Fitting a Cat Flap

Fitting a cat flap can be a bit daunting, but it is fairly easy to do with the proper instructions. Decide how high you'd like your cat flap to be (normally, it is at belly height). Mark this point on your door and use the template provided to help you 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 each time it goes through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap lets your pet to move into and out of your home at any time. This will help keep your cat in good health by ensuring that it gets exercise as well as being able to come back in if it is trapped outside in bad weather, especially during the winter. It also can reduce the amount of time you'll have to allow it out or in. It can also ensure your home is secure by allowing you to be aware of when it went out.
However, it is important that the flap for your cat is correctly fitted to prevent your pet from being able to escape through it or be pushed through by other animals (e.g. dogs). You should determine the height of your pet's belly as well as the size of the doorway in your home to ensure that the flap is at the proper height. You can adjust the height of your flap in case your cat is taller or smaller than average.
The next step is to use a spirit level to mark the center of the door. This is where you'll install the flap. Utilizing the marking as a guideline, you can use the jigsaw and cut the form of the flap within the door. After you have cut the area out and sanded the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any necessary holes.
The process of fitting the cat flap isn't as complicated as you think, and it shouldn't take more than two hours to finish the entire job from start to finish. However, the process may be a bit more difficult when you have to install it inside the door of a uPVC or composite door as these doors come with various thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and the type of door they are fixed into. This is why we always recommend hiring a professional to carry out the job, particularly when you've never dealt with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
You will not have to spend hours of ignoring the pet's meow to be let in or out. This is particularly helpful if your cat is trapped inside in all weathers while you are at work.
It is important to first measure your cat before attempting to install. Although it might seem like to be a simple task, it is important to get the measurement right or your cat may find it very difficult to use.
Firstly, make sure your cat is calm and not feeling stressed before you take the measurements. You'll need to keep your cat in a position where they cannot move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is flat and not curved against their body. Keeping the measuring tape or ruler against their body from their head to the tip of their tail can allow you to make an accurate measurement.
Once you've determined your cat's measurement then you can look at the door to decide where to place the flap. The best option is to position the flap at the height of your cat's stomach as it will allow them to get through it without too much effort. This will also prevent the flap from making a lot of noise when it swings back and forward.
It is also important to consider the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While all doors made of timber have a similar thickness to them, uPVC or composite doors may differ in their overall design. This could make the process of the installation of a flap for your cat more difficult as you need to ensure the hole is the right size.
You can also use the template drawing included in the instructions to mark the location of the opening on the door. This will allow you to determine where the opening must be and also make sure the template is properly placed on the door. Utilizing a spirit level to ensure that the template is flush against the door will be very helpful.
Cut the Flap
You'll need to cut a hole in the door panel for your cat flap prior to you can install it. This can be a challenging job, and it is recommended to seek out the assistance of a professional cat flap fitter for this step in case you don't have the skills or experience to complete the task yourself. It is also recommended to consult the instructions that come with the cat flap kit to find out how to do it correctly.
To do this, you have to take a measurement of the height of your cat or kitten's belly and use this as an indication point. A good guideline is to put the flap around 10-15 centimeters away from the ground since this is approximately the average height of the cat's belly. Your cat will be able to go through the flap comfortably and it will also give other cats or snooping neighbours a tough time trying to get in or out.
Once you've determined where the cat flap should be positioned, mark this position on the door with the help of a pencil. Then, if your kit includes a template for paper, place this over the door and use the markings to drill holes into each corner of the template. Then, you'll be able cut out the template and replace it with the cat flap.
If you are installing your cat flap in a door made from wood or uPVC, you are able to do it yourself if you are confident enough to use the Jigsaw. Be sure not to cut through the mullions or rails that run vertically of your door. You can use a jigsaw cut the panel into a square or a circle depending on the design of your cat flap . Remember to take your time and don't try to force the jigsaw to cut faster.
After the hole has been cut, carefully fit the flap onto its new home and ensure that it is firmly secured. If it features caps for screws, then put them onto the protruding screws. Once the screws are in place, you can sand any rough edges of the cut and then seal any gaps to ensure there aren't any draughts getting into your home.
Fit the Flap
If you have a standard cat flap, you can try to encourage your pet through it by placing a small amount of cat food on the top of the door. Alternately, you can push the cat through with your hand or a stick. Once your cat is used to walking through the flap it should be able to go in and out as it wishes, so you can let it out or in without holding the door open to allow it in all day (and likely in any weather).
It is possible to install a cat flap in a UPVC door or a glass door, but it might 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 can affect the way you cut the opening for the flap and will also affect whether the flap is fitted correctly after it has been put in place.
The mounting kit may include a template that shows you where to drill holes. If the kit doesn't include a template you can create one yourself. It's important to not push the jigsaw too hard when cutting, so it doesn't leave a bigger than necessary hole in your door.
The majority of cat flaps are rectangular or square in shape, but there are some that are circular and these are typically more difficult to fit. If you have a circular flap it's important to make sure the hole is in the right position on your door because if it's not, the cat can't use it and may be stuck outside all day (or even night).
Certain cat flaps have locks that allow you to control the time your cat is allowed to enter and leave. These are very helpful when you're concerned about your cat going out at night and coming back in due to the darkness, or if you're at work for the entire day. The lock can be used to allow entry or exit, and some locks can be locked in both directions, which allows you to close the door completely, which is especially helpful for cats with a chronic illness or older age who aren't willing to go out in the rain.