Fitting a Cat Flap

Installing a cat flap might appear daunting but it's easy to do with the proper instructions. First, determine the height you want the cat flap to be (on average the belly height). Mark this point on your door and then use the template provided to guide you when drilling.

If you have a kitten that is still a baby and you want to keep the door open, gently prop it slightly open and allow it to pass through. Reward the kitten every time it passes.

Take a measurement of the door

A cat flap is a wonderful option to let your pet leave and come into and out of your house as it pleases. This can help keep your cat healthy as it ensures that it is getting enough exercise and also be able to return inside if it is stranded outside in bad weather. It can also reduce the amount of time you have to spend letting it in or out and will also help protect your home by letting you be aware of when it went out.

It is crucial that the cat flap is correctly fitted to prevent your pet from being able to escape through it or be pushed through by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is crucial to determine the height of your pet's belly and the entrance to your home so that you can make sure that the flap is at the correct height. You can adjust the position of your flap when your cat is taller or smaller than the average.

The next step is to 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 shape of the flap inside the door. Once you have cut out the area, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces. You can then drill any fixing holes required.

Fitting a cat flap should not take more than two hours. However, the process can be a bit more difficult in the event that you have to put it onto a uPVC or composite door because these doors come with an array of thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and what they are fixed to. We recommend to consult with a professional when this is your first experience working with glass.

Measure Your Cat

A cat flap can save you from hours of listening to your pet meow for you to let it out or in. This is especially useful when your cat is in the house during all seasons while you work.

It is crucial to first measure your cat before attempting to install. It may seem like a simple task, but it's essential to get the measurements right. Otherwise, your pet might find it difficult to use.

Firstly, make sure your cat is calm and not feeling stressed before you take the measurements. You'll need to put your cat in a place where they cannot move. Also, make sure that the measuring tape is straight and not bent against the body.  replacement upvc door panels with cat flap repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk  can take 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 have your cat's measurement then you can look at the door to determine the best place to place the flap. It is advisable to position the flap at the height of your cat's stomach as this will allow them to get through it without much effort. This will also prevent the flap making a lot of noise as it swings open and closed.

It is also important to take into consideration the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While timber doors are all of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors may differ in their overall construction, which can make fitting a cat flap more difficult because you must ensure that the hole you cut is the correct size for your pet.

It is also worthwhile looking through the instructions included with the cat flap kit to find a template drawing that can be used to mark the location of the hole in the door. This will allow you to determine where the hole must be placed and ensure that the template is placed precisely on the door. Utilizing a spirit level to make sure that the template is right against the door can be extremely helpful.

Cut the Flap

Before you can put in your cat flap, you'll must cut the door panel to make it large enough for it. This is a difficult job and it is recommended to seek the help of a professional cat flap fitting service for this job in case you don't have the expertise or knowledge to complete the task yourself. It is also recommended that you read the instructions included with the cat flap kit to find out how to do this properly.

To do this you need to determine the height of your cat or kitten's belly and use that as a reference point. In general put the 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 move through the flap without difficulty and also give the other cats or neighbours who are snooping an issue when trying to get in or out.

Mark 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. Then, you should be able cut out the template's shape and replace it with your cat flap.

If you are installing your cat flap in a door made from wood or uPVC, it is possible to do this yourself if you feel confident enough to handle using 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 the panel into a square or a circle according to the design of your cat flap. Be patient and don't try to force the jigsaw into cutting faster.

After the hole has been cut then carefully insert the flap onto its new location and make sure that it is securely secured. If it has screw caps, then push them onto the protruding screws. After the screws are installed, sand the rough edges and then apply sealant to any gaps. This will block drafts from entering your home.

Place the Flap

If you have a standard cat flap, you can help your pet to use it 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 a stick. Once your cat has become accustomed to moving through the flap, it will be capable of walking through the flap at will. This will allow you to let it in and out at any time it wants.

You can install an animal flap inside the UPVC or glass doors but it's not quite as straightforward as fitting one into a wood external door because the UPVC and glass doors aren't a uniform thickness. This can have a major impact on how you cut out the flap's hole, and whether the flap fits correctly after installation.

The mounting kit could include a template showing you the best places to drill holes. If the kit doesn't include the template you can copy it to create your own. When cutting, it's crucial to keep the jigsaw from being pushed too to the point that you create a larger hole than necessary in your door.

Some cat flaps are available in circular shapes, which are more difficult to install. If you have a circular flap, make sure that the hole is in the correct place on the door. Otherwise, the cat may not be able use it, and could be outside all day (or at night).

Certain cat flaps come with locks that allow you to determine when your cat enters and leaves. This is useful for pets who are afraid of leaving in the dark or coming back in the dark. They can also be helpful when you are working all day. Certain locks can be used for either access or exit, and others can be locked in both directions. This is beneficial for sick or elderly cats who aren't keen to venture out in cold weather.