Fitting A Cat Flap
Fitting a cat flap can appear daunting but it's simple to install with the proper instructions. First, decide how high you want the flap to be (on average the belly height). Then, mark this area on the door and use the template as a guideline to drill.
If you have a kitten, or a young kitten you can prop the door slightly open and gradually allow it to enter. Reward it when it goes through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap is a great option to allow your pet to come and go in and out of your home as it wants. This can keep your cat healthy as it ensures that it is getting enough exercise and also be able to return inside if it gets trapped in the elements during bad weather. This will cut down on the time you allow your cat in or out and also make your home safe by notifying you when it's gone.
It is crucial to ensure that the cat flap is set up properly to stop your pet from being forced through or escaping through it by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is essential to measure your pet's belly height and the doorway to your home to ensure that the flap is at the proper height. If your cat is larger or shorter than the average, you can alter the position of the flap by moving it up or down by a tiny amount.
The next step is to make use of a spirit level to mark the centre of the door that you will install the flap. Using the marking as a guide, take the jigsaw and cut the form of the flap within the door. After cutting the area, sand down the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any holes you need to.
Installing a cat flap ought to not take more than two hours. The process is slightly more complicated if you are required to install it on the form of a uPVC door or composite one. This is because these doors come in different thicknesses, which can impact the way holes are cut. This is why we recommend hiring a professional to complete the job, particularly in the event that you've never worked with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
You can save yourself hours of ignoring the pet's meow to be allowed in or out. This is particularly useful when you're at working all day and your cat has to stay in the waiting room until you come home in any weather.
It is essential to measure your cat's measurements first before attempting to install. Although it might appear to be an easy task, it is important to get the measurement right or your pet will be unable to use.
First, make sure that your cat is calm before you begin taking measurements. You will need to hold them in a manner that they cannot move and also ensure that the ruler or measuring tape is flat against their body, not arching in any places. Holding the measuring tape or ruler against their body from their head to the base of their tail will allow you to get an accurate measurement.
Once you've determined your cat flap glass door installation near me's measurements then you can look at the door to decide the best place to place the flap. A good tip is to position the flap at the height of your cat's belly because this will help them to get through it without too much effort. This will also stop the flap from making a lot noise as it moves back and forth.
You must consider the thickness of the uPVC or composite door as well. While timber doors with cat flap are of the same thickness, uPVC and composite doors are different in their overall structure and can make fitting the cat flap more difficult as you will need 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 hole in the door. This will help you determine where the hole must be located and make sure that the template is positioned precisely on the door. Using a spirit-level to make sure that the template is sitting right against the door will be very helpful.
Cut the Flap
You'll need to make a hole in the door to accommodate your cat flap before you can put it in place. It can be a difficult job and it is recommended that you engage a professional to assist you if you don't have the expertise or experience. It is also recommended to read the instructions included with the kit to discover how to do this correctly.
You can consider the height of your cat's or kitten's stomach as a guide. A good guideline is to place the flap around 10-15 centimeters off the ground, as this is approximately the average belly height for cats. This will allow your cat to pass through the flap without difficulty and make it difficult for other cats or nosy neighbours to enter or exit.
The position of the cat flap on the door with a pencil. If your kit has an outline put it on top of the door. Use the markings on the template to drill holes at each corner. You should then be able to cut out the template's shape and replace it with your cat flap.
If you are installing your cat flap on a door made from wood or uPVC, it is possible to do it yourself if are confident enough to use a Jigsaw. Be cautious not to cut into the vertical rails or mullions of your door. 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 to cut faster.
Once the hole is made, carefully place the cat flap in its new place of residence. Make sure it is solidly secured. If it features caps on the screws, then place these onto the screws that protrude. Once the screws are in place, you can sand any rough edges of the cut then apply sealant around any gaps to ensure that there are no draughts coming into your home.
Fit the Flap
If you have a basic cat flap, you can open it and encourage your pet to go through by putting a small amount of cat food in the front of the door. Alternately, you can push the cat through using your hand or a stick. Once your cat is accustomed to moving through the flap, it should be able to go in and out as it wishes so you can let it in or out without having to be there to open the door for it all day (and possibly in all weather conditions).
It is possible to fit an animal flap inside an UPVC or glass door although this may not be quite as straightforward as fitting one into a wood exterior door due to the fact that the replacement upvc door panel with cat flap doors and some glass doors don't have a consistent thickness. This could affect how you cut the opening for the flap and will also affect whether the flap will fit properly once it's been installed.
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 can copy it to make your own. It's important to not use the jigsaw to hard when cutting, so it doesn't leave a bigger than necessary hole in your door.
Most cat flaps are square or rectangular in shape, however there are also some which are circular, and are generally more difficult to place. If you have a round flap, make sure that the hole is located in the correct spot on your door. In the event that it is not, the cat may not be able to use it, and may be outside all day (or night).
Certain models of cat flaps have locks which let you manage when your cat comes in and goes. They can be extremely useful when you're concerned about your cat going out at night and then coming back in the darkness, or you're at work all day. The lock can be engaged for entry or exit and some are locked in both directions, permitting you to close the door completely, which is especially beneficial for cats with a chronic illness or older age who don't want to go out in rainy weather.