Fitting a Cat Flap

Fitting a cat flap can be a bit daunting, but it is fairly simple with the right instructions. First, decide how high you want the flap to be (on average the belly height). Note this on the door and use the template included as a guideline to drill.
If you have a kitten, or a young kitten hold the door open a bit and gradually allow it to go through. Reward the kitten as it moves through.
Measure the Door
A cat flap allows your pet to move into and out of your home at its convenience. This can help with keeping your cat healthy by ensuring that it gets exercise and also being able to go back inside if left outside in the rainy weather, especially in winter. This will cut down on the time you spend letting your cat in or out, and keep your home safer by notifying you when it's left.
It is crucial to ensure that the cat flap is installed properly to stop your pet from being forced through it or escaping by other animals (e.g. dogs). You should determine the height of your pet's belly and the width of the doorway in your home to make sure the flap is at the right height. You can alter the height of your flap if your cat is taller or smaller than average.
Next, use a spirit-level to mark the middle of the door. This is where you will install the flap. With the markings as a guide, take the jigsaw and cut the shape of the flap in the door. Once you've cut the area, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces. You can then drill any fixing holes needed.
The installation of a cat flap should not take more than two hours. cat flap installer near me can be slightly more difficult if you have to put it in the form of a uPVC door or a composite one. This is because these doors are available in a variety of thicknesses, which can impact the way holes are cut. We recommend to consult with a professional for your first experience working with glass.
Measure Your Cat
You can avoid hours of ignoring the pet meow to be allowed in or out. This is particularly useful if you are at work most of the day and your cat is stuck inside waiting until you get home in any weather.
If you're planning to put a cat flap inside your door, it is crucial that you take measurements of your cat prior to attempting the task. It may appear to be a simple task, but it's essential to measure your cat correctly. If not, your cat might find it difficult to use.
First, ensure that your cat is calm before taking measurements. You'll need to keep your cat in a position where they cannot move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is straight and not bent against the body. You can take 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 got the measurement of your cat, it's time to look at the door and decide where to place the flap. The flap should be placed at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to go through the door without much effort. This will also prevent the flap from making a lot noise as it moves back and forth.
It is also important to take into consideration the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While all timber doors have a similar thickness to them, uPVC or composite doors can differ greatly in their overall design. This could make the process of fitting the flap for your cat more difficult as you need to ensure the hole is of the correct size.
It is also worthwhile looking through the instructions that come with the cat flap kit to find an illustration template that can be used to determine the location of the hole in the door. This will help you determine where the hole needs to be located and ensure that the template is placed correctly on the door. Using a spirit level to ensure that the template is sitting flush against the door can prove beneficial.
Cut the Flap
Before you can put in your cat flap, you'll must cut the door's panel to make a space big enough for 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 read the instructions included with the kit to learn how to do it properly.
To do this, you will need to measure the height of your cat or kitten's belly and use that as an indicator point. As a rule of thumb, place the cat flap approximately 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the typical height of the stomach for cats. This way your cat will be able to go through the flap comfortably and it will also give the other cats or neighbours who are snooping an issue when trying to get in or out.
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 each corner. You should then be able to 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 sure not to cut through the mullions or rails that run vertically of your door. You can use a jigsaw to cut the panel into a square or a circle, depending on the design of your cat flap. Take your time and don't try to force the jigsaw into cutting faster.
After the hole has been cut, carefully fit the flap onto its new home and make sure that it's securely fixed. If the flap has screw caps put them on the protruding bolts. 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 a basic cat flap, you can leave it open and encourage your pet to go through by placing a small amount of cat food on the outside of the door. Alternately, you can push the cat through using your hands or with a stick. Once your pet is used to walking through the flap, it is likely to be able into and out as it wants, so you can let it in or out without to open the door for it all day (and potentially in all weather conditions).
It is possible to fit the flap onto the UPVC or glass doors but it's not quite as straightforward as fitting one into a wood exterior door due to the fact that the UPVC doors and some glass doors aren't a uniform thickness. This could have a significant impact on the way you cut the flap's hole, and whether the flap fits correctly after installation.
The mounting kit might include a template showing you the best places to drill holes. If the kit does not come with a template, you can make one on your own. When cutting, it is important to not push the jigsaw to the point that you make a larger hole than you need in your door.
The majority of cat flaps are square or rectangular in shape, however there are also some which are circular, and they are usually more difficult to place. If you have a round flap, make sure the hole is in the correct place on your door. Otherwise, the cat might not be able to access it, and could be outside all day (or at night).
Certain cat flaps have locks that let you determine when your cat enters and leaves. They can be extremely useful when you're worried about your cat going out at night and then coming back in because of the darkness, or if you're at work for the entire day. Some locks can be used for either access or exit, and others can be locked both ways. This is helpful for sick or older cats who don't want to venture out in cold weather.