Fitting A Cat Flap

Fitting a cat flap can be a bit daunting but it's simple to install by following the correct instructions. Decide how much to install a cat flap high you'd like the cat flap (normally, it is at the belly height). Mark this point on the door, and use the template provided as a guide to drill.

If you have a kitten who is still a newborn and you want to keep the door open, gently prop it slightly open and encourage it to go through. Reward it as it passes through.

Measure the Door

A cat flap lets your pet to enter and exit your home at any time. This will help keep your cat healthy by making sure that it is exercising and also being able to get back in if stuck outside in the rainy weather, especially during the winter. It can also cut down on the amount of time you have to spend letting it out or in. It can keep your home safe by letting you be aware of when it went out.

However, it is important that the cat flap is correctly fitted to prevent your pet from escaping through it or be pushed through by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is important to measure the height of your pet's belly and the height of the doorway at your home to make sure the flap is at the right height. If your cat is a little longer or taller than the normal, you can adjust the flap's height by moving it up or down a small amount.

Next, use a spirit-level to mark the center of the door. This is where you'll install the flap. Then, using the marks as an outline, cut the shape of your flap with the aid of a Jigsaw. After cutting the area and sanded the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any holes you need to.

The installation of a cat flap should not take longer than two hours. However, the process can be a bit more difficult in the event that you have to put it inside the door of a uPVC or composite door because these doors come in an array of thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and what they are fixed into. This is why we always recommend hiring an expert to do the task, especially when you've never dealt with glass before.

Measure Your Cat

You will not have to spend hours of listening to the pet meow to be let in or out. This is particularly useful for those who working all day and your cat is inside waiting until you get home regardless of the weather.

If you want to fit a cat flap inside your door, it is essential to measure your cat before attempting the task. It might seem like a simple task, but it is essential to measure your cat correctly. Otherwise, your pet might find it difficult to use.

First, ensure that your cat is calm prior to taking measurements. You'll need to put your cat in a position in which they cannot move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is flat and not curved against their body. You can get an accurate measurement by keeping the measuring tape or the ruler flat against the body of the animal from the top to the bottom.

Once you have your cat's measurement then you can examine the door to decide where to put the flap. Place the flap at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to walk through the door with minimal effort. This will also stop the flap from making too much noise when it swings back and forward.

You 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 can be very different in their overall design and can make fitting the cat flap installer flap more difficult since you have to make sure that the hole you cut is the right size for your pet.

You can make use of the template included in the instructions to mark the location of the opening on the door. This will allow you determine where the opening must be, and also to ensure that the template is placed correctly on the door. It is also a good idea to use a spirit-level to ensure 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 attach it. This is a difficult job and it is recommended that you seek the help of a professional cat flap fitting service to complete this task in case you don't have the knowledge or skills to tackle it yourself. It is also recommended that you consult the instructions that come with the kit to learn how to do this properly.

You can take the height of the cat's or kitten's stomach as a reference. A good guideline is to set the cat flap about 10-15 centimeters off the ground, as this is roughly the average height of the cat's belly. This way your cat will be able to go through the flap with ease and also give the other cats or neighbours who are snooping difficult time trying to leave or enter.

Mark the position of the cat flap on the door with a pencil. If your kit has a template, place it over the door. Use the markings on the template to drill holes at each corner. Then, you'll be able to cut out the template shape and replace it with the cat flap.

You can put in your cat flap yourself inside the door made of wood or uPVC when you're confident with a Jigsaw. Be sure to not cut through any of the door mullions or vertical rails. You can use a Jigsaw to cut your panel into a square or circle depending on the way you'd like it. Remember to take your time and don't try to force the jigsaw to cut faster.

Once the hole has been made, carefully place the cat flap into its new place of residence. Make sure that it is firmly secured. If it has caps on the screws, then place them onto the protruding screws. Once the screws have been installed then sand the rough edges and seal any gaps. This will prevent the entry of draughts into your home.

Install the Flap

If you have a basic cat flap you can open it and encourage your pet to walk through by placing a small amount of cat food on the outside of the door. You can also push the cat with a stick or your hand. Once your cat is used to moving through the flap, it should be able to go in and out as it wants so you can let it in or out without having to be there keeping the door open to allow it in all day (and likely in any weather).

It is possible to install an animal flap into the UPVC doors or glass door, but it may not be as simple as installing one on 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 how you cut out the flap's hole and whether the flap fits correctly after installation.

The mounting kit could include a template showing you where to drill holes. If the kit does not include an example you can use a photocopier to make your own. It's important to not use the jigsaw to hard when cutting, so that it doesn't create a larger than needed hole in your door.

Certain cat flaps come in circular shapes, which can be more difficult to put in. If you have a circular flap, make sure the hole is in the correct spot on the door. In the event that it is not, the cat might not be able to access it, and may be stuck outside the whole day (or at night).

Certain cat flaps have locks that allow you to regulate when your cat is allowed to enter and leave. These can be very useful if you're worried about your pet going out at night and then coming back in due to the darkness, or if you're working all day. The lock can be used for entry or exit and some are locked in both directions, which allows you to close the door completely. This is particularly beneficial for sick or elderly cats who aren't keen on going out in rainy weather.