Fitting A Cat Flap
It might seem daunting to install the flap for your cat, but with the right instructions, it's not too difficult. Firstly, determine how high you would like the 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 young kitten you can prop the door open very slightly and gradually encourage it to pass through. Reward the kitten each time it moves through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap is an excellent way to let your pet come and go in and out of your house as it pleases. This can help keep your cat healthy as it will ensure that it is getting enough exercise and be able to go back inside if it gets trapped outside in bad weather. This can reduce the time you spend letting your cat in or out and also make your home safer by letting you know when it's left.
It is important to ensure that the cat flap is installed correctly in order to prevent your pet from being pushed through it or escaping by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is crucial to determine your pet's belly height and the doorway to your home in order to make sure that the flap is at the right height. If your cat is larger or shorter than the average, you can adjust the flap's position by moving it upwards or downwards by a small amount.
Next, use a spirit-level to mark the middle of the door. This is where you'll install the flap. Then, using the mark as an indication, cut out the contour of the flap with a jigsaw. After you have cut the area then sand the edges to create smooth surfaces. Make any holes that are required.
The process of fitting a cat flap is not as difficult as you may think and it should not take more than two hours to complete the entire task from start to completion. However, the process may be a bit more difficult in the event that you have to put it into the frame of a uPVC or composite door as these doors have a wide range of thicknesses, which affect how the holes are cut and the type of door they are fixed into. We always suggest to contact a professional if this is your first experience with glass.
Measure Your Cat
You can save yourself hours of listening to the cat's meows to be allowed in or out. This is especially helpful if your cat flap fitters flap bifold doors (visit the next site) is trapped inside during the winter months while you work.
If you are planning to install a cat flap on your door it is important to measure your cat before attempting the task. Although it might seem like a simple operation it is important to make sure you measure correctly or your cat will be unable to use.
First, make sure your cat is calm prior to taking measurements. You will need to hold them in a position where they are not able to move, and ensure that the measuring tape or ruler is flat against their body and not bending in any way. 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've got the measurement of your cat, it is time to take a look at the door and decide where to put the flap. A good tip is to position the flap in the middle of your cat's belly as this will allow them to pass through it with minimal effort. This will also stop the flap from making lots of noise when it swings open and shut.
It is also important to consider the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While timber doors are all of the same thickness, replacement upvc door panels with cat flap and composite doors may differ in their overall structure and can make fitting a cat flap more difficult since you have to make sure 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 position of the hole on the door. This will help you to see the location where the opening should be and ensure that the template is placed correctly on the door. It is also helpful to utilize a spirit-level to make sure that the template is in a straight line against the door.
Cut the Flap
You will need to cut a hole in the door panel to install your cat flap prior to you can put it in place. This is a difficult job and it is recommended to get help from a professional cat flap fitter for Cat Flap Bifold Doors this step if you don't have the skills or experience to tackle it yourself. It is also recommended that you review the directions that come with the cat flap kit to find out how to do it correctly.
To do this, you have to measure the height of your cat flap installation's or kitten's belly. Use this as a reference point. As a rule of thumb put the flap around 10-15 centimeters higher than the ground. This is the typical height of the belly for cats. This will allow your cat to move through the flap without difficulty and make it more difficult for other cats or naughty neighbours to get inside or out.
Once you've determined the location where the cat flap needs to be placed, mark this position on the door with a pencil. If your kit comes with an outline of paper, place this over the door and use the markings to drill holes in each corner of the template. You should then be able cut out the template's shape and replace it with your cat flap.
If you are installing your cat flap in an entryway made of wood or upvc door panel cat flap, you are able to do it yourself if you are comfortable with the Jigsaw. Be sure to not cut into any of the door mullions or vertical rails. You can use a Jigsaw to cut your panel into a circle or square according to the way you want it. Make sure to take your time and don't make the jigsaw cut faster.
Once the hole is cut, carefully place your cat flap in its new place of residence. Make sure it's solidly secured. If it features caps on the screws, then place these caps onto the screws that protrude. Once the screws are in place, sand any rough edges of the cut, and then seal any gaps to ensure 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 walk through by putting a small amount of cat food in front of the door. You can also try pushing the cat using the help of a stick or your hands. Once your pet has become used to walking through the flap, it will be capable of walking through the flap as it pleases. This lets you let it in and out as it wants.
You can fit an animal flap inside the UPVC or glass doors but it's not quite as straightforward as fitting one into a timber external door since the upvc door panels cat flap and glass doors aren't a uniform thickness. This can have a major impact on how you cut out the flap's hole, and how well the flap fits after installation.
Depending on the model of cat flap you choose, it may include a mounting kit as well as a template that shows you exactly where to drill the holes for it. If the kit doesn't include a template you can copy it to make your own. When cutting, it's important to keep the jigsaw from being pushed too to the point that you make a larger hole than necessary in your door.
Most cat flaps are rectangular or square in shape but there are also some which are circular, and are typically more difficult to place. If you have a circular flap, it's essential to make sure the hole is in the correct position on your door because in the event that it's not, the cat can't use it and could be left outside all day (or even at night).
Certain cat flaps come with locks that let you regulate when your cat can enter and leave. These can be very useful when you're concerned about your cat going out at night only to come back in the darkness, or you're at work all day. The lock can be used for entry or exit and some can be locked in both directions, permitting you to close the door completely. This is especially helpful for older or ill cats who don't want to go out in bad weather.