Fitting A Cat Flap

It can be difficult to install the flap for your cat but with the right instructions it's not that hard. First, decide how high you want the flap to be (on average or belly height). Mark this point on the door, and use the template included as a guide to drill.

If you have a small kitten, prop the door open very slightly and gradually allow it to go through. Reward the kitten as it moves through.

Measure the Door

A cat flap is a great way to allow your pet to come and go inside and out of your home as it likes. This will help keep your cat healthy by ensuring that it gets exercise as well as being able to go back inside if stuck outside in the rainy weather, especially during the winter. It can also reduce the amount of time you need to allow it out or in and can also protect your home by letting you know when it has gone out.

It is crucial to make sure that the cat flap is placed correctly in order to prevent your pet from being pushed through it or escaping by other animals (e.g. dogs). You should determine the height of your pet's belly and the height of the doorway at your home to make sure the flap is at the correct height. You can alter the height of your flap if your cat is taller or less than the average.

The next step is to make use of a spirit level to mark the centre of the door, where you will install the flap. Using the marking as a reference, use a jigsaw and cut out the shape of the flap inside the door. After cutting the area, sand down the edges to create smooth surfaces. Make any holes that are required.

The process of fitting a cat flap is not as difficult as you may think and it should not take more than two hours for the entire job from start to finish. However, the process can be slightly more complicated in the event that you have to put it onto the door of a uPVC or composite door because these doors come with an array of thicknesses which can affect how the holes are cut and the type of door they are inserted into. We recommend to contact a professional when this is your first time working with glass.

Measure Your Cat

A cat flap will save you from hours of hearing your pet's cries for you to let it out or in. This is especially useful if your cat flap installers is trapped inside in all weathers when you are at work.

If you are planning to install a cat flap on 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 cat may find it very difficult to use.

First, ensure that your cat is relaxed and not stressed prior to taking the measurements. You will have to hold your cat in a place in which they cannot move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is flat and not curved against their body. Keeping the measuring tape or ruler against their body from the top of their head to the base of their tail can allow you to make an exact measurement.

Once you've got your cat's measurement and measurements, you need to look at the door to determine the best place to place the flap. The best option is to place the flap in the middle of your cat's belly as this will allow them to get through it without too much effort. This will also stop the flap making quite a lot of noise when it swings open and shut.

You will also need to 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 could make the process of the installation of a flap for your cat more difficult since you must ensure that the hole is the proper size.

It is also worth reading through the directions that come with the kit to find an outline of the template that can be used to mark out the position of the hole in the door. This will allow you determine where the opening must be, and also to ensure that the template is correctly positioned on the door. Using a spirit level to ensure that the template is sitting right against the door will prove beneficial.

Cut the Flap

Before you can install your cat flap, you'll have to cut the door's panel to create a space large enough to accommodate it. This is a difficult task and it is recommended that you seek the help of a professional cat flap fitting service for this job in case you don't have the skills or experience to tackle it yourself. You can also refer to the instructions that come in the kit to find out how to do it correctly.

To do this, you have to determine the height of your cat or kitten's belly. Use this as an indicator point. A good rule of thumb is to place the flap of your cat about 10 centimeters off the ground, as this is roughly the average belly height for cats. 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 difficult time trying to get in or out.

Once you've determined the location where the cat flap needs to be located, mark the location on the door using pencil. Next, if your kit includes a paper template, lay this over the door and use the marks to drill holes in each corner of the template. After that, you'll be able cut out the template and replace it with the cat flap.

If you are installing your cat flap inside an entryway made of wood or uPVC, you are able to do it yourself if feel confident enough to handle using a Jigsaw. Be cautious not to cut through the mullions or rails that run vertically of your door. You can use a jigsaw cut the panel into a square or a circle depending on the design of your cat flap. Make sure to take your time and don't try to make the jigsaw cut faster.

Once the hole has been cut, carefully place your cat flap into its new place of residence. Make sure it's securely secured. If it features caps on the screws, then place them onto the protruding screws. Once the screws have been installed smooth the edges and seal any gaps. This will block draughts from entering your home.

Fit the Flap

If you have an ordinary cat flap, you can try to encourage your pet to use it by placing a small amount of cat food on the front of the door. You can also try pushing the cat through with your hand or a stick. Once your pet is used to walking through the flap, it should be able to go in and out as it wants and you should be able to let it out and in without to open the door for it throughout the day (and possibly in all weather conditions).

It is possible to fit an animal flap into an UPVC door or glass door, but it's not as simple as installing one on a wooden external door. This is because the replacement upvc door panel with cat flap doors and certain types of glass doors do not have a uniform thickness. This could have a significant impact on how you cut the opening for the flap and could affect the way your flap will fit properly once it's been installed.

Based on the type of cat flap you pick, it may come with its own mounting kit and a template that will tell exactly where to drill holes for it. If the kit does not include a template, you are able to create one yourself. When cutting, it is important to keep the jigsaw from being pushed too to the point that you create a bigger hole than necessary in your door.

Some cat flaps come in circular designs, which are more difficult to put in. If you have a round flap, make sure that the hole is located in the correct spot on your door. Otherwise, the cat might not be able to access it, and may be stuck outside the whole day (or at night).

Some cat flaps come with locks that let you control when your cat comes and goes. They can be extremely useful when you're worried about your cat going out at night only to come back door with cat flap fitted in because of the darkness, or if you're at work for the entire day. Certain locks can be used for access or exit, and 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.