Fitting a Cat Flap

Installing a cat flap might seem intimidating however it's actually quite easy to do by following the correct instructions. First, determine the height you want the flap to be (on average, belly height). Then, mark this area on the door and use the template as a guide to drill.
If you have a kitten, or a young kitten you can prop the door open a bit and gradually push it to pass through. Reward it as it passes through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap is an excellent way to allow your pet to move in and out of your house as it pleases. This can help keep your cat healthy as it ensures that it is exercising regularly and will also allow it to go back inside if it is trapped outside during bad weather. It also can reduce the amount of time you have to let it out or in. It can also protect your home by allowing you to know when it has gone 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 any other animals (e.g. dogs). It is important to measure your pet's belly height and the doorway to your home in order to ensure that the flap is at the right height. If your cat is longer or taller than the average, you can adjust the position of the flap by moving it upwards or downwards by a small amount.
Then, use a spirit-level to mark the center of the door. This is where you will put in the flap. With the markings as a guideline, you can use an jigsaw to cut the form of the flap in the door. Once you've cut the door, sand the edges of the door to smooth the surfaces. Then drill any fixing holes needed.
Fitting a cat flap should not take more than two hours. However, the process can be a bit more difficult when you have to install it inside the door of a uPVC or composite door because these doors come in various thicknesses, which affect how the holes are cut and what they are fixed into. We always recommend to contact a professional for your first time working with glass.
Measure Your Cat
A cat flap will save you from hours of listening to your pet meow to let it out or in. This is particularly helpful if you are at working all day and your cat is in the house waiting for you to get home regardless of the weather.
It is essential to measure your cat first before attempting to install. Although cat flap fitters near me might seem like to be a simple task, it is crucial to get the measurement right or your cat may find it difficult to use.
First, ensure that your cat is relaxed and not stressed prior to taking the measurements. You'll need to put your cat in a place in which they cannot move. Also, make sure that the measuring tape is flat and not curved against the body. Keeping cat flap fitters near me measuring tape or ruler against their body from their head to the bottom of their tail will allow you to make an accurate measurement.
Once you've got your cat's measurements and measurements, you need to examine the door to decide the best place to place the flap. Position the flap at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to walk through the door with minimal effort. This will also avoid the flap from making quite a lot of noise when it swings open and shut.
You should take into consideration the thickness of the uPVC or composite door too. While timber doors are of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors may differ in their overall design and this can make the installation of a cat flap more complicated because you must ensure that the hole you cut is the correct size for your pet.
It is also worth studying the instructions included with the cat flap kit to locate an outline of the template that can be used to mark out the position of the hole in the door. This will allow you to determine where the hole should be located and make sure that the template is set precisely on the door. It is also beneficial to use a spirit-level to ensure that the template sits flush against the door.
Cut the Flap
Before you can put in your cat flap you must cut the door's panel to make a space big enough to accommodate it. This is a difficult job, and it is recommended that you seek out the assistance of an expert cat flap fitter for this job should you not have the skills or experience to tackle it yourself. It is also recommended that you read the instructions included with the cat flap kit to find out how to do this correctly.
You can take the height of your cat's or kitten's stomach as a guide. A good rule of thumb is to set the flap of your cat about 10 centimeters from the ground as this is the typical belly height for cats. This will allow your cat to move through the flap easily and make it more difficult for other cats or naughty neighbours to enter or exit.
Once you've decided where the cat flap should be placed, mark this location on the door using pencil. Then, if your kit includes a paper template, lay it over the door and use the marks to drill holes in each 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 inside a door made from wood or uPVC, you are able to do it yourself if feel confident enough to handle the jigsaw. Be sure not to cut through the vertical rails or mullions of your door. You can use a jigsaw to cut the panel into a circle or square, depending on the design of your cat flap. Be patient and don't try to force the jigsaw into cutting faster.
Once the hole is cut, carefully place your cat flap into its new home. Make sure it's securely secured. If the flap has screw caps then push them into the protruding bolts. After the screws are installed, sand the rough edges and then apply sealant to any gaps. This will prevent draughts from entering your home.
Install the Flap
If you have an ordinary cat flap, you can help your pet through it by placing a small amount of cat food on the outside of the door. You can also try pushing the cat with a stick or your hand. Once your cat is accustomed to walking through the flap, it should be able to go in and out as it pleases and you should be able to let it out and in without holding the door open for it throughout the day (and potentially in any weather).
You can install an animal flap inside a UPVC or glass door but it's not as simple as fitting one into a timber external door because UPVC and some glass doors don't have a consistent thickness. This could affect the way you cut the hole for the flap, and could affect the way your flap will fit properly once it's been installed.
The mounting kit could include a template that shows you where to drill holes. If the kit does not come with a template, you can create one by yourself. It's important not to press the jigsaw too hard when cutting, so that it doesn't leave a bigger than necessary hole in your door.
Some cat flaps come in circular shapes, which are more difficult to install. If you have a circular flap, it's important to make sure the hole is in the correct position on your door because if it's not, the cat can't use it and could be stranded out in the sun all day (or even night).
Certain cat flaps come with locks that let you regulate when your cat can enter and leave. They can be extremely useful in the event that you are worried about your cat going out at night and coming back in the darkness, or if you're at work for the entire day. The lock can be turned on for entry or exit and some can be locked in either direction permitting you to close the door completely. This is especially beneficial for cats with a chronic illness or older age who aren't willing to go out in rainy weather.