Kitty Peeper ™ FAQ
Beyond giving cats an enjoyable experience, what other reasons are there for considering one of these? Well, indoor cats deserve the opportunity to get in touch with their "wild side" by having a a place where they actually see a 180 degree view of their outdoor environment, but more than just the view, the Kitty Peeper gives them the ability to experience breezes, smells, and sounds that are natural to their instincts. Many customers have kept in touch with us, and have noted that their cats use them frequently throughout the day and into the night, sometimes sleeping in them. Even in the colder weather, cats enjoy using them, since they relate to cold differently than humans do. But beyond these reasons, we're convinced that the outdoor exposure afforded by using a Kitty Peeper helps indoor cats live a calmer, happier life. Also, by exposing your cat to the outdoor air in this manner, it helps boost their immune system by exposure to all the seasonal and temperature changes, natural sunlight and moonlight, darkness, and even the little microbes that they would naturally encounter in the wild, but without the risk of fleas, ticks, or other pests and their diseases.
What are your Kitty Peepers made of? What goes into the pricing? While outwardly, our peepers appear to be wooden boxes with screens, they are a lot more complex than their appearance would suggest. The biggest chunk of our material cost comes from the specific construction material we use. Our frames are built from high quality materials, which are over twice as expensive as treated wood, but aren't full of chemicals that can leach and thus expose your pets to toxins as treated wood often can. In addition, the material is impervious to weather-related deterioration, and even UV exposure—again, unlike real wood products. Our second biggest material expense is the screens. Each screen is composed of high quality pet-safe screening that protects you and your pet from rodents, bugs, and other critters that can get through larger-holed screens and mesh. Each screen and frame, of which there are three per peeper, take considerable time to construct and install. In fact, each Kitty Peeper is built by hand from start to finish. We do our best to keep our product as affordable as possible, while taking considerable pride in offering a truly unique, hand crafted item unlike anything else on the market.
What else can you tell me about the frame? It is quite strong, lightweight, and can be painted or stained to accommodate the needs of the owner. The frame material "works" just like wood with respect to nailing, drilling, etc. The frame is designed to last for many, many years. The frame material is manufactured to resist UV radiation, heat, rain, and even snow and ice, meaning that the material won't weatherize or fade the way wood does.
What about the floor? The floor of the Kitty Peeper is composed of waterproof green AstroTurf applied to a strong two layer piece of sealed vinyl board. We designed the Peeper so that a toddler could crawl into one and remain safe (although we don’t recommend it!).
Tell me more about the screening. The Kitty Peeper Window Enclosure uses a jet black reinforced window screening specifically approved for pets. The black color contrasts nicely with the white wood grain finish of the frame. The cat's view is not in any way diminished by the color of the screen, although it's not easy to see into the patio enclosure from the outside. While more expensive than ordinary screening or mesh products seen in other outdoor cat enclosures, our screening prevents rodents or other animals from getting into the patio, where they could pass a disease on to your cat, or get into the house via the entryway. You'll rarely see this feature in our competitors' designs. The screening is mounted with a strong weather-proof adhesive onto the screen frames (instead of spline) with the screen frames screwed into the Kitty Peeper frame for an additional layer of strength. Whether you're placing your Peeper on the 1st floor or the 41st floor, your cat is NOT getting out!
I noticed the entryway has a rather odd looking series of flaps. What’s up with that? There were several considerations that went into the entryway design for the Kitty Peeper. First, we had to create an entrance that a cat could enter and exit easily, even from a relatively narrow window sill. Second, we had to design something that would diminish air flow back into the room. Finally, we wanted to have an entryway that would afford the cat a sense of privacy (cats like that) while giving their human companions some visualization. Our overlapping flap system provides the perfect solution for all of these needs. The overlapping flaps allow the cat to enter the enclosure from virtually any angle--perfect for narrow window sills. In comparison, actual swinging pet doors require cats to enter at a relatively straight-on angle, and we wanted to avoid that problem. The entryway flaps are mounted from the inside, and are fitted to extend slightly below the bottom lip of the entryway. This diminishes air flow from coming in from the outside in general weather conditions. Additionally, the flaps help "enclose" the outside environment from the indoor room smells, which offer the pet more of a pure outdoor experience than a patio that is completely open, and thus exposed to the inside air. Of course, we don't recommend using the Kitty Peeper in extremely cold environments, but in general, they don't "leak" a whole lot. Our own experiences, and those of the customers we've talked to, suggest that it doesn't raise heating or A/C bills.
While the cat can enjoy a sense of privacy while lounging in the Kitty Peeper, humans will still be able to see their pet through the flaps, similar to what one sees when looking through a frosted shower curtain. It also allows your cat to "monitor" the interior room as well, without feeling closed off while inside the patio.
