Fitting a Cat Flap

It might seem daunting to set up a cat flap but with the right guidelines, it's not all that difficult. Decide how high you'd like your cat flap to be (normally it's located at belly height). Note this on your door, and use the template included to guide you when drilling.
If you have a small kitten hold the door open very slightly and gradually encourage it to go through. Reward the kitten each time it moves through.
Measure the Door
A cat flap is an excellent way to let your pet move inside and out of your home whenever it likes. This can help with keeping your cat in good health by ensuring that it is getting exercise as well as being able to get back inside if left outside in bad weather, especially during the winter. This can reduce the time you allow your cat go in and out and make your home safer by letting you know when it's left.
However, it is important that the cat flap is correctly fitted to prevent your pet from escaping through it or be pushed through by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is important to measure the height of your pet's belly and the doorway to your home to ensure that the flap is at the proper height. If your cat is a little longer or taller than the average, you can alter the position of the flap 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 an jigsaw to cut the form of the flap inside the door. After you've cut the area, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces. You can then drill any fixing holes that are needed.
The process of fitting a cat flap is not as complicated as you think, and it shouldn't take more than two hours to finish the entire process from beginning to the end. The process is slightly more challenging if you need to install it on the case of a uPVC door or composite one. This is due to the fact that these doors are available in various thicknesses, which can affect the way the holes are cut. This is why we recommend hiring a professional to carry out the work, particularly if you have never worked with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
You can avoid hours of listening to the pet's meow to be allowed in or out. This is particularly helpful if you are at work all day and your cat is inside waiting until you get home in any weather.
If you are planning to install a cat flap in your door, it is crucial to take measurements of your cat prior to attempting the task. Although it might appear to be a simple operation it is essential to measure the right way or your pet will find it very difficult to use.
First, ensure that your cat is calm before you begin taking measurements. You'll need to put your cat in a position where they cannot move. Also, make sure that the measuring tape is flat and not curved against the body. You can get an accurate 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 measurements then you can look at the door to determine the best place to place the flap. Position the flap at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to pass through the door with minimal effort. This will also stop the flap making quite a lot of noise when it opens and closes.
It is also important to consider the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While timber doors are of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors are different in their overall structure and can make fitting a cat flap more complicated because you must 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 allow you determine where the opening needs to be and also ensure that the template is correctly positioned on the door. Using a spirit-level to ensure that the template is sitting flush against the door will also be extremely helpful.
Cut the Flap
Before you can install your cat flap you need to cut the door's panel to make a space big enough to accommodate it. This can be a daunting job and it is recommended that you hire a professional to assist you if you do not have the expertise or experience. It is also recommended to read the instructions included with the cat flap kit to learn how to do this correctly.
You can consider the height of the cat's or kitten's stomach to guide you. As a rule of thumb you should place the flap about 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the typical height of the cat's belly. replacement upvc door panels with cat flap , your cat will be able to move through the flap comfortably and will also make the other cats or neighbours who are snooping a tough time trying to leave or enter.
Mark the position of the cat flap on the door with pencil. If your kit has an outline, place it over the door. Utilize the markings on the template to drill holes at every corner. Then, you should be able to cut out the shape of the template and replace it with your cat flap.
If you are installing your cat flap on the form of a door made of wood or uPVC, it is possible to do it yourself if feel confident enough to handle using a Jigsaw. Be sure to not cut into any of the door's mullions, or vertical rails. You can use a jigsaw cut the panel into a square or a circle, depending on the design of your cat flap. Remember to take your time and don't make the jigsaw cut faster.
After the hole has been made, carefully place the cat flap into its new home. Make sure that it is firmly secured. If the flap is fitted with screw caps, push them onto the protruding bolts. Once the screws have been installed then sand the rough edges and then apply sealant to any gaps. This will prevent drafts from entering your home.
Install the Flap
If you have an ordinary cat flap, you can encourage your pet to go through it by placing a small amount of cat food on the outside of the door. You can also try pushing the cat using the help of a stick or your hands. Once your pet has become accustomed to moving through the flap, it will be capable of walking through the flap at will. This lets you let it in and out at any time it wants.
It is possible to install a cat flap in an UPVC door or glass door, but it's not as simple as installing one inside a wooden exterior door. This is due to the fact that the doors made of UPVC and some kinds of glass doors do not have an even thickness. This could have a dramatic effect on how you cut the opening for the flap and will also affect whether the flap is fitted correctly after it has been installed.
Based on the type of cat flap you select It may be equipped with a mounting kit as well as a template that will show precisely where to drill holes for it. If the kit does not include the template you can copy it to create your own. When cutting, it is important to avoid pushing the jigsaw too far enough to make a larger hole than is necessary in your door.
Certain cat flaps come in circular shapes, which can be more difficult to put in. If you have a circular flap, it's important to make sure the hole is in the right position on your door, because in the event that it's not, the cat can't use it and could be stranded in the open all day (or even night).
Some models of cat flap have locks that permit you to manage when your cat comes in and goes. They are helpful if your pet is afraid of leaving in the dark or coming back to the house at night. They can also be useful for those who work all day. Some locks can be used for entrance or exit, while others can be locked in both directions. This is beneficial for sick or older cats who do not want to venture out in cold weather.