Fitting a Cat Flap

It might seem daunting to put up 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 at belly height). Mark this point on your door and use the template provided to help you drill.
If you have a kitten, or a young kitten, prop the door open very slightly and gradually allow it to go through. Reward the kitten as it moves through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap is an excellent option to let your pet move into and out of your home whenever it pleases. This can keep your cat in good health as it ensures that it is exercising regularly and will also allow it to go back inside when it is trapped in the elements during bad weather. It can also reduce the amount of time you'll have to allow it out or in and can keep your home safe by letting you know when it's been out.
However, it is important that the flap on your cat is properly fitted to stop your pet from being able to escape through it or be pushed through by any other animals (e.g. dogs). You should determine the height of your pet's stomach and the width of the doorway in your home to ensure that the flap is at the right height. If your cat is a little taller or shorter than average, you can alter the flap's height by moving it up or down by a tiny amount.
Next, use a spirit-level to mark the center of the door. This is where you will put in the flap. Utilizing the marking as a reference, use a jigsaw and cut out the form of the flap inside the door. After cutting the area and sanded the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any necessary holes.
Fitting a cat flap should not take longer than two hours. The process is slightly more challenging if you need to install it on a uPVC door or a composite one. This is because these doors are available in a variety of thicknesses, which can affect the way the holes are cut. This is why we recommend hiring a professional to carry out the job, particularly in the event that you've never worked with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
A cat flap can save you from hours of listening to your pet meow for you to let it in or out. This is particularly helpful for cats that are in the house during all seasons while you work.
If you are planning to install a cat flap in your door, it is essential that you measure your cat before attempting the task. It might seem like a straightforward task, but it is essential to measure your cat correctly. In the event that you don't, your cat might find it difficult to use.
First, ensure that your cat is calm prior to taking measurements. You'll need to keep them in a way that they cannot move and ensure that the ruler or measuring tape is flat against their body and not bending in any place. cat flap installer near me can get an accurate measurement by keeping the measuring tape or ruler flat against the body of the animal from the top to the bottom.
Once you have your cat's measurement and measurements, you need to examine the door to decide where 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 avoid the flap from making quite a lot of noise when it swings open and shut.
cat flap double glazing will also need to take into consideration the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. Although timber doors are of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors are different in their overall design, which can make fitting a cat flap more complicated since you have to ensure that the hole you cut is the right size for your pet.
You can also use the template included in the instructions to mark the position of the opening on the door. This will allow you to determine where the hole needs to be located and ensure that the template is positioned properly on the door. It is also beneficial to use a spirit-level to ensure that the template is placed in a straight line against the door.
Cut the Flap
Before you can put in your cat flap you have to cut the door panel to make it large enough to accommodate it. This is a difficult job and it is recommended that you get help from a professional cat flap fitting service for this step if you don't have the skills or experience to tackle it yourself. You can also consult the instructions provided with the kit to learn how to do it right.
You can take the height of your cat's or kitten's stomach as a guide. A good guideline is to set the flap of your cat about 10 centimeters off the ground, as this is the typical height of the cat's belly. This will let your cat pass through the flap without difficulty and will make it difficult for other cats or nosy neighbors to get in or out.
The position of the cat flap on the door with the pencil. If your kit comes with an outline, place it over the door. Use the marks on the template to drill holes at every corner. You will then be able to cut out the design of the template and replace it with your cat flap.
If you are installing your cat flap inside the form of a door made of wood or uPVC, it is possible to do it yourself if are confident enough to use a jigsaw. Make sure you don't cut into any of the door's mullions or vertical rails. You can use a Jigsaw to cut your panel into a square or circle according to the way you'd like to cut it. Be patient and don't try to force the jigsaw into cutting faster.
Once the hole is cut, carefully place the cat flap in its new place of residence. Make sure that it is securely secured. If the flap has screws put them on the protruding bolts. Once cat flap double glazing are in place, you can sand any rough edges of the cut, and then apply sealant around any gaps to ensure that there are no draughts coming into your home.
Fit the Flap
If you have an ordinary cat flap, you can encourage your pet to go through it by placing a small amount of cat food on the front of the door. Alternatively you can try pushing the cat through with your hands or a stick. Once your cat is accustomed to walking through the flap it will be in a position to move as it pleases. This lets you let it in and out whenever it's wanted.
You can install an animal flap inside a UPVC or glass door but it's not as simple as fitting one into a wood external door because the UPVC doors and some glass doors don't have a consistent 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 showing you where to drill holes. If the kit does not include a template you can make one on your own. When cutting, it's crucial to keep the jigsaw from being pushed too hard so that you don't create a larger hole than necessary in your door.
Most cat flaps are square or rectangular in shape, however there are some that are circular, and they are usually more difficult to fit. If you have a circular flap, make sure that the hole is located in the correct place on your door. In the event that it is not, the cat might not be able to use it, and might be outside all day (or night).
Some cat flaps have locks that allow you to determine when your cat is allowed to enter and leave. These are very helpful in the event that you are concerned about your cat going out at night and then coming back in due to the darkness, or you're at work all day. The lock can be engaged for entry or exit and some can be locked in both directions, allowing you to shut the door completely, which is particularly beneficial for older or ill cats who aren't keen on going out in the rain.