Fitting A Cat Flap

Fitting a cat flap can appear daunting, but it is fairly simple to install with the proper instructions. Decide how high you'd like the cat flap (normally, it is at belly height). Then, mark this area on the door and use the template provided as a reference to drill.

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

Take a measurement of the door

A cat flap allows your pet to enter and exit your home at any time. This can keep your cat in good health as it will ensure it is exercising regularly and will also allow it to go back inside when it gets trapped outside during bad weather. This will cut down on the time you have to let your cat in or out and make your home safe by letting you know when it's gone.

It is important to make sure that the cat flap is set up correctly to stop your pet from being forced through or escaping through it by other animals (e.g. dogs). You should determine the height of your pet's belly as well as the width of the doorway at your home to ensure that the flap is at the correct height. If your cat is a little larger or shorter than the average, you can adjust the position of the flap 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 guideline, you can use a jigsaw and cut out the shape of the flap within the door. Once you've cut the door, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces and drill any fixing holes that are required.

Installing a cat flap ought to not take longer than two hours. However, the process could be a bit more difficult in the event that you have to put it into a uPVC or composite door as these doors come in an array of thicknesses which can affect how the holes are cut and what they are fixed into. This is why we always recommend calling a professional to carry out the work, particularly when you've never dealt with glass before.

Measure Your Cat

You can save yourself hours of ignoring the cat flap step's meows to be let in or out. This is especially helpful for those who working all day and your cat is in the waiting room until you come home regardless of the weather.

If you want to fit a cat flap in your door, it is crucial to determine the size of your cat prior to beginning the task. It might appear to be a simple task, but it is important 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 before you begin taking measurements. You'll need to hold them in a position where they are not able to move, and ensure that the ruler or measuring tape is flat against their body, not bending in any place. You can take a precise 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 the measurement of your cat's body, it's time to look at the door and decide on 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 making lots of noise when it swings open and shut.

You should take into consideration the thickness of the uPVC or composite door too. While timber doors are all of the same thickness, uPVC and composite doors are different in their overall construction and can make fitting a cat flap in a upvc door the 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 reading through the directions that come with the kit to locate a template drawing that can be used to mark the location of the hole inside the door. This will help you determine where the hole needs to be located and make sure that the template is placed correctly on the door. Using a spirit level to check that the template is sitting right against the door will also be extremely helpful.

Cut the Flap

You'll need to cut an opening in the door to accommodate your cat flap prior to you can attach it. This can be a tricky task and it is recommended that you seek out the assistance of a professional cat flap fitter to complete this task should you not have the expertise or knowledge to do it yourself. It is also recommended that you consult the instructions that come with the kit to discover how to do this properly.

To do this, you have to take a measurement of the height of your cat or kitten's belly and use that as a reference point. As a general rule you should place the flap about 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the average height of the belly for cats. This will allow your cat to pass through the flap with ease and will make it difficult for other cats or nosy neighbors to get in or out.

Once you have determined the location where the cat flap needs to be positioned, mark this position on the door with the help of a pencil. If your kit comes with the template you can place it on the door. Use the markings on the template to drill holes at each corner. Then, you should be able cut out the template and replace it with the cat flap.

You can put in your cat flap yourself on a wood or uPVC door If you're comfortable using the use of a Jigsaw. Be sure to not cut into any of the door's mullions or vertical rails. You can use a Jigsaw to cut your panel into a square or a circle, depending on how you'd like to cut it. Take your time, and don't force the jigsaw into cutting faster.

Once the hole has been cut, carefully place the cat flap in its new home. Make sure it is solidly secured. 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 then apply sealant to any gaps to ensure there aren't any draughts getting 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 hand or a stick. Once your pet has become used to walking through the flap, it will be capable of walking through the flap whenever it wants. This will allow you to let it in and out as it wishes.

You can install a cat flap into the replacement upvc door panel with cat flap or glass doors however it's not exactly the same as fitting one into a wood external door because the UPVC doors and some glass doors don't have the same thickness. This can have a significant impact on how you cut the opening for the flap and will also affect whether the flap fits correctly once it's been installed.

Depending on the model of cat flap you choose It could be equipped with a mounting kit and template that will tell 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's crucial to keep the jigsaw from being pushed too far enough to create a larger hole than is necessary in your door.

Some cat flaps are available in circular shapes, which are more difficult to install. If you have a round flap, ensure that the hole is in the correct place on the door. In the event that it is not, the cat might not be able use it, and might be outside all day (or night).

Some cat flaps have locks that allow you to regulate when your cat is allowed to enter and leave. These are useful when your cat is scared of going out in the dark or returning in the dark. They can also be useful when you are working all day. The lock can be turned on to allow or deny entry, and some are locked in both directions, allowing you to shut the door completely. This is especially beneficial for older or ill cats who don't want to go out in rainy weather.