SmartSlydr Automatic Pet Door Review: Premium Automation for Your Home

Traditional pet doors have always been a security compromise—a hole in your home that anything could potentially enter. The SmartSlydr Automatic Pet Door from LycheeThings aims to change that equation with a motorized, app-controlled system that only opens for your pets. ## Installation Reality Check Let's address the elephant in the room: installation is involved. Unlike a simple flap that you can slap into an existing door, the SmartSlydr requires cutting a precise opening and connecting power. We strongly recommend professional installation unless you're experienced with home improvement projects. That said, LycheeThings provides excellent installation guides and responsive customer support. The included measuring template makes cutting the opening straightforward, and the unit itself mounts cleanly once the hole is ready. ## How It Works The SmartSlydr uses a solid sliding panel rather than a flap. When your pet (wearing the included RFID collar tag) approaches within about 3 feet, the motor activates and slides the panel open. After your pet passes through, it closes automatically. The result feels futuristic. Watching the panel smoothly slide open as your dog approaches, then close behind them, never gets old. More importantly, when locked, this is genuinely secure—no flap for raccoons or intruders to push through. ## Smart Home Integration This is where the SmartSlydr really differentiates itself. Full integration with Alexa and Google Home means you can: - "Hey Google, lock the pet door" when you want to keep pets inside - Create routines that lock the door at night automatically - Check door status remotely - Receive notifications when pets use the door The app also supports scheduling. We set ours to lock automatically at 10 PM and unlock at 6 AM, keeping our cats inside during peak wildlife hours. ## Pet Recognition The included RFID collar tags worked reliably in our testing. You can register multiple pets, and the app logs each entry/exit with timestamps. The system correctly identified our two cats every time. The recognition range of about 3 feet means the door opens before your pet reaches it, so there's no awkward waiting. The open/close cycle (1.5 seconds open, 2 seconds close) is smooth and relatively quiet. ## Security and Weather Sealing The solid panel design provides genuine security when locked. The weather seal around the panel is effective—we noticed no drafts during winter testing, which is a significant improvement over flap-style doors. The motor mechanism is protected from the elements, and the door has operated flawlessly through rain, snow, and temperature extremes over our two-month test period. ## Limitations A few considerations: The 10" x 15" opening accommodates most cats and small-to-medium dogs, but very large dogs may need to duck or simply won't fit. Measure carefully before purchasing. The hardwired power requirement means you need an outlet nearby. A battery backup would be a welcome addition for power outages (the door fails locked for security). The collar tags are necessary—no microchip option currently. The tags are small and lightweight, but it's another thing for your pet to wear. ## Value Assessment At $549, the SmartSlydr is expensive compared to traditional pet doors. But the comparison isn't quite fair—this is a fundamentally different product. When you factor in the security benefits, smart home integration, and quality of life improvements, the price becomes reasonable for tech-forward pet owners. ## The Bottom Line The SmartSlydr Automatic Pet Door represents what pet doors should be in 2026: secure, smart, and seamlessly integrated into your connected home. The installation commitment and price tag aren't for everyone, but if you want the best pet door experience currently available, this is it.