Fitting a Cat Flap

It might seem daunting to install a cat flap, but with the right guidelines, it's not all that difficult. Decide how high you'd like your cat flap to be (normally it's located at the belly height). Note cat flap insulation on the door, and use the template as a guide to drill.
If you have a small kitten hold the door open a bit and gradually allow it to enter. Reward it when it goes through.
Measure the Door
A cat flap is a wonderful way to allow your pet to leave and come into and out of your house as it wants. This will keep your cat healthy as it will ensure it is getting enough exercise and be able to return inside if it gets trapped outside in bad weather. This will cut down on the time you allow your cat out or in and make your home safe by letting you know when it has left.
It is crucial to make sure that the cat flap is placed correctly in order to prevent your pet from being forced through it or escaping by other animals (e.g. dogs). You should measure the height of your pet's belly as well as the size of the doorway at your home to make sure the flap is at the proper height. If your cat is a little taller or shorter than normal, you can adjust the position of the flap by moving it up or down a small amount.
The next step is to utilize a spirit level mark the center of the door, where you will be installing the flap. Using the marking as a guideline, you can use the jigsaw and cut the form of the flap in the door. Once you've cut the space, sand down the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces and drill any fixing holes that are required.
Installing a cat flap ought to not take more than two hours. However, the process can be a little more complicated in the event that you have to put it inside a uPVC or composite door because these doors come with various thicknesses which can affect how the holes are cut and what they are fixed to. We recommend to contact an expert when this is your first experience working with glass.
Measure Your Cat
A cat flap will save you from listening to your pet meow to let it out or in. This is especially helpful when your cat is inside during the winter months when you are at work.
If you're planning to put a cat flap on your door, it is crucial to take measurements of your cat prior to attempting the task. It might appear to be a simple task, but it is essential to make sure you measure the right measurements. In the event that you don't, your cat may have difficulty putting it in use.
First, make sure that your cat is calm before taking measurements. You will need to hold them in a manner that they cannot move and also ensure that the measuring tape or ruler is flat against their body and not arching in any places. You can take a precise measurement by keeping the measuring tape or the ruler flat against the body of the animal from the top to the bottom.
Once you have the measurement of your cat, it's time to look at the door and decide on where to put the flap. The best option is to place the flap at the height of your cat's stomach as this will allow them to move through it with minimal effort. This will also stop the flap from making too much noise as it swings back and back.
You must consider the thickness of the uPVC or composite door, as well. While all timber doors have the same thickness, uPVC or composite doors may differ in their overall design. This can make the process of putting in a flap for your cat more difficult as you need to ensure the hole is of the correct size.
You can make use of the template included in the instructions to mark the position of the hole in the door. This will help you to see where the opening must be and also ensure that the template is correctly positioned on the door. Using a spirit level to make sure that the template is sitting flush against the door will be very helpful.
Cut the Flap
You'll need to make an opening in the door to accommodate your cat flap prior to you can put it in place. This is a difficult job and it is recommended that you get help from a professional cat flap fitter to complete this task in case you don't have the expertise or knowledge to tackle it yourself. It is also recommended to review the directions that come with the kit to find out how to do this correctly.
You can use the height of the cat's or kitten's stomach to guide you. As a rule of thumb you should place the flap around 10-15 centimeters higher than the ground. This is the standard height of the belly for cats. upvc door panel with cat flap will allow your cat to move through the flap with ease and make it more difficult for other cats or naughty neighbors to get in or out.
Draw the location of the cat flap on the door with the pencil. If your kit has a paper template, lay this over the door and use the markings to drill holes in each corner of the template. After that, you'll be able to cut the template and replace it with the flap for cats.
If you are installing your cat flap on the form of a door made of wood or uPVC, you can do this yourself if you are confident enough to use a jigsaw. Ensure that you do not cut through any of the door mullions or vertical rails. You can use a jigsaw to cut the panel into a circle or square according to the design of your cat flap. Be patient, and don't force the jigsaw into cutting faster.
Once the hole is cut, carefully fit the flap onto its new home and make sure that it's securely fixed. If the flap is fitted with screw caps then push them into the protruding bolts. Once the screws are in place, you can sand any rough edges of the cut and then seal any gaps to ensure there aren't any draughts getting into your home.
Install the Flap
If you have a basic cat flap, you can open it and encourage your pet to use it by putting a little bit of cat food in front of the door. Alternatively you can try pushing the cat through using your hand or a stick. Once your cat is comfortable walking through the flap it will be able to come and go whenever it wants. This allows you to let it in and out whenever it wishes.
You can fit a cat flap into the UPVC or glass doors although this may not be exactly the same as fitting one into a wood exterior door due to the fact that UPVC and some glass doors don't have a consistent thickness. This could have a significant impact on the way you cut out the flap's hole, and whether the flap will fit correctly after installation.
Based on the type of cat flap you pick It could come with its own mounting kit as well as a template that will show you exactly where to drill holes for it. If the kit does not include a template you can make one by yourself. When cutting, it's important to keep the jigsaw from being pushed too hard so that you don't make a larger hole than is necessary in your door.
Some cat flaps are available in circular shapes, which can be more difficult to put in. If you have a round flap, make sure the hole is located in the right place on the door. If not, your cat might not be able to access it, and may be locked outside for the entire day (or at night).
Some models of cat flap have locks that allow you to control when your cat comes and goes. They are helpful when your cat is scared of leaving in the dark or coming back inside at night. They can also be helpful when you are working all day. The lock can be turned on for entry or exit and some locks can be locked in both directions, which allows you to close the door completely, which is particularly beneficial for cats with a chronic illness or older age who aren't willing to go out in rainy weather.