For many pet owners, one of the daily inconveniences is having to constantly open and close the door to let pets outside to do their “thing” and then back in again. Whether it’s early in the morning, late at night, or multiple times during the day, manually managing this routine can become tiresome, especially for busy households. Pet doors offer a simple solution, allowing cats or dogs to move freely between indoors and outdoors without human intervention. However, these basic flaps don’t provide any visibility into how or when the door is used.
Monitoring when and how often a pet uses the door can is good for both convenience and care. Knowing the times your pet goes out or comes in helps track their habits, monitor health (for example, changes in bathroom frequency), and even improve security by confirming that the pet is inside before locking up at night. It can also provide peace of mind for owners who want to check if their pet has returned home while they’re away. A smart pet door that records usage details and reports them can greatly improve pet management for owners.
Magnet sensors provide a simple and low-maintenance way to achieve this. By integrating three magnet sensors into the door spindle or hinge and a ring magnet on the spindle, the system can accurately sense the door’s position in real time. One sensor is aligned for the fully closed position, confirming that the door is shut. A second sensor detects when the door is swung outward—indicating the pet is going out. A third sensor senses when the door opens inward—showing the pet is coming in. This setup requires no physical contact and works reliably even with repeated use. By recording each event, the system can log detailed usage data for pet owners, transforming a simple pet door into a smart, informative feature that can be integrated with smart home apps.
🧰 Application Classification
Applications are classified as Position Sensing, Pulse Counting, Electromagnetic or Relay, Temperature Sensing or Magnet Biasing types. This pet door application is classified as follows and the link gives more information on best practices to help select the most suitable AT band and matching magnet.
✅ Recommended Products
The Reed Switches and Sensors used in Pet door applications need to be robust, durable and efficient in meeting a high life expectancy. Our engineers work hard in life testing our products under various conditions, and our intention is to ensure end product durability and life. Although we wouldn’t want to restrict any of our products for use in only certain applications, the recommended products for use in this application are listed below.
