Fitting a Cat Flap

The process of installing a cat flap may be a bit daunting but it's easy to do with the proper instructions. Decide how high you'd like your cat flap to be (normally it's located at the belly height). Note this on your door and use the template provided to help you drill.
If you have a small kitten hold the door open a bit and gradually allow it to pass through. Reward the kitten each time it goes through.
Measure the Door
A cat flap is an excellent method to allow your pet to move into and out of your house as it likes. This can help keep your cat healthy since it will ensure that it is getting enough exercise and be able to go back inside when it gets trapped in the elements during bad weather. It can also reduce the amount of time you'll have to spend letting it out or in. It can ensure your home is secure by letting you be aware of when it went out.
It is crucial to make sure that the cat flap is installed properly to stop your pet from being forced through through it by other animals (e.g. dogs). You should measure the height of your pet's belly and the height of the doorway at your home to make sure the flap is at the proper height. If your cat is a little taller or shorter than average, you can adjust the flap's position by moving it up or down a small amount.
Next, use a spirit-level to mark the middle of the door. This is where you will put in the flap. Using the marking as a guide, take a jigsaw and cut out the shape of the flap inside the door. After you have cut the area and sanded the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any necessary holes.
The process of installing the cat flap isn't as difficult as you may think and it should not take more than two hours to complete the entire job from start to completion. However, the process can be slightly more complicated if you need to fit it onto a uPVC or composite door as these doors come in various thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and what they are fixed into. This is why we recommend hiring a professional to carry out the task, especially if you have never worked with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
You can avoid hours of ignoring the pet's meow to be allowed in or out. This is especially helpful when you're at work all day and your cat is in the waiting room until you come home regardless of the weather.
It is crucial to first measure your cat before you begin the installation. It may appear to be a simple task, but it is essential to make sure you measure the right measurements. If not, your cat may have difficulty putting it in use.
First of all, make sure that your cat is relaxed and not stressed prior to taking the measurements. You'll need to keep your cat in a position that they are unable to move. Also, make sure that the measuring tape is straight and not bent against their body. You can get a precise measurement by keeping the measuring tape or ruler flat against the body of the animal from the top to the bottom.
Once you've determined your cat's measurement then you can examine the door to determine where to place the flap. The best option is to position the flap on the highest point of your cat's belly as this will allow them to get through it without too much effort. This will also avoid the flap from making lots of noise when it opens and closes.
You will need to consider the thickness of the uPVC or composite door as well. While timber doors are all of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors are different in their overall design and can make fitting the cat flap more difficult since you have to make sure that the hole you cut is the correct 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 determine where the hole should be located and make sure that the template is placed precisely on the door. Utilizing a spirit level to ensure that the template is sitting right against the door will prove beneficial.
Cut the Flap
You'll need to make a hole in the door to accommodate your cat flap before you can install it. This can be a challenging job, and it is recommended that you get help from a professional cat flap fitter to complete this task in case you don't have the expertise or knowledge to do it yourself. It is also recommended to consult the instructions that come with the kit to discover how to do this correctly.
You can use the height of the cat's or kitten's stomach as a guide. A good rule of thumb is to place the cat flap about 10-15 centimeters off the ground, as this is approximately the average height of the cat's belly. This way, your cat will be able to go through the flap with ease and will also make 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 the pencil. If your kit includes a template you can place it on the door. Utilize the markings on the template to drill holes at each corner. You will then be able to cut the design of the template and replace it with your cat flap.
You can install your cat flap yourself inside an uPVC or wood door If you're comfortable using the use of a jigsaw. Make sure you don't cut through 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 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 home and ensure that it's securely fixed. If the flap is fitted with screw caps, push them onto the protruding bolts. After the screws are installed smooth the edges and seal any gaps. This will prevent draughts from entering your home.
Fit the Flap
If you have an ordinary cat flap, you can help your pet to use it by placing a small amount of cat food on the front of the door. Alternately, you can push the cat through with your hands or with a stick. Once your cat has become accustomed to walking through the flap it will be capable of walking through the flap at will. This allows you to let it in and out as it wants.
It is possible to put the flap inside the UPVC doors or glass door, but it's not as simple as installing one in a wooden external door. This is because UPVC doors and some types of glass doors don't have a uniform thickness. This can affect how you cut the opening for the flap and could affect the way your flap is fitted correctly after it has been put in place.
The mounting kit may contain a template that outlines the best places to drill holes. If the kit doesn't include an example you can use a photocopier to make your own. It is important not to press the jigsaw too hard when cutting, so that it doesn't create a larger than needed hole in your door.
The majority of cat flaps are square or rectangular in shape, but there are some that are circular, and are generally more difficult to place. If you have a circular flap it's essential to make sure the hole is in the right position on your door because if it's not, the cat will not be able to use the flap and could be left out in the sun all day (or even at night).
Certain models of cat flaps have locks which allow you to regulate when your cat comes and goes. These are very helpful in the event that you are worried about your pet going out at night and then coming back in because of the darkness, or you're working all day. Certain locks can be used for either access or exit, and others can be locked in both directions. This is useful for older cats or sick cats who do not want to go outside in bad weather.