Fitting a Cat Flap

It can be difficult to put up the flap for your cat, but with the right guidelines, it's not all that difficult. Firstly, determine how high you want the cat flap to be (on average or belly height). Mark this point on the door and then use the template as a guide to drill.
If you have a kitten, or a young kitten hold the door slightly open and gradually encourage it to go through. Reward the kitten every time it passes.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap is an excellent option to let your pet come and go inside and out of your house as it likes. This can help with keeping your cat healthy by making sure that it is getting exercise as well as being able to come back in if stuck outside in bad weather, especially in winter. This will cut down on the time you spend letting your cat in or out, and keep your home safe by notifying you when it has left.
It is crucial to ensure that the cat flap is placed properly to stop 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 belly as well as the entrance to your home to ensure that the flap is at the right height. You can adjust the position of your flap when your cat is taller or smaller than average.
The next step is to make use of a spirit level to mark the centre of the door, where you will be installing the flap. With the markings as a reference, use an jigsaw to cut the shape of the flap within the door. After you've cut the door, sand the edges of the door to smooth the surfaces. Then drill any fixing holes that are required.
upvc door panel with cat flap fitted of a cat flap should not take more than two hours. However, the process can be slightly more complicated when you have to install it onto the frame of a uPVC or composite door because these doors have a wide range of thicknesses which can affect how the holes are cut and what they are fixed into. This is the reason we recommend calling a professional to carry out the job, particularly if you have never worked with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
You can avoid hours of ignoring the pet meow to be allowed in or out. This is especially useful for cats that are inside in all weathers while you are at work.
If you're planning to put a cat flap inside your door, it is crucial that you determine the size of your cat prior to beginning the task. It might appear to be a simple task, but it is important to measure your cat correctly. Otherwise, your pet might find it difficult to use.
First, make sure that your cat is calm prior to taking measurements. You will have to hold your cat in a position where they cannot move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is flat and not curved against the body. By keeping the measuring tape or ruler against their body from the top of their head to the bottom of their tail will enable you to make 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 place the flap. Position 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 stop the flap from making lots of noise when it swings open and shut.
You will need to take into consideration the thickness of the uPVC or composite door as well. While timber doors are all of the same thickness, uPVC and composite doors can be very different in their overall design and this can make the installation of a cat flap more difficult since you have to ensure that the hole you make is the proper size for your pet.
You can also use the template drawing included in the instructions to mark the location of the opening on the door. This will allow you to determine where the hole needs to be located and make sure that the template is set precisely on the door. It is also helpful to employ a spirit-level to ensure that the template is flush against the door.
Cut the Flap
You will need to cut a hole in the door panel for your cat flap before you can attach it. It can be a difficult job and it is recommended that you get a professional help you if you lack the knowledge or skills. You can also read the instructions included with the kit to learn how to do it right.
You can consider the height of the cat's or kitten's stomach to guide you. A good guideline is to put the flap of your cat about 10 centimeters away from the ground since this is the typical height of the cat's belly. This way, your cat will be able to go through the flap without difficulty and it will also give other cats or snooping neighbours an issue when trying to enter or leave.
Draw the location of the cat flap on the door with pencil. Then, if your kit includes a template for paper, place this over the door and use the marks to drill holes into every corner of the template. Then, you should be able to cut out the template's shape and replace it with your cat flap.
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 comfortable with the Jigsaw. Ensure that you do not cut through any of the door's mullions or vertical rails. You can use a jigsaw cut the panel into a square or a circle, depending on the design of your cat flap. Remember to take your time and don't force the jigsaw to cut faster.
Once the hole is cut and the flap is firmly positioned, carefully place the flap of cat food into its new home and make sure that it is firmly secured. If it has caps on the screws, then place these onto the protruding screws. Once the screws are in place, you can sand any rough edges of the cut and then seal any gaps to ensure that there aren't any draughts getting into your home.
Place the Flap
If you have a simple cat flap, you can leave it open and encourage your pet to go through by putting a small amount of cat food in front of the door. You can also try pushing the cat using the help of a stick or your hands. Once your cat is accustomed to moving through the flap, it will be capable of walking through the flap as it pleases. This lets you let it in and out as it wants.
You can fit the flap onto the UPVC or glass doors however it's not as simple as fitting one into a timber external door since UPVC and some glass doors don't have a consistent thickness. This can have a dramatic effect on how you cut the hole for the flap and can also affect whether your flap fits correctly once it's installed.
Based on the type of cat flap you choose It could come with its own mounting kit as well as a template that will show precisely where to drill holes for it. If the kit does not include a template, you are able to make one by yourself. When cutting, it's important to avoid pushing the jigsaw too to the point that you make a larger hole than you need in your door.
Most cat flaps are square or rectangular in shape, but there are also some which are circular and these are typically more difficult to install. If you have a circular flap, it's important to make sure the hole is in the right location on your door as if it's not, your cat can't use it and could be stranded out in the sun all day (or even night).
Certain cat flaps have locks that let you determine when your cat enters and leaves. These are very helpful if you're worried about your cat going out at night only to come back in because of the darkness, or if you're at work for the entire day. Some locks can be used for entry or exit, and others can be locked both ways. This is beneficial for sick or older cats who aren't keen to venture out in cold weather.