Fitting A Cat Flap

Fitting a cat flap can seem intimidating but it's easy to do by following the correct instructions. Firstly, determine how high you want the cat 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, or a young kitten hold the door open a bit and gradually allow it to go through. Reward it as it passes through.

Take a measurement of the door

A cat flap is a great way to let your pet leave and come inside and out of your house as it pleases. This will help keep your cat in good health by ensuring that it is getting exercise as well as being able to go back in if stuck outside in bad weather, especially in winter. It can also cut down on the amount of time you have to let it in or out and can keep your home safe by allowing you to know when it's been out.

It is crucial to ensure that the cat flap is placed properly to stop your pet from being pushed through it or escaping by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is essential to measure the height of your pet's belly and the entrance to your home in order to ensure that the flap is at the right height. You can adjust the position of your flap in case your cat is taller or less than average.

The next step is to utilize a spirit level mark the center of the door, where you will be installing the flap. Utilizing the marking as a guide, take a jigsaw and cut out the form of the flap within the door. After you've cut the space, sand down the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces. You can then drill any fixing holes required.

The process of installing the cat flap isn't as difficult as you may think, and it shouldn't take more than two hours to finish the entire job from start to the end. However, the process could be a bit more difficult in the event that you have to put it onto the door of a uPVC or composite door because these doors come with 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 an expert to do the task, especially when you've never dealt with glass before.

Measure Your Cat

You can avoid hours of ignoring the pet's meow to be let in or out. This is especially helpful for those who working all day and your cat has to stay in the house waiting for you to get home in any weather.

It is essential to first measure your cat before attempting to install. It may seem like a simple task, but it's essential to measure your cat correctly. If not, your cat may find it difficult to use.

First, make sure your cat is calm before taking measurements. You will need to hold them in a position where they cannot move and also make sure that the measuring tape or ruler is flat against their body and not bending in any way. Holding the measuring tape or ruler against their body from their head to the bottom of their tail can allow you to determine an precise measurement.

Once you have your cat's measurement then you can look at the door to determine where to place the flap. Place the flap at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to go through the door with minimal effort. This will also prevent the flap from making a lot of noise as it swings open and closed.

You should think about the thickness of the uPVC or composite door, as well. Although timber doors are of the same thickness, uPVC and composite doors may differ in their overall structure and this can make the installation of a cat flap more difficult because you must make sure that the hole you cut is the correct size for your pet.

It is also worthwhile looking through the instructions included with the kit to locate an outline of the template that can be used to determine the location of the hole inside the door. This will help you determine where the hole should be located and ensure that the template is set properly on the door. It is also a good idea to employ a spirit-level to ensure that the template sits perfectly against the door.

Cut the Flap

You'll need to make an opening in the door panel to install your cat flap prior to you can install it. This can be a tricky job and it is recommended that you seek the help of a professional cat flap fitting service for this job if you don't have the expertise or knowledge to complete the task yourself. It is also recommended that you read the instructions included with the cat flap kit to discover how to do it correctly.

To do this, you will need to take a measurement of the height of your cat's or kitten's belly. Use this as an indication point. A good rule of thumb is to set 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 can move through the flap comfortably and it will also give any other cats or curious neighbours difficult time trying to get in or out.

Once you've determined the location where the cat flap needs to be positioned, mark this location on the door using pencil. Next, if your kit has an outline of paper, place this over the door and use the markings to drill holes into each corner of the template. Then, you should be able cut out the template and replace it with the cat flap.

If you are installing your cat flap in the form of a door made of wood or upvc door panel with cat flap fitted, it is possible to do it yourself if are comfortable with the jigsaw. Be sure to not cut through any of the door's mullions or vertical rails. You can use a jigsaw to cut your panel into a square or a circle according to the way you'd like it. Be patient and don't try to force the jigsaw into cutting faster.

Once the hole is cut and the flap is firmly positioned, carefully place the flap onto its new home and ensure that it is firmly fixed. If it has caps for screws, then put them onto the protruding screws. Once the screws are in place, sand the rough edges of the cut, and then apply sealant to any gaps to ensure there aren't any draughts entering into your home.

Place the Flap

If you have an ordinary cat flap, you can try to encourage your pet through it by placing a small amount cat food on the front of the door. You can also try pushing the cat flaps for french doors through wall cat flap using your hands or a stick. Once your cat is used to walking through the flap, it is likely to be able in and out as it pleases, so you can let it in or out without to open the door for it all day (and potentially in all weathers).

You can fit an animal flap inside the UPVC or glass doors however it's not exactly the same as fitting a cat flap in a upvc door it into a wooden external door since the UPVC and 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 how well the flap fits after installation.

Depending on the type of cat flap you select, it may include a mounting kit and template that will tell you exactly where to drill holes for it. If the kit does not include a template, you are able to make one yourself. When cutting, it's important to not push the jigsaw far enough to make a larger hole than you need in your door.

Some cat flaps come in circular shapes, which can be more difficult to put in. If you have a circular flap it's important to make sure the hole is in the correct location on your door as if it's not, your cat will not be able to use the flap and could be left in the open all day (or even night).

Certain cat flaps come with locks that let you control the time your cat enters and leaves. They can be extremely useful in the event that you are worried about your pet going out at night and coming back in due to the darkness, or you're working all day. The lock can be turned on to allow or deny entry, and some can be locked in both directions, which allows you to close the door completely. This is especially helpful for older or ill cats who don't want to go out in rainy weather.