If my cat comes to the garage door, I want the door to open for her. Just wondering if I'm barking up the wrong tree here.
aeronb:
If my cat comes to the garage door, I want the door to open for her. Just wondering if I'm barking up the wrong tree here.
I like your humor. I suspect a voice recognition solution with the correct amount of accuracy, reliability, and security is probably pretty ambitious for a arduino project. However hang around and see what others think about it. I would suspect many will suggest a RFID tag on the cat's collar which might be a far more simple solution.
Sounds more like your cat has you trained and making projects demands for you? 
Thanks for the tip. That certainly sounds like an easier project. I just discovered Arduino a couple of days ago. I have yet to obtain my first board. It's amazing what you can do with these things.
Do you think a voice recognition board could recognize my cat's meow
No way.
Go with RFID.
If you want to make your own see:-
http://arduino.cc/playground/Main/DIYRFIDReader
RFID is the best way to go but I wouldn't waste a arduino on the task.
I bought these on ebay
check out ebay item 250930163421 22 bucks for 4 units ( they come with 2 fobs each) or 8 bucks for one unit.
The fobs that come with them are kinda large but you can get smaller ones easy. (em4100 125khz)
I actually have a implant of one in my left hand. ]
The controller works on 12VDC and can be programmed to use up to 26 tags (fobs)
You could make a cat door that is unlocked by a solenoid.
you just will need a timer to keep the solenoid open for how ever long you want.
But you must use some kind of relay to drive the solenoid.
The controller will keep the circuit closed as long as the tag is within range of the pickup coil.
2 inches max.
what you could do is to put the pickup on a PCV pipe at the edge of the door so the tag will touch it (or come close when the animal is going to use the door.)
I have a long range reader on my home. I put it in the wall next to the doorbell and when I reach for the door knob the door is unlocked. ( use a electric door strike)
I also keep a EM4100 card key in my wallet just in case my hands are full. I just put my back to the wall within 2 feet and the door is unlocked.
My neighbors think I don't lock my home they never see me use a key
OH you might want to mod the solenoid a bit.
put a small pice of rubber in side the solenoids coil.
So when the solenoid is activated it won't go click so loud and scare the cat.