Fitting a Cat Flap

look at these guys might seem daunting to put up a cat flap however, with the proper instructions it's not that hard. First, decide how high you want the cat flap to be (on average, belly height). Note this on your door, and use the included template as a guide when drilling.
If you have a kitten, or a young kitten you can prop the door slightly open and gradually push it to go through. Reward the kitten each time it goes through.
Measure the Door
A cat flap lets your pet to go in and out of your home at its convenience. This will keep your cat in good health as it will ensure it is exercising regularly and also be able to return inside if it gets trapped outside during bad weather. This can reduce the time you spend letting your cat in or out and also make your home safe by letting you know when it's gone.
However, it is important that the cat flap is properly fitted to stop your pet from being able to escape through it or be pushed through by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is important to measure the height of your pet's belly as well as the doorway to your home to ensure that the flap is at the correct height. If your cat is a little taller or shorter than average, you can alter the flap's height by moving it up or down a small amount.
The next step is to use a spirit level to mark the center of the door that you will install the flap. Then, using the marks as a guideline, cut out the shape of the flap with a Jigsaw. After you have cut the area out then sand the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any holes you need to.
Fitting a cat flap should not take more than two hours. However, the process can be slightly more complicated in the event that you have to put it inside the door of a uPVC or composite door as these doors come in an array of thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and what they are fixed to. This is the reason we recommend calling an expert to do the task, especially in the event that you've never worked with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
You can avoid hours of ignoring the pet meow to be let in or out. This is particularly useful when you're at work most of the day and your cat is in the house waiting for you to get home regardless of the weather.
It is crucial to measure your cat's measurements first before attempting to install. It may seem like a simple task, but it's crucial to get the measurements right. In the event that you don't, your cat may find it difficult to use.
Firstly, make sure your cat is relaxed and not stressed prior to taking the measurements. You will need to hold them in a position where they cannot move and make sure that the measuring tape or ruler is flat against their body, not arching in any places. You can get an accurate 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 determined your cat's measurement and measurements, you need to examine the door to determine where to place the flap. A good tip is to position the flap on the highest point of your cat's belly because it will allow them to move through it without too much effort. This will also avoid the flap from making lots of noise when it swings open and shut.
You should also consider the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While timber doors are all of the same thickness, uPVC and composite doors can be very different in their overall design and can make fitting a cat flap more difficult as you will need to ensure that the hole you cut is the correct size for your pet.
It is also worth looking through the instructions included with the cat flap kit to locate an outline of the template that can be used to determine the location of the hole in the door. This will allow you to determine where the opening must be, and also to make sure that the template is correctly positioned on the door. It is also a good idea to use a spirit-level to ensure that the template is flush against the door.
Cut the Flap
Before you can install your cat flap, you'll need to cut the door's panel to make it large enough to accommodate it. This can be a challenging job and it is recommended that you seek out the assistance of a professional cat flap fitting service to complete this task should you not have the knowledge or skills to do it yourself. It is also recommended that you read the instructions included with the kit to discover how to do this properly.
You can take the height of your cat's or kitten's stomach as a reference. As a general rule you should place the flap about 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the standard height of the belly for cats. This will allow your cat to move through the flap without difficulty and will make it difficult for other cats and nosy neighbours to enter or exit.
Draw the location of the cat flap on the door with a pencil. Then, if your kit includes a paper template, lay it over the door and use the markings to drill holes into each corner of the template. Then, you should be able to cut out the shape of the template and replace it with your cat flap.
You can install your cat flap yourself inside an uPVC or wood door if you are confident with a Jigsaw. Be sure not to cut into the vertical rails or mullions of your door. You can use a jigsaw cut the panel into a square or circle according to the design of your cat flap. Take your time, and don't try to force the jigsaw to cut faster.
Once the hole has been cut, carefully place your cat flap in its new place of residence. Make sure it's solidly secured. If the flap has screws then push them into the protruding bolts. Once the screws have been installed smooth the edges and seal any gaps. This will prevent draughts from entering your home.
Install the Flap
If you have a basic cat flap you can open it and encourage your pet to go through by placing a small amount of cat food on the outside of the door. You can also push the cat with a stick or your hand. Once your cat is accustomed to walking through the flap, it should be able to go into and out as it wishes so you can let it out and in without keeping the door open to allow it in all day (and potentially in all weather conditions).
You can install the flap onto an UPVC or glass door but it's not quite as straightforward as fitting one into a timber exterior door due to the fact that the UPVC and glass doors don't have a consistent thickness. This could have an enormous impact on the way you cut the flap's hole and whether the flap will fit correctly after installation.
Depending on the type of cat flap you select It could include a mounting kit and template that shows exactly where to drill the holes for it. If the kit doesn't come with the template you can use a photocopier to make your own. When cutting, it is important to keep the jigsaw from being pushed too to the point that you create a larger hole than is necessary in your door.
The majority of cat flaps are rectangular or square 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 that the hole is located in the correct spot on the door. In the event that it is not, the cat may not be able to access it, and may be outside all day (or at night).
Some cat flaps have locks which let you control when your cat comes and goes. doors with cat flap are helpful when your cat is scared of going out in the dark or coming back to the house at night. They are also useful for those who work all day. Some locks can be used for entry or exit, and others can be locked in both directions. This is useful for older cats or sick cats who aren't keen to go outside in bad weather.