Fitting a Cat Flap

Installing a cat flap might appear daunting but it's simple with the right instructions. Firstly, determine how high you want the flap to be (on average the belly height). Mark this point on your door and use the included template to guide you when drilling.
If you have a young kitten you can prop the door open a bit and gradually encourage it to go through. Reward the kitten as it passes.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap is an excellent option to allow your pet to leave and come into and out of your home as it likes. This will help keep your cat healthy by ensuring that it gets exercise as well as being able to come back inside if stuck outside in the rainy weather, especially in winter. It also can reduce the amount of time you'll have to spend letting it out or in and will also help keep your home safe by letting you be aware of when it went out.
It is important to ensure that the cat flap is installed correctly to stop your pet from being forced through it or escaping by other animals (e.g. dogs). RepairMyWindowsAndDoors is essential to measure the height of your pet's belly and the doorway of your house so that you can make sure that the flap is at the right 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 install the flap. With the markings as a reference, use an jigsaw to cut the form of the flap inside the door. Once you have cut out the door, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces. You can then drill any fixing holes that are required.
The process of installing a cat flap is not as complicated as you think, and it shouldn't take more than two hours for the entire job from start to the end. However, the process could be a bit more difficult if you need to fit it onto the door of 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 recommend calling a professional to complete the work, particularly when you've never dealt with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
You will not have to spend hours of listening to the pet's meow to be let in or out. This is especially useful when your cat is in the house during all seasons while you work.
It is crucial to measure your cat's measurements first before attempting to install. It might seem like a straightforward task, but it is important to measure your cat correctly. If not, your cat might find it difficult to use.
First, make sure that your cat is calm before you begin taking measurements. You'll need to put your cat in a position where they cannot move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is straight and not bent against the body. By keeping the ruler or measuring tape against their body from their head to the base of their tail will enable you to determine an accurate measurement.
Once you have the measurement of your cat, it's time to look at the door and decide where to put the flap. It is advisable to place the flap on the highest point of your cat's stomach as this will allow them to move through it without much effort. This will also prevent the flap from making too much noise as it moves back and back.
You will need to consider the thickness of the uPVC or composite door too. While timber doors are all of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors are different in their overall design, which can make fitting a cat flap more difficult because you must make sure that the hole you make is the proper size for your pet.
It is also worthwhile studying the instructions that come with the kit to locate a template drawing that can be used to mark the position of the hole in the door. This will enable you to determine where the hole should be placed and ensure that the template is set properly on the door. Utilizing a spirit level to ensure that the template is flush against the door will also prove beneficial.
Cut the Flap
You'll need to make an opening in the door to accommodate your cat flap before you can attach it. It can be a difficult task, so it's recommended that you engage a professional to help you if you lack the skills or experience. You can also refer to the instructions included with the kit to learn how to do it properly.
You can consider the height of the cat's or kitten's stomach as a reference. A good guideline is to put the flap of your cat about 10 centimeters away from the ground since this is roughly the average height of the cat's belly. Your cat can move through the flap without difficulty and it will also give the other cats or neighbours who are snooping an issue when trying to enter or leave.
The position of the cat flap on the door with pencil. If your kit has an outline, place it over the door. Use the marks on the template to drill holes at every corner. Then, you'll be able to cut out the template shape and replace it with the flap for cats.
You can put in your cat flap yourself inside the door made of wood or uPVC when you're confident with a jigsaw. Ensure that you do 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 circle, depending on how you'd like to cut it. Be patient and don't try to make the jigsaw cut faster.
Once the hole is made then carefully insert the flap of cat food into its new location and make sure that it is firmly fixed. If it has caps on the screws, then place these onto the protruding screws. After the screws are installed smooth the edges and apply sealant to any gaps. This will prevent draughts from entering your home.
Place the Flap
If you have an ordinary 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. You can also try pushing the cat with the help of a stick or your hands. Once your cat is used to walking through the flap it will be able to move in and out as it wishes, so you can let it out or in without to open the door for it all day (and likely in all weathers).
It is possible to install a cat flap in a UPVC door or a glass door, but it may not be as simple as putting one inside a wooden exterior door. This is due to the fact that UPVC doors and some types of glass doors do not have an even thickness. This can have a major impact on the way you cut out the flap hole and also whether the flap fits correctly after installation.
The mounting kit could include a template showing you where to drill holes. If the kit does not include an example you can use a photocopier to make your own. When cutting, it's important to not push the jigsaw hard so that you don't make a larger hole than is necessary in your door.
The majority of cat flaps are square or rectangular in shape but there are also some which are circular, and are typically more difficult to fit. If you have a circular flap, make sure the hole is located in the right place on the door. If not, your cat may not be able use it, and could be stuck outside the whole day (or at night).
Certain cat flaps have locks that let you control the time your cat can enter and leave. They are helpful when your cat is scared of leaving in the dark or coming back to the house at night. They can also be helpful when you are working all day. The lock can be engaged to allow or deny entry, and some can be locked in either direction which allows you to close the door completely, which is especially helpful for cats with a chronic illness or older age who aren't keen on going out in bad weather.