What if my cat can’t figure out the flaps? While every cat is unique, and while some take to the Peeper quickly while others more slowly, remember that cats naturally favor openings and crevices which provide a sense of safety and privacy. They like getting into cabinets, opening unsecured doors, wiggling under couches and even bed springs! In essence, part of the “fun” for the cat is figuring out how to get in and out of the peeper, but humans can help by holding one of the flaps open while gently inserting the cat into the peeper a few times until they figure it out themselves. We have NEVER had a customer tell us that their cat couldn’t or wouldn’t enter through the flaps. The biggest obstacle customers have shared is how to help older or disabled pets get from the floor to the peeper entryway, which can usually be solved by providing a ramp or step-wise system that their pets can handle. We are always happy to suggest creative ways to solve such problems—just email us!
What about rain? Potential customers often wonder about what they would need to do if it rains. The short answer is: Nothing! Kitty Peepers are designed to be rained upon over and over again. Simply keep it in the window, and it will air-dry all by itself.
What about cold weather? While humans typically avoid the cold, cats often like to feel a stiff cold breeze upon their snouts and fur. From our own experience, and from what customers have told us, their cats miss their Peeper if it's removed, even in the winter. For most areas South of Maine, except for extremely cold days, our Kitty Peepers can be left in the window year round. Of course, on a particularly cold, windy day, that can change, but fortunately, we also sell a Kitty Cold Weather Panel that snaps onto the front of the peeper, allowing the owner to temporarily block any residual air flow back into the house (or for any other reason they may wish to block access to the Peeper without having to remove the Peeper from the window).
How easy are the Peepers to install? Installation wasn’t an afterthought. We wanted something that could be placed into or removed from a window in a matter of seconds. Other designs often require cumbersome or even permanent installation, in some cases actually having to drill into your window sill and frame! Not ours. in and out, no fuss. And rock solid. If you purchase one, the first time you install it, put your hand in it. Push down. You'll feel how solid it is when positioned in the window.
What about gaps on either side (or on top of if installing a sliding window model) of the Peeper when installed in the window? The Kitty Peeper Cat Window Patio comes in two sizes to accommodate nearly any size single or double hung window when using the versatile side panels that come with each unit, and now is also available for sliding windows up to 42 inches in height. The sizing chart provided on this site provides a quick and easy guide to picking the right size patio, and the adjustable panels allow the customer to fit the patio into a variety of windows with different window opening widths. The wing-nut adjustable sections provide easy adjustment. The panels themselves, while waterproof and relatively resistant to wind, rain and temperature, can be further insulated by the customer in a variety of ways but work very well just as they are. We also sell an extension side panel kit for the up and down window model which adds several more usable inches to the maximum extension range of the panels.
Do you have a product that fits “roll out” window frames? Unfortunately, no. Because roll out windows are often very narrow and have no window sash to secure the peeper in the window, we have yet to figure out a way to design a unit that would both accommodate this window type and also be safe. We do have a version that fits sliding windows however.
What are your return policies? If the unit has not been used, we will accept returns if mailed back within 10 business days of delivery, for a full refund minus the original shipping. Purchaser pays return postage. No COD returns will be accepted. Email us for mailing instructions before attempting to return. We will respond the same day with address and packing instructions. Refund will be issued by check after receipt and inspection of the unit. We strongly recommend (as noted in the provided instructions and documentation) that you evaluate and set-up your purchase before allowing your pet into it. Since a product that has been used, even briefly, may have been contaminated by a pet that leaves behind a contagion or parasite (like ringworm for example), we are unable to accept such items for a refund. In order to be able to restock a returned item to sell to someone else as "new" we cannot accept or issue a refund for any product that has been used, no matter for how short a period, by the pet. We realize that this may be an unusual policy, but all customers, including you, expect and deserve to have confidence in something you buy as being "new" for your special pet. Needless to say, in the two years we've been in business, this has NEVER been a problem. The only times we've had returns is because the customer chose the wrong-size unit.
If you ordered a Kitty Peeper Window Patio and you find that the unit you ordered will not fit your window (either too large or too small), we will help you with the process of getting the right size. It may be that our side panel extension kit may solve your problem if your window is too large. Simply contact us at [email protected] and we’ll see what we can do. If you purchased a large and it won’t fit in your window, you’ll have to cover the return shipping and new shipping costs (but we’ll deduct the price difference between the larger unit you’ll be returning and the smaller one we’ll send as a replacement, which will generally cover a good portion of the shipping the second unit).
Do you ship to Canada? Overseas? The short answer is yes, but the customer should be aware that shipping costs, in addition to customs and tariff charges that the customer would be responsible for, can be quite high. Should you wish to consider an order for a destination outside of the United States, please contact us at [email protected], and we currently offer the large model through our eBay store. (Because eBay handles all the international shipping, customs and tariff charges, and the required paperwork quickly and easily). Simply go to eBay, and search for "Kitty Peeper" and follow the ordering steps. (We can also put up the small model if a customer contacts us and requests the listing)
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