Fitting a Cat Flap

It can be difficult to install a cat flap but with the right instructions it's not that hard. First, decide how high you want the cat flap to be (on average, belly height). Note this on your door and use the included template to guide you when drilling.
If you have a kitten, or a young kitten hold the door open very slightly and gradually push it to pass through. Reward the kitten each time it goes through.
Measure the Door
A cat flap allows your pet to enter and exit your home at any time. This can help keep your cat healthy by ensuring that it is getting exercise as well as being able to come back in if stuck outside in the rainy weather, especially in winter. This will reduce the amount of time you spend letting your cat out or in and also make your home secure by letting you know when it has left.
It is essential to ensure that the cat flap is placed correctly in order to prevent your pet from being forced through through it by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is essential to measure the height of your pet's belly and the doorway to your home to make sure that the flap is at the proper height. If your cat is a little larger or shorter than the average, you can adjust the flap's height by moving it upwards or downwards by a small amount.
The next step is to use a spirit level to mark the center of the door where you will install the flap. Then, using the mark as a guideline, cut out the form of the flap using a jigsaw. After you've cut the flap, sand down the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any necessary holes.
Installing redirected here ought to not take more than two hours. However, the process may be a bit more difficult if you need to fit it inside the door of a uPVC or composite door since these doors have various thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and what they are fixed to. This is the reason we recommend hiring a professional to carry out the work, particularly when you've never dealt with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
You can avoid hours of listening to the pet meow to be let in or out. This is particularly helpful when you're at working all day and your cat is stuck in the house waiting for you to get home regardless of the weather.
If you're planning to put a cat flap in your door, it is crucial to determine the size of your cat prior to beginning the task. While redirected here may seem an easy task, it is crucial to measure the right way or your pet will be unable to use.
First, ensure that your cat is calm prior to taking measurements. You'll need to put your cat in a place where they cannot move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is flat and not curved against their body. You can get 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, it's time to take a look at the door and decide where to place the flap. It is advisable to position the flap on the highest point of your cat's belly because it will allow them to pass through it without too much effort. This will also prevent the flap from making a lot noise as it moves back and forward.
You should take into consideration the thickness of the uPVC or composite door too. While timber doors are of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors can be very different in their overall structure and this can make the installation of the cat flap more difficult because you must ensure that the hole you make is the proper size for your pet.
It is also worth looking through the instructions that come with the cat flap kit to find an outline of the template that can be used to determine the location of the hole inside the door. This will help you to determine where the opening needs to be and also make sure the template is correctly positioned on the door. Using a spirit level to make sure that the template is flush against the door will also be extremely helpful.
Cut the Flap
Before you can put in your cat flap you need to cut the door's panel to create a space large enough for it. It's a challenging job, so it's recommended that you get a professional assist you if you do not have the knowledge or skills. You can also consult the instructions included with the kit to discover how to do it right.
You can take the height of your cat's or kitten's stomach as a reference. As sell should place the flap approximately 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the standard height of the stomach for cats. This will allow your cat to pass through the flap without difficulty and make it more difficult for other cats and nosy neighbours to get inside or out.
Draw the location of the cat flap on the door using a pencil. Next, if your kit has a template for paper, place this over the door and use the markings to drill holes into every corner of the template. Then, you'll be able cut out the template and replace it with the flap for cats.
You can install the cat flap yourself on an uPVC or wood door If you're comfortable using 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 a circle, depending on how you'd like to cut it. Remember to take your time and don't force the jigsaw into cutting faster.
Once the hole is cut and the flap is firmly positioned, carefully place the flap of cat food into its new home and make sure that it is securely secured. If the flap is fitted with screw caps then push them into the protruding bolts. Once the screws have been installed, sand the rough edges and apply sealant to any gaps. This will stop the entry of draughts into your home.
Install the Flap
If you have a standard cat flap, you can try to encourage your pet to go through it by placing a small amount of cat food on the front of the door. You can also push the cat using sticks or your hand. Once your pet has become accustomed 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 an animal flap inside a UPVC or glass door but it's not exactly the same as fitting one into a wood external door since UPVC and some glass doors don't have the same thickness. This can have a major impact on the way you cut out the flap's hole and whether the flap will fit correctly after installation.
The mounting kit may include a template that shows you where to drill holes. If the kit doesn't come with an example, you can photocopy it to make your own. When cutting, it's crucial to not push the jigsaw to the point that you create a bigger hole than is necessary in your door.
Most cat flaps are square or rectangular in shape but there are also some which are circular, and are generally more difficult to install. If you have a circular flap, it's important to make sure the hole is in the proper position on your door, because if it's not, the cat will not be able to use the flap and may be stuck in the open all day (or even at night).
Certain cat flaps have locks that let you control the time your cat can enter and leave. These are very helpful in the event that you are worried about your pet going out at night and coming back in because of the darkness, or if you're at work for the entire day. The lock can be engaged for entry or exit and some are locked in both directions, which allows you to close the door completely, which is particularly beneficial for sick or elderly cats who don't want to go out in the rain.