Fitting a Cat Flap

The process of installing a cat flap may be a bit daunting but it's simple to install by following the correct instructions. First, decide how high you want the flap to be (on average or belly height). Mark this point on your door and then use the included template to help you drill.
If you have a kitten who is still a newborn then gently prop the door slightly open and invite it to pass through. Reward the kitten as it goes through.
Measure the Door
A cat flap allows your pet to go in and out of your home at its convenience. This can help keep your cat in good health by ensuring that it gets exercise as well as being able to come back inside if stuck outside in bad weather, especially during the winter. This can reduce the time you have to let your cat go in and out, and keep your home safer by notifying you when it has left.
It is essential to ensure that the cat flap is set up correctly in order to prevent your pet from being forced through through it by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is important to measure the height of your pet's belly as well as 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 longer or taller than the average, 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. This is where you will install the flap. Then, using the mark as a guideline, cut out the form of your flap on the door with a Jigsaw. After cutting the area out, sand down the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any holes you need to.
The process of fitting the cat flap isn't as difficult as you may believe and it shouldn't take more than two hours to finish the entire job from start to finish. The process is a bit more difficult if you have to install it in the form of a uPVC door or composite one. This is because composite doors come in various thicknesses, which can impact the way holes are cut. This is why we recommend hiring a professional to complete the work, particularly if you have never worked 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 helpful for cats that are in the house during all seasons when you are at work.
It is essential to measure your cat's measurements first before you attempt the installation. Although cat flap installers near me repairmywindowsanddoors might seem like to be a simple task, it is essential to measure the right way or your cat may find it difficult to use.
First, ensure that your cat is calm prior to taking 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 the 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 put the flap. Position the flap at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to walk through the door without much effort. This will also stop the flap making a lot of noise as it swings open and closed.
You should also take into consideration the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While all timber doors have a similar thickness, uPVC or composite doors are different in their overall structure. This can make the process of putting in the flap for your cat more difficult as you have to make sure that the hole is the right size.
It is also worth reading through the directions included with the cat flap kit to locate an outline of the template that can be used to mark the position of the hole in the door. This will help you to see where the opening must be and ensure that the template is properly placed on the door. It is also beneficial to employ a spirit-level to ensure that the template sits flush against the door.
Cut the Flap
Before you can put in your cat flap, you'll must cut the door panel to create a space large enough to accommodate it. This can be a challenging task and it is recommended that you get help from a professional cat flap fitter to complete this task should you not have the knowledge or skills to do it yourself. You can also consult the instructions that come with the kit to learn how to do it right.
You can consider the height of the cat's or kitten's stomach as a reference. A good guideline is to put the cat flap about 10-15 centimeters away from the ground since this is approximately the average belly height for cats. This will allow your cat to pass through the flap easily and will make it difficult for other cats and nosy neighbors to get in or out.
Draw the location of the cat flap on the door using pencil. If your kit has a template for paper, place this over the door and use the markings to drill holes in every corner of the template. Then, you should be able to cut the shape of the template and replace it with your cat flap.
You can install your cat flap yourself inside the door made of wood or uPVC when you're confident using the 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 circle or square according to the way you'd like to cut it. Be patient, and don't try to force the jigsaw to cut faster.
Once the hole has been cut, carefully place the cat flap into its new home. Make sure it's securely secured. If it has caps for screws, then put them onto the protruding screws. Once the screws are in place, sand the rough edges of the cut and then seal any gaps to ensure there aren't any draughts getting into your home.
Place the Flap
If you have a standard cat flap, you can encourage your pet to use it by placing a small amount of cat food on the top of the door. Alternatively you can try pushing the cat through with your hands or with a stick. Once your cat is used to walking through the flap it is likely to be able into and out as it wants, so you can let it out or in without having to be there to open the door for it all day (and potentially in all weathers).
It is possible to put the flap inside an UPVC door or glass door, but it may not be as simple as installing one on a wooden external door. This is due to the fact that the UPVC doors and certain types of glass doors don't have a uniform thickness. This can have a dramatic effect on the way you cut the hole for the flap and can also affect whether your flap will fit properly once it's installed.
The mounting kit might include a template that shows you the best places to drill holes. If the kit does not include a template you can copy it to create your own. When cutting, it's important to not push the jigsaw hard so that you don't create a bigger hole than is necessary in your door.
Some cat flaps come in circular shapes, which can be more difficult to install. If you have a circular flap, make sure the hole is in the right place on the door. If not, your cat may not be able to access it, and could be stuck outside the whole day (or at night).
Certain models of cat flaps have locks that allow you to regulate when your cat comes and goes. This is useful if your pet is afraid of going out in the dark or returning in the dark. They can also be helpful for those who work all day. The lock can be turned on to allow entry or exit, and some are locked in either direction allowing you to shut the door completely. This is particularly beneficial for older or ill cats who don't want to go out in the rain.