Fitting a Cat Flap

It might seem daunting to install a cat flap but with the right instructions it's not that hard. Determine how high you would like the cat flap (normally, it is at belly height). Mark this point on the door and use the template provided as a guide to drill.
If you have a kitten, or a young kitten you can prop the door open very slightly and gradually encourage it to enter. Reward the kitten as it moves through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap lets your pet to go in and out of your home at any time. This will keep your cat healthy as it ensures that it is getting enough exercise and be able to go back inside when it gets trapped outside during bad weather. It also can reduce the amount of time you need to spend letting it out or in and can ensure your home is secure by allowing you to know when it has gone out.
It is crucial to make sure that the cat flap is placed correctly in order to prevent your pet from being pushed through it or escaping by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is crucial to determine the height of your pet's belly and the entrance to your home to ensure that the flap is at the proper height. If your cat is a little larger or shorter than the normal, you can adjust the flap's height by moving it up or down by a tiny amount.
The next step is to use a spirit level to mark the center of the door. This is where you'll install the flap. With the markings as a reference, use an jigsaw to cut the form of the flap in the door. Once you've cut the area, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces. You can then drill any fixing holes that are required.
The process of installing a cat flap is not as difficult as you think and it should not take more than two hours to finish the entire task from start to finish. However, the process can be slightly more complicated if you need to fit it inside the door of a uPVC or composite door because these doors come with an array of thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and what they are fixed to. This is the reason we recommend hiring a professional to complete the task, especially if you have never worked with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
You can avoid hours of ignoring the cat's meows to be allowed in or out. This is especially helpful when your cat is inside during the winter months when you are at work.
fitting a cat flap in a upvc door is important to measure your cat's measurements first before you begin the installation. Although it might seem like to be a simple task, it is crucial to measure the right way or your cat will find it very difficult to use.
First, ensure that your cat is relaxed and not anxious prior to taking the measurements. You will need to hold them in a manner that they cannot move and ensure that the measuring tape or ruler is flat against their body, not bending in any way. Holding the measuring tape or ruler against their body from the top of their head to the bottom of their tail will enable you to determine an exact measurement.
Once you've got the measurement of your cat's body, it's time to look at the door and decide where you want to place the flap. Place the flap at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to walk through the door without much effort. This will also prevent the flap from making a lot noise as it swings back and back.
You should think about the thickness of the uPVC or composite door as well. While all timber doors have a similar thickness to them, uPVC or composite doors may differ in their overall design. This can make the installation of an enclosure for your cat more difficult, as you must ensure that the hole is the proper size.
It is also worth reading through the directions included with the kit to find an outline of the template that can be used to mark the location of the hole in the door. This will allow you to see the location where the opening should be, and also to make sure that the template is correctly positioned on the door. Using a spirit level to make sure that the template is flush against the door will also be very helpful.
Cut the Flap
You'll need to cut a hole in the door panel to install your cat flap prior to you can attach it. This can be a challenging job, and it is recommended that you seek the help of a professional cat flap fitting service to complete this task in case you don't have the skills or experience to tackle it yourself. You can also refer to the instructions that come with the kit to discover how to do it correctly.
You can take the height of the cat's or kitten's stomach as a guide. As a general rule put the flap around 10-15 centimeters higher than the ground. This is the average height of the cat's belly. This will allow your cat to pass through the flap without difficulty and make it more difficult for other cats or nosy neighbours to enter or exit.
Mark the position of the cat flap on the door with pencil. If your kit comes with a template, place it over the door. Use the markings on the template to drill holes at every corner. Then, you should be able cut out the design of the template and replace it with your cat flap.
If you are installing your cat flap inside an entryway made of wood or uPVC, it is possible to do this yourself if you are comfortable with using a jigsaw. Be sure not to cut into the vertical rails or mullions of your door. You can use a jigsaw to cut the panel into a square or a circle according to the design of your cat flap. Be patient and don't try to make the jigsaw cut faster.
Once the hole is made and the flap is firmly positioned, carefully place the cat flap into its new home and ensure that it is securely secured. If it has caps for screws, then put them onto the protruding screws. Once the screws have been installed then sand the rough edges and apply sealant to any gaps. This will block drafts from entering your home.
Fit the Flap
If you have a simple cat flap, you can open it and encourage your pet to walk through by putting a little bit of cat food on the outside of the door. You can also push the cat with the help of a stick or your hands. Once your pet has become used to walking through the flap, it will be in a position to move as it pleases. This will allow you to let it in and out at any time it wants.
It is possible to install a cat flap in a UPVC door or a glass door, however it may not be as simple as putting one inside a wooden exterior door. This is due to the fact that UPVC doors and some types of glass doors don't have an even thickness. This could have a significant impact on the way you cut out the flap's hole, and whether the flap fits correctly after installation.
The mounting kit might include a template showing you where to drill holes. If the kit doesn't include a template, you are able to make one yourself. When cutting, it's crucial to avoid pushing the jigsaw too to the point that you make a larger hole than necessary in your door.
Some cat flaps are available in circular shapes, which can be more difficult to install. If you have a circular flap, it's important to make sure the hole is in the proper position on your door, because if it's not, the cat can't use it and could be stranded outside all day (or even at night).
Certain cat flaps come with locks that allow you to control the time your cat enters and leaves. This is useful when your cat is scared of going out in the dark or returning to the house at night. They can also be helpful when you are working all day. Some locks can be used for entry or exit, and others can be locked in both directions. This is useful for older cats or sick cats who don't want to go outside in bad weather.