Fitting a Cat Flap

It might seem daunting to put up the flap for your cat, but with the right instructions it's not that hard. Find out how high you'd like your cat flap to be (normally, it is at the belly height). Mark this point on the door and then use the template provided as a guide to drill.
If you have a kitten that is still a baby then gently prop the door slightly open and allow it to pass through. Reward it each time it goes through.
Measure the Door
A cat flap allows your pet to go in and out of your home at any time. This can help with keeping your cat in good health by ensuring that it is exercising as well as being able to come back in if left outside in bad weather, especially in winter. This will reduce the amount of time you have to let your cat out or in, and keep your home safe by letting you know when it's left.
It is crucial to ensure that the cat flap is set up 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 the height of your pet's belly and the doorway to your home so that you can make sure that the flap is at the right height. If your cat is larger or shorter than the normal, you can adjust the position of the flap by moving it up or down a small amount.
The next step is to use a spirit level to mark the center of the door where you will put the flap. With the markings as a guideline, you can use the jigsaw and cut the shape of the flap within the door. After you have cut the flap and sanded the edges to create smooth surfaces. Make any holes that are required.
Installing a cat flap ought to not take more than two hours. However, the process may be a little more complicated if you need to fit it onto a uPVC or composite door because these doors have a wide range of thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and what they are fixed into. This is the reason we recommend calling an expert to do the work, particularly when you've never dealt with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
A cat flap will save you from hours of listening to your pet's meow to let it out or in. This is particularly helpful when your cat is inside in all weathers while you are at work.
If you want to fit a cat flap on your door, it is crucial that you measure your cat before attempting the task. It may seem like a straightforward task, but it's essential to get the measurements right. Otherwise, your pet may find it difficult to use.
First, ensure that your cat is calm and not stressed before you take the measurements. You will have to hold your cat in a position where they cannot move. Also, make sure that the measuring tape is flat and not curved against their body. 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 on where to put the flap. The flap should be placed at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to walk through the door with minimal effort. This will also stop the flap from making too much noise when it swings back and forward.
You should also think about the thickness and the structure of the uPVC door or composite. While all timber doors have a similar thickness, uPVC or composite doors can differ greatly in their overall design. This makes the process of putting in the flap for your cat more difficult since you have to make sure that the hole is the proper size.
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 determine where the hole should be located and ensure that the template is set precisely on the door. Using a spirit-level to check that the template is in a straight line against the door will also prove beneficial.
Cut the Flap
Before you can install your cat flap you must cut the door's panel to create a space large enough for it. This can be a challenging job, and it is recommended that you seek out the assistance of a professional cat flap fitting service to complete this task should you not have the knowledge or skills to tackle it yourself. It is also recommended to read the instructions included with the kit to discover how to do it correctly.
You can consider the height of the cat's or kitten's stomach as a reference. A good guideline is to set the flap around 10-15 centimeters away from the ground since this is roughly the average belly height for cats. This will allow your cat to pass through the flap easily and make it difficult for other cats and nosy neighbors to get in or out.
Mark the position of the cat flap on the door with the pencil. Next, if your kit has a paper template, lay this over the door and use the markings to drill holes in every corner of the template. cat flap fitting near me will then be able cut out the shape of the template and replace it with your cat flap.
You can put in your cat flap yourself on a wood or uPVC door when you're confident using the Jigsaw. Be cautious not to cut into the mullions or rails that run vertically of your door. You can use a jigsaw cut the panel into a circle or square according to the design of your cat flap. Remember to take your time and don't try to make the jigsaw cut faster.
Once the hole is cut and the flap is firmly positioned, carefully place the cat flap into its new home and make sure that it is firmly fixed. If the flap has screws then push them into the protruding bolts. After the screws are installed, sand the rough edges and then apply sealant to any gaps. This will block draughts from entering your home.
Install the Flap
If you have a basic cat flap you can open it and encourage your pet to use it by putting a little bit of cat food in front of the door. You can also push the cat with sticks or your hand. Once your cat is accustomed to moving through the flap, it will be able to move in and out as it pleases, so you can let it in or out without holding the door open for it all day (and possibly in all weather conditions).
It is possible to fit the flap onto a UPVC or glass door but it's not as simple as fitting one into a wood external door since the UPVC and glass doors don't have the same thickness. This could have a significant impact on how you cut the flap hole and also whether the flap fits correctly after installation.
Based on the type of cat flap you choose, it may include a mounting kit as well as a template that shows exactly where to drill holes for it. If the kit doesn't come with a template, you can create one yourself. When cutting, it's crucial to keep the jigsaw from being pushed too far enough to create a bigger hole than you need in your door.
Some cat flaps come in circular shapes, which are more difficult to install. If you have a round flap, ensure that the hole is in the right place on your door. Otherwise, the cat might not be able to access it, and could be stuck outside the whole day (or at night).
Some cat flaps have locks which allow you to control when your cat comes and goes. These are very helpful if you're worried about your cat going out at night and then coming back in because of the darkness, or if you're working all day. The lock can be turned on for entry or exit and some locks can be locked in both directions, allowing you to shut the door completely, which is especially beneficial for cats with a chronic illness or older age who aren't willing to go out in rainy weather.