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. Firstly, determine how high you want the flap to be (on average the belly height). Mark this point on your door and use the included template to guide you when drilling.
If you have a kitten who is still a baby and you want to keep the door open, gently prop it slightly open and encourage it to pass through. Reward the kitten each time it goes through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap lets your pet to move into and out of your home at its convenience. This can help with keeping your cat in good health by ensuring that it gets exercise and also being able to go back inside if trapped outside in the rainy weather, especially in winter. It can also reduce the amount of time you'll have to spend letting it in or out and will also help protect your home by letting you know when it's been out.
However, it is essential 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 other animals (e.g. dogs). You should determine the height of your pet's stomach and the height of the doorway in your home to ensure that the flap is at the proper height. If your cat is larger or shorter than the normal, you can adjust the flap's height by moving it upwards or downwards by a small amount.
Then, use a spirit-level to mark the center of the door. This is where you'll install the flap. Then, using the mark as an indication, cut out the contour of your flap using the help of a jigsaw. Once you have cut out the door, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces. You can then drill any fixing holes needed.
Fitting a cat flap should not take more than two hours. However, the process can be slightly more complicated if you need to fit it inside the frame of a uPVC or composite door since these doors come in an array of thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and the type of door they are fixed to. We recommend to contact a professional for your first time working with glass.
Measure Your Cat
A cat flap can spare you from listening to your pet meow to let it in or out. This is particularly helpful when your cat is inside in all weathers when you are at work.
If you are planning to install a cat flap on your door it is important to determine the size of your cat prior to beginning the task. It might appear to be a simple task, but it's important to get the measurements right. In the event that you don't, your cat may find it difficult to use.
First of upvc door panel with cat flap fitted , make sure that your cat is calm and not anxious prior to taking the measurements. You'll need to keep your cat in a position that they are unable to move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is flat and not curved against their body. Keeping the ruler or measuring tape against their body from their head to the bottom of their tail will enable you to determine an accurate measurement.
Once you've got the measurement of your cat, it's time to take a look at the door and decide on where you want to place the flap. It is advisable to position the flap at the height of your cat's belly because this will allow them to pass through it with minimal effort. This will also prevent the flap making quite a lot of noise when it swings open and closed.
You should consider the thickness of the uPVC or composite door too. While all timber doors have the same thickness, uPVC or composite doors can differ greatly in their overall design. This can make the process of putting in a flap for your cat more difficult as you must ensure that the hole is the proper size.
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 the location where the opening should be and ensure that the template is placed correctly on the door. It is also a good idea to utilize a spirit-level to make sure that the template is perfectly against the door.
Cut the Flap
You will need to cut an opening in the door panel for your cat flap before you can put it in place. It can be a difficult job, so it's recommended that you hire a professional to help you if you lack the expertise or experience. You can also consult the instructions provided 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 place the flap around 10-15 centimeters off the ground, as this is the typical height of the cat's belly. This way your cat can move through the flap with ease and it will also give the other cats or neighbours who are snooping difficult time trying to leave or enter.
The position of the cat flap on the door using a pencil. If your kit includes an outline you can place it on the door. Utilize the markings on the template to drill holes at each corner. You should then be able to cut the design of the template and replace it with your cat flap.
If you are installing your cat flap in the form of a door made of wood or uPVC, it is possible to do it yourself if you are comfortable with using a jigsaw. Be sure not to cut through the mullions or rails that run vertically of your door. You can use a jigsaw to cut the panel into a square or circle according to the design of your cat flap. Be patient and don't 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's securely secured. If it has caps for screws, then put them onto the protruding screws. Once the screws are in place, you can sand any rough edges of the cut then apply sealant to any gaps to ensure there are no draughts coming into your home.
Install 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 top of the door. You can also push the cat using a stick or your hand. Once your pet has become accustomed to walking through the flap it will be able to come and go as it pleases. This lets you let it in and out as it wishes.
It is possible to put a cat flap in a UPVC door or a glass door, however it may not be as easy as installing one in a wooden external door. This is due to the fact that the doors made of UPVC and some kinds of glass doors do not have a uniform thickness. This could have an enormous impact on the way you cut out the flap's hole and whether the flap fits correctly after installation.
Depending on the model of cat flap you select It could be equipped with a mounting kit as well as a template that shows precisely where to drill holes for it. If the kit does not include an example, you can photocopy it to create your own. When cutting, it is important to avoid pushing the jigsaw too far enough to create a larger hole than necessary in your door.
Some cat flaps are available in circular shapes, which are more difficult to put in. If you have a circular flap, it's essential to make sure the hole is in the correct position on your door because if it's not, the cat won't be able to use it and could be left in the open all day (or even night).
Some cat flaps come with locks that permit you to manage when your cat comes and goes. These can be very useful when you're concerned about your cat going out at night only to come back in due to the darkness, or you're at work all day. Certain locks can be used for either entry or exit, and others can be locked both ways. This is helpful for sick or older cats who aren't keen to venture out in cold weather.