Fitting A Cat Flap
It may seem difficult to install the flap for your cat but with the right instructions it's not that hard. First, decide how high you want the cat flap to be (on average the belly height). Mark this point on the door and use the template included as a guideline to drill.
If you have a kitten that is still a baby and you want to keep the door open, gently prop it slightly open and invite it to go through. Reward it as it passes through.
Measure the Door
A cat flap is a great way to allow your pet to come and go in and out of your house as it wants. This can help keep your cat in good health by ensuring that it is getting exercise and also being able to go back inside if trapped outside in bad weather, particularly during the winter. It can also reduce the amount of time you need to let it out or in and can also ensure your home is secure by allowing you to know when it has gone out.
It is essential to ensure that the cat flap is placed correctly in order to prevent your pet from being pushed through or escaping through it by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is important to measure your pet's belly height and the doorway of your house so that you can make sure that the flap is at the right height. If your cat is larger or shorter than the average, you can adjust the position of the flap by moving it up or down by a tiny amount.
The next step is to use a spirit level to mark the middle of the door. This is where you will put in the flap. Utilizing the marking as a guideline, cat flap fitting you can use the jigsaw and cut the shape of the flap within the door. After you've cut the flap then sand the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any holes you need to.
The process of fitting a cat flap is not as difficult as you believe and it shouldn't take more than two hours to finish the entire task from start to the end. The process is a bit more challenging if you need to install it in the case of a uPVC door or a composite one. This is because composite doors come in various thicknesses, which could affect the way the holes are cut. We always recommend to contact an expert for your first experience working with glass.
Measure Your Cat
You will not have to spend hours of listening to the pet meow to be allowed in or out. This is particularly useful for those who work most of the day and your cat is in the house waiting for you to get home regardless of the weather.
If you want to fit a cat flap on your door it is important to determine the size of your cat prior to beginning the task. It may seem like a straightforward task, but it's crucial to measure your cat correctly. Otherwise, your pet may have difficulty putting it in use.
First of all, make sure that your cat is calm and not stressed prior to taking the measurements. You'll need to keep them in a manner that they are not able to move, and make sure that the ruler or measuring tape is flat against their body and not arching in any places. By keeping the measuring tape or ruler against their body from their head to the bottom of their tail can allow you to get an precise measurement.
Once you've got the measurement of your cat, it's time to look at the door and decide where you want to place the flap. Place the flap at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to go through the door without much effort. This will also stop the flap from making quite a lot of noise when it swings open and closed.
You must take into consideration the thickness of the uPVC or composite door too. While timber doors are of a similar thickness, upvc door panel replacement cat flap and composite doors may differ in their overall structure, which can make fitting a cat flap more complicated as you will need to make sure that the hole you cut is the correct size for your pet.
It is also worthwhile reading through the directions included with the cat flap kit to find an outline of the template that can be used to mark out the location of the hole inside the door. This will help you to see where the opening must be, and also to ensure that the template is correctly positioned on the door. Utilizing a spirit level to ensure that the template is in a straight line against the door will be very helpful.
Cut the Flap
Before you can install your cat flap you must cut the door's panel to make it large enough to accommodate it. This is a difficult task and it is recommended that you get help from a professional cat flap fitting service for this job should you not have the knowledge or skills to tackle it yourself. It is also recommended to consult the instructions that come with the cat flap kit to learn how to do it correctly.
You can consider the height of your cat's or kitten's stomach as a reference. A good rule of thumb is to put the flap around 10-15 centimeters off the ground, as this is approximately the average height of the cat's belly. This way your cat will be able to go through the flap without difficulty and will also make any other cats or curious neighbours a tough time trying to leave or enter.
Draw the location of the cat flap on the door with a pencil. If your kit has a paper template, lay it on top of the door and use the marks to drill holes into each corner of the template. You should then be able to cut out the shape of the template and replace it with your cat flap.
If you are installing your cat flap on an entryway made of wood or uPVC, you are able to do this yourself if you feel confident enough to handle the jigsaw. Be sure to not cut through any of the door's mullions or vertical rails. You can use a jigsaw to cut the panel into a circle or square, depending on the design of your cat flap. Remember to take your time and don't make the jigsaw cut faster.
Once the hole has been cut, carefully place your cat flap into its new place of residence. Make sure that it is securely secured. If it has caps on the screws, then place these caps onto the screws that protrude. After the screws are installed smooth the edges and apply sealant to any gaps. This will stop drafts from entering your home.
Install the Flap
If you have a simple cat flap in bifold doors flap, you can open it and encourage your pet to use it by putting a small amount of cat food on the outside of the door. You can also try pushing the cat using the help of a stick or your hands. Once your cat is comfortable walking through the flap, it will be capable of walking through the flap whenever it wants. This lets you let it in and out as it's wanted.
It is possible to install the flap inside the UPVC doors or glass door, but it may not be as simple as installing one in a wooden external door. This is due to the fact that UPVC doors and some types of glass doors don't have an even thickness. This could have a significant impact on the way you cut out the flap hole and also whether the flap will fit correctly after installation.
The mounting kit might include a template that shows you the best places to drill holes. If the kit does not include a template, you are able to make one on your own. When cutting, it is important to avoid pushing the jigsaw too far enough to make a larger hole than is necessary in your door.
Most cat flaps are rectangular or square in shape, however there are some that are circular and these are usually more difficult to install. If you have a round flap, make sure the hole is located in the correct spot on your door. Otherwise, the cat may not be able use it, and could be outside all day (or night).
Some cat flap installer near me flaps have locks that permit you to manage when your cat comes in and goes. They are helpful if your pet is afraid of leaving in the dark or coming back in the dark. They can also be helpful for those who work all day. Certain locks can be used for entrance or exit, while others can be locked in both directions. This is useful for sick or elderly cats who do not want to go outside in bad weather.