Fitting a Cat Flap in a UPVC Door

Allowing your cat to enter and go from the house at its own pace is a good idea to keep it mentally and physically engaged. A flap can reduce accidents with toilets by making it easier for cats to leave the house if necessary.
Measure the Door
A cat flap allows your pet to move around as they want without you having to open the door. This is ideal to keep them in the house when you're home or away, and helps keep unwanted pests out of the house as well!
You should examine the door's measurements to ensure that you get the right size cat flap. There are a variety of sizes available. You should then make sure that the cat flap is the proper size for your upvc doors. Otherwise, it could be too big or small and your cat might have trouble using it.
Before you take any action but take a ruler and determine the width of the door in various places along its edges. Also, you should determine the door's height in a few spots. A door that is too tall can cause your cat to perform a gymnast routine every time it uses the flap.
Get help from a glazier if you aren't sure what to measure for the door. They should be able to assist you in determining whether the door you have is suitable for a cat flap and provide you with the appropriate size of flap to buy.
Draw the shape of your hole on the door after you have taken your measurements. This will provide you with an idea of how to cutting the hole and will help you avoid making mistakes that could cost you money in the end!
Make sure that you put holes in the right place. If you are fitting the cat flap onto the patio door, it is crucial that the hole doesn't get too close to the hinges. This could cause leakage or problems with the seal.
If you have an opening made of glass you could want to let this job to a professional glazier. It can be very tricky to fit a cat flap into an existing pane of glass, and you may be surprised to find that the process causes it to break and lose its weatherproof seal.
Measure the Cat
A cat flap permits your pet to come and go whenever they want without needing to leave them on their own. It can also prevent draughts entering your home, which is not healthy for your cat as well as you.
If you own a uPVC door or composite, it may be difficult to install the cat flap. These kinds of doors are typically made with different materials than standard wooden or uPVC doors and the procedure for installing them is quite different too. Before you decide to install a cat flap in your uPVC or composite door, make sure that it is compatible and you have checked with the manufacturer because alterations could invalidate any warranties.
In general, these kinds of doors are made to be tough and durable with insulation included. This makes them more resistant to weather elements than other types of doors, but they may be difficult to fit the cat flap. Consult a professional before installing a cat flap on the uPVC door or composite.
To make sure that your cat can pass through the door, you'll need to determine their height. It is easiest to measure their height when they are calm or asleep, so that they don't sway around. Once you know their height, measure the distance between their stomach and the floor to determine where the bottom of the cat flap should go. This location can be outlined on the door.
If your composite or uPVC door is made of metal (either aluminium or steel) you'll need to be extremely cautious when cutting it with power tools. The drilling process can make cracks, particularly if the area is made of toughened glass. This is the reason it's recommended to engage a glazier when installing your cat flap into a pane of glass. This will stop the glass from becoming brittle or shattering. A glazier will also be in a position to provide you with a circular cat flap hole that is less likely to break and is safer for your cat to use.
Cut the Hole
A high-quality cat flap should come with a drawing template that you can use to mark the location on your door where the hole should go. If it isn't, you can make one using the thin paper (tracing paper is a good choice). After the shape has already been penciled in on the door, you can use your spirit level and ensure that it is horizontal. This will allow the cat flap to be properly seated in the door and prevent it from being in a position to slide open or close.
Next, use your jigsaw, and cut the shape that has been drawn on the door. Use a blade designed for uPVC door use. It is usually marked with this information. If not you can ask the staff at the DIY store for assistance. Once the hole is cut then place the flap against it and open it to ensure that the flap moves smoothly. If it becomes stuck at any point, make use of a file or a rasp to correct this.
You should also check whether there are any electric gas or cable lines within the door you will be cutting through, because they could be damaged by your Jigsaw. Similarly you should be aware of any handles or other fixtures on the door that will have to be removed to make room for the cat flap. Be careful not to harm them in the process.
The majority of people who install the cat flap themselves have an ordinary solid uPVC door and so will not have to worry about any of these issues. If your door is made of wood or has a decorative element that isn't easily removed, this can make the task.
It is always advisable to seek expert help from a cat flap fitter for these kinds of jobs because it is crucial to get the job done correctly to avoid potential problems in the future. If you do it wrong, it could result in the door becoming damaged and could make it impossible to honor the warranty.
Fit the Flap
Once you've got your hole cut, put the flap on to see whether it opens easily. If you find any points that catch or stick to the door, smooth them out using an sandpaper or hand file until it is a perfect fit and opens with no issues. Make sure that the flap is flush with the door.
Some kits include templates for this, however, even if yours does not provide a template, you could make use of a piece of thin paper instead, something similar to tracing paper. Place double glazing cat flap against the door and mark a line where you want to position the flap (this will serve as your cutting guide). Make four screw holes on every corner of the flap with the pencil marks you traced on the door. These will be the screw holes you'll need to fix it in place.
Most uPVC doors are sturdy and easy to cut. But, if your door is made from GRP or a composite, this may be more difficult. If you're not familiar with this, it's recommended that you hire an expert. They will also be able to advise you on whether or not your door is suitable for installation of a cat flap.
You can fit an opening for a cat flap in composite doors but it's important to check with the manufacturers or a professional joiner before you do so since any modifications to these types of doors may invalidate the warranty. If you decide to tackle the work yourself, bear in mind that it could be a messy job and may even be hazardous.
You'll need to use an instrument like a grinder or a saw to cut through composite doors rather than only the GRP. Be aware that this can be extremely dangerous work and you'll have to take extreme care not to damage the door or yourself as it is extremely fragile. It's important to remember that cutting a hole in any type of door glass is far more difficult than making the same modification in the case of a uPVC or solid timber door.