Fitting a Cat Flap

It may seem difficult to set up the flap for your cat but with the right guidelines, it's not all that difficult. Determine how high you would like your cat flap to be (normally, it is at belly height). Mark this point on your door and use the included template to guide you when drilling.
If you have a kitten who is still a newborn and you want to keep the door open, gently prop it slightly open and invite it to go through. Reward it as it passes through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap is a great way to let your pet leave and come in and out of your house as it pleases. This can help with keeping your cat in good health by ensuring that it gets exercise and also being able to come back inside if trapped outside in bad weather, particularly during the winter. It also can reduce the amount of time you need to spend letting it out or in. It can ensure your home is secure by allowing you to be aware of when it went out.
However, it is essential that the cat flap is fitted correctly to prevent your pet from escaping through it or be pushed through by any other animals (e.g. dogs). It is important to measure the height of your pet's stomach and the width of the doorway at your home to ensure that the flap is at the proper height. You can adjust the height of your flap if your cat is taller or less than average.
Next, use a spirit-level to mark the middle of the door. This is where you will install the flap. With the markings as a reference, use the jigsaw and cut the shape of the flap within the door. Once you have cut out the door, sand the edges of the door to smooth the surfaces. Then drill any fixing holes required.
Installing a cat flap ought to not take longer than two hours. However, the process could be a little more complicated if you need to fit it onto the frame of a uPVC or composite door since these doors come in an array of thicknesses which can affect how the holes are cut and the type of door they are fixed to. We always recommend to contact an expert for your first experience working with glass.
Measure Your Cat
A cat flap can save you from hearing your pet's cries to let it in or out. This is particularly helpful when your cat is in the house during all seasons when you are at work.
It is essential to first measure your cat before you begin the installation. upvc door panel with cat flap may appear to be a simple task, but it's important to measure your cat correctly. In the event that you don't, your cat may find it difficult to use.
First, make sure that your cat is calm before you begin taking measurements. You'll need to put your cat in a position in which they cannot move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is straight and not bent against the body. You can get a precise measurement by keeping the measuring tape or 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 look at the door to decide where to put the flap. A good tip is to place the flap on the highest point of your cat's belly because this will help them to get through it with minimal effort. This will also stop the flap making quite a lot of noise when it opens and closes.
You will also need to consider the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While timber doors are of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors can be very different in their overall design, which can make fitting a cat flap more difficult because you must make sure the hole you cut is the correct size for your pet.
It is also worth looking through the instructions that come with the kit to locate a template drawing that can be used to determine the location of the hole inside the door. This will help you to determine where the opening must be and also make sure the template is properly placed on the door. Using a spirit-level to make sure that the template is flush against the door will also be extremely helpful.
Cut the Flap
You will need to cut an opening in the door to accommodate your cat flap before you can put it in place. This can be a tricky job and it is recommended that you get help from an expert cat flap fitter to complete this task should you not have the skills or experience to complete the task yourself. You can also read the instructions that come with the kit to learn how to do it correctly.
To do this, you will need to determine the height of your cat or kitten's belly. Use this as an indicator point. A good guideline is to set the flap around 10-15 centimeters away from the ground since this is the typical height of the cat's belly. This will allow your cat to pass through the flap easily and make it difficult for other cats or nosy neighbors to get in or out.
Draw the location of the cat flap on the door with the pencil. If cat flap installation cost comes with an outline of paper, place it on top of 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.
You can put in your cat flap yourself on an uPVC or wood door If you're comfortable with the use of a jigsaw. Be cautious not to cut into the vertical rails or mullions of your door. You can use a jigsaw to cut your panel into a circle or square according to the way you'd like to cut it. Take your time and don't make the jigsaw cut faster.
Once the hole has been cut, carefully place your cat flap in its new place of residence. Make sure it is securely secured. If it features caps on the screws, then place these caps onto the protruding screws. 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.
Place the Flap
If you have a standard cat flap, you can try to encourage 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 using sticks or your hand. Once your pet has become accustomed to moving through the flap, it will be capable of walking through the flap as it pleases. This lets you let it in and out as it's wanted.
It is possible to put the flap inside a UPVC door or a glass door, however it's not as simple as putting one inside a wooden exterior door. This is due to the fact that the UPVC doors and certain types of glass doors do not have an even thickness. This can have a major impact on how you cut out the flap's hole and whether the flap will fit correctly after installation.
Based on the type of cat flap you pick It could be equipped with a mounting kit as well as a template that shows precisely where to drill the holes for it. If the kit does not include a template you can use a photocopier to create your own. When cutting, it's crucial to avoid pushing the jigsaw too to the point that you make a larger hole than is necessary in your door.
Some cat flaps are available in circular designs, which are more difficult to install. If you have a round flap, make sure that the hole is located in the correct place on your door. Otherwise, upvc door panels with cat flap may not be able to access it, and might be outside all day (or night).
Certain cat flaps come with locks that allow you to regulate when your cat can enter and leave. These can be very useful if you're concerned about your cat going out at night only to come back in due to the darkness, or you're at work for the entire day. The lock can be turned on to allow or deny entry, and some are locked in both directions, allowing you to shut the door completely. This is particularly beneficial for sick or elderly cats who aren't willing to go out in rainy weather.