Fitting a Cat Flap

Fitting a cat flap can appear daunting but it's easy to do with the proper instructions. Decide how high you'd like your cat flap to be (normally, it is at the belly height). Mark this point on the door and use the template included as a guide to drill.

If you have a kitten, or a young kitten, prop the door slightly open and gradually push it to go through. Reward it when it goes through.

Take a measurement of the door

A cat flap is an excellent option to allow your pet to move in and out of your home whenever it pleases. This can help with keeping your cat healthy by ensuring that it gets exercise and also being able to go back inside if left outside in bad weather, especially during the winter. This can reduce the time you spend letting your cat go in and out and make your home safer by letting you know when it has left.

It is essential to ensure that the cat flap is placed correctly in order to prevent your pet from being pushed through or escaping through it by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is important to measure the height of your pet's stomach and the size of the doorway at your home to make sure the flap is at the correct height. You can adjust the height of your flap in case your cat is taller or smaller than average.

The next step is to utilize a spirit level mark the center of the door where you will install the flap. Using the marking as a guide, take an jigsaw to cut the shape of the flap in the door. After cutting the area and sanded the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any holes you need to.

The process of installing a cat flap isn't as difficult as you think, and it shouldn't take more than two hours to finish the entire task from start to the end. The process is slightly more complicated if you are required to put it in the form of a uPVC door or a composite one. This is due to the fact that these doors come in different thicknesses, which can impact the way that holes are cut. We always suggest to contact a professional if this is your first experience with glass.

Measure Your Cat

A cat flap can save you from hours of hearing your pet's cries to let it out or in. This is particularly useful for those who work most of the day and your cat has to stay in the house waiting for you to get home regardless of the weather.

If you are planning to install a cat flap in your door it is important that you take measurements of your cat prior to attempting the task. Although it might seem like a simple operation it is essential to make sure you measure correctly or your pet will find it very difficult to use.

First, ensure that your cat is calm and not anxious prior to taking the measurements. You will need to hold them in a way that they cannot move and also make sure that the measuring tape or ruler is flat against their body, not bending in any place. Holding the ruler or measuring tape against their body from their head to the bottom of their tail will enable you to determine an accurate measurement.

Once you've got the measurement of your cat's body, it's time to take a look at the door and decide on where to put the flap. The best option is to place the flap in the middle of your cat's belly because this will allow them to get through it without much effort. This will also stop the flap making a lot of noise as it swings open and closed.

You will need to consider the thickness of the upvc door panels with cat flap or composite door as well. While timber doors are all of the same thickness, uPVC and composite doors may differ in their overall structure and this can make the installation of the cat flap more difficult as you will need to make sure the hole you make is the proper size for your pet.

It is also worthwhile studying the instructions that come with the cat flap kit to find an illustration template that can be used to mark the location of the hole inside the door. This will allow you to determine where the hole must be placed and ensure that the template is placed precisely on the door. Utilizing a spirit level to check that the template is flush against the door will also be very helpful.

Cut the Flap

You will need to cut an opening in the door panel to install your cat flap before you can attach it. It can be a difficult task so it's recommended you engage a professional to help you if you lack the skills or experience. It is also recommended that you read the instructions included with the kit to discover how to do this correctly.

To do this, you will need to measure the height of your cat's or kitten's belly and use that as an indication point. As a general rule put the flap approximately 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the average height of the stomach for cats. This will let your cat pass through the flap without difficulty and will make it difficult for other cats or nosy neighbours to enter or exit.

Mark the position of the cat flap on the door with pencil. Then, if your kit comes with a paper template, lay this over the door and use the markings to drill holes in every corner of the template. Then, you should be able cut out the template's shape and replace it with your cat flap.

You can install your cat flap yourself on the door made of wood or upvc door panel with cat flap If you're comfortable using a jigsaw. Be cautious not to cut through the mullions or rails that run vertically of your door. You can use a jigsaw to cut the panel into a square or circle depending on the design of your cat flap. Make sure to take your time and don't try to force the jigsaw to cut faster.

Once the hole is cut then carefully insert the flap onto its new home and ensure that it's securely secured. If the flap is fitted with screw caps, push them onto the protruding bolts. Once the screws have been installed, sand the rough edges and apply sealant to any gaps. This will block drafts from entering your home.

Place the Flap

If you have an ordinary cat flap, you can try to encourage your pet through it by placing a small amount cat food on the outside of the door. You can also try pushing the cat using a stick or your hand. Once your cat is accustomed to walking through the flap it is likely to be able in and out as it wants so you can let it out or in without having to be there to open the door for it all day (and possibly in all weather conditions).

It is possible to install a cat flap in the upvc door panels with cat flap doors or glass door, but it's not as easy as installing one inside a wooden exterior door. This is because the doors made of UPVC and some kinds of glass doors don't have a uniform thickness. This can have a dramatic effect on the way you cut the hole for the flap, and can also affect whether your flap fits correctly once it's installed.

The mounting kit might include a template that shows you where to drill holes. If the kit does not include a template, you can photocopy it to make your own. When cutting, it's important to keep the jigsaw from being pushed too hard so that you don't make a larger hole than you need in your door.

Most cat flaps are rectangular or square in shape but there are some that are circular, and are typically more difficult to install. If you have a circular flap, it is essential to ensure that the hole is in the right position on your door, because if it's not, the cat won't be able to use it and could be stranded in the open all day (or even at night).

Certain cat flaps have locks that allow you to regulate when your cat enters and leaves. They can be extremely useful in the event that you are worried about your pet going out at night and coming back in because of the darkness, or if you're working all day. The lock can be used for entry or exit and some locks can be locked in either direction permitting you to close the door completely. This is especially beneficial for cats with a chronic illness or older age who don't want to go out in the rain.