Fitting A Cat Flap

It can be difficult to install a cat flap, but with the right instructions it's not that hard. Decide how high you'd like your cat flap to be (normally it's located at the belly height). Mark this point on your door and use the included template 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 walk through. Reward it as it passes through.

Take a measurement of the door

A cat flap is a wonderful way to allow your pet to leave and come inside and out of your home whenever it likes. This will keep your cat in good health as it ensures that it is exercising regularly and also be able to go back inside if it is stranded outside in bad weather. It also can reduce the amount of time you'll have to allow it out or in. It can ensure your home is secure by letting you know when it has gone out.

However, it is important that the flap for your cat is fitted correctly to prevent your pet from escaping through it or be pushed through by any other animals (e.g. dogs). You should determine the height of your pet's stomach and the width of the doorway in your home to make sure the flap is at the right height. If your cat is larger or shorter than the normal, you can adjust the position of the flap by moving it upwards or downwards by a small amount.

Next, use a spirit-level to mark the middle of the door. This is where you will put in the flap. Utilizing the marking as a reference, use the jigsaw and cut the shape of the flap inside the door. After you've cut the door, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces and drill any fixing holes that are needed.

The process of installing a cat flap isn't as complicated as you think, and it shouldn't take more than two hours for the entire job from start to the end. However, the process can be a little more complicated if you need to fit it onto the door of a uPVC or composite door as these doors have a wide range of thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and the type of door they are fixed to. This is why we recommend calling a professional to complete the task, especially when you've never dealt window with cat flap glass before.

Measure Your Cat

You can avoid hours of ignoring the cat's meows to be allowed in or out. This is especially helpful when your cat is inside in all weathers when you are at work.

It is important to measure your window cat flap first before you begin the installation. It may appear to be a simple task, but it's important to get the measurements right. Otherwise, your pet may find it difficult to use.

First of all, make sure that your cat is relaxed and not anxious prior to taking the measurements. You will have to hold your cat flap insulation in a place in which they cannot move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is straight and not bent against the body. By keeping the ruler or measuring tape against their body from their head to the base of their tail can allow you to make an precise measurement.

Once you've got the measurement of your cat's body, it's time to take a look at the door and decide where to put the flap. A good tip is to position the flap in the middle of your cat's belly because this will allow them to get through it with minimal effort. This will also stop the flap from making too much noise as it moves back and back.

It is also important to consider the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While all timber doors have a similar thickness to them, uPVC or composite doors are different in their overall design. This makes the process of putting in an enclosure for your cat more difficult as you need to ensure the hole is the proper size.

You can also use the template included in the instructions to mark the location of the opening on the door. This will allow you to determine where the hole must be located and make sure that the template is placed precisely on the door. Using a spirit-level to check that the template is 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 make a space big enough to accommodate it. This is a difficult task and it is recommended that you get help from a professional cat flap fitting service to complete this task should you not have the expertise or cat flap fitting knowledge to complete the task yourself. You can also consult the instructions included in the kit to find out how to do it correctly.

You can take the height of your cat's or kitten's stomach as a guide. A good guideline is to place the flap around 10-15 centimeters away from the ground since this is approximately the average belly height for cats. This will let your cat pass through the flap easily and make it more difficult for other cats or naughty neighbours to get inside or out.

Once you have determined the location where the cat flap needs to be positioned, mark this position on the door with pencil. If your kit includes an outline of paper, place it over the door and use the markings to drill holes in every corner of the template. Then, you should be able to cut out the template's shape and replace it with your cat flap.

If you are installing your cat flap on an entryway made of wood or uPVC, you can do this yourself if you are comfortable with using a jigsaw. Be careful 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 circle or square according to the design of your cat flap. Be patient and don't try to try to force the jigsaw to cut faster.

Once the hole is made, carefully fit the flap onto its new location and make sure that it is securely fixed. If it features caps for screws, then put these caps onto the protruding screws. Once the screws are in place, you can sand any rough edges of the cut, and then apply sealant to any gaps to ensure that there aren't any draughts getting into your home.

Install the Flap

If you have a standard cat flap, you can encourage your pet to go through it by placing a small amount cat food on the front of the door. You can also push the cat using the help of a stick or your hands. Once your cat is used to walking through the flap, it will be able to move in and out as it wishes so you can let it out and in without keeping the door open for it all day (and possibly in all weather conditions).

It is possible to install an animal flap into the upvc door panel cat flap doors or glass door, however it's not as easy as installing one on a wooden external 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 affect how you cut the hole for the flap and will also affect whether the flap fits correctly once it's installed.

Depending on the model of cat flap you select It may come with its own mounting kit and template that shows you exactly where to drill holes for it. If the kit doesn't include a template, you are able to make one yourself. When cutting, it's crucial to not push the jigsaw hard so that you don't create a larger hole than is necessary in your door.

Most cat flaps are rectangular or square in shape but there are also some which are circular, and cat flap fitting are generally more difficult to place. If you have a round flap, ensure that the hole is in the correct place on the door. Otherwise, the cat may not be able to use it, and might be locked outside for the entire day (or at night).

Some cat flaps have locks that allow you to regulate when your cat can enter and leave. They can be extremely useful when you're worried about your pet going out at night and coming back in the darkness, or you're at work all day. Some locks can be used for entry or exit, and others can be locked both ways. This is helpful for sick or elderly cats who do not want to venture out in cold weather.