making it easy to lock the flap on the pet door - you know I'm all about the simple life.
Pro – Most RFID pet doors come with hard flaps.
RFID, what is that I hear you wonder? RFID stands for radio frequency identification. These clever pet doors use microchip technology that will only allow registered pets to enter the pet door, keeping pests and intruders out! This simply wouldn't work with a soft flap.
Con – Hard flaps aren't the safest option. If, for example, your pet gets spooked and starts backing out of the pet door, they might hurt their neck or back on a hard flap. I've witnessed this, and it's not fun, trust me.
Soft Flaps
Pro – Soft flaps are flexible and move with your pet when they walkthrough. No getting stuck. This function makes the pet door safe for your pet to use.
Con – Most soft flaps use locking plates, which can be a little unsightly if you're concerned about aesthetics. However, a locking plate does provide excellent security.
Pro – All pet door flaps experience wear and tear from use and exposure to weather. To be honest, hard or soft, they can look a little gross after some time and lots of use. Soft flaps are designed to be easily replaceable, which extends the life of your pet door and makes for a mini-makeover for your door.
We offer a selection of hard and soft flaps in our own pet door designs. The Patio Pet Door Insert and the Aluminium Premium Pet Door feature a replaceable soft flap. The Invisi Flap for Glass has a hard flap with four-way locking. We also stock the SureFlap Microchip RFID Pet Door, which has an automated rigid flap.
Perhaps you have some thoughts on hard flaps v. soft flaps? Please share your experience in the comments below.