Fitting a Cat Flap
It may seem difficult to install a cat flap, but with the right guidelines, it's not all that difficult. Find out how high you'd like the cat flap (normally, it is at the belly height). Then, mark this area on your door, and use the template included to guide you when drilling.
If you have a kitten, or a young kitten hold the door open very slightly and gradually encourage it to enter. Reward the kitten each time it moves through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap is a wonderful method to let your pet leave and come in and out of your house as it wants. This will help keep your cat healthy by ensuring that it is getting exercise as well as being able to come back inside if trapped outside in bad weather, especially during the winter. This can reduce the time you spend letting your cat out or in and also make your home safer by letting you know when it has left.
It is important to ensure that the cat flap is installed correctly to stop your pet from being pushed through or escaping through it by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is important to measure the height of your pet's belly and the width of the doorway in your home to ensure that the flap is at the right height. If your cat is a little longer or taller than the average, you can adjust the flap's position 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. This is where you will put in the flap. Then, using the marks as a guideline, cut out the shape of the flap with a jigsaw. Once you have cut out the area, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces and drill any fixing holes that are required.
The process of fitting the cat flap isn't as difficult as you may think, and it shouldn't take more than two hours to finish the entire task from start to completion. The process can be slightly more complicated if you are required to install it on a uPVC door or a composite one. This is because composite doors come in various thicknesses, which could affect the way the holes are cut. We recommend to consult with a professional if this is your first experience working with glass.
Measure Your Cat
A cat flap can spare you from hours of listening to your pet meow to let it out or in. This is especially useful for cats that are in the house during all seasons when you are at work.
If you are planning to install a cat flap inside your door it is important to measure your cat before attempting the task. It may appear to be a simple task, but it is essential to measure your cat correctly. If not, your cat may have difficulty putting it in use.
First, ensure that your cat is calm and not feeling stressed before you take the measurements. You'll need to keep your cat in a place that they are unable to move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is straight and not bent against the body. You can take a precise measurement by keeping the measuring tape or the ruler flat against the body of the animal from the top to the bottom.
Once you have your cat's measurement and measurements, you need to look at the door to determine where to place the flap. A good tip is to place the flap at the height of your cat's stomach as this will allow them to move through it without much effort. This will also stop the flap from making too much noise as it swings back and forth.
You must think about the thickness of the uPVC or composite door, as well. While timber doors are all of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors may differ in their overall structure and this can make the installation of the cat flap more difficult as you will need to make sure the hole you cut is the correct size for your pet.
It is also worth reading through the directions included with the kit to find a template drawing that can be used to determine the location of the hole inside the door. This will allow you to see where the opening needs to be, and also to make sure the template is correctly positioned on the door. Using a spirit level to make sure that the template is sitting in a straight line against the door will be very helpful.
Cut the Flap
Before you can install your cat flap you have to cut the door's panel to create a space large enough to accommodate it. This can be a challenging task and it is recommended to get help from a professional cat flap fitting service for this step if you don't have the expertise or knowledge to tackle it yourself. You can also refer to the instructions included with the kit to discover how to do it properly.
To do this, you will need to measure the height of your cat's or kitten's belly. Use this as a reference point. As a general rule put the flap around 10-15 centimeters higher than the ground. This is the standard height of the stomach for cats. This way, your cat will be able to go through the flap without difficulty and it will also give any other cats or curious neighbours an issue when trying to get in or out.
Once you have determined where the cat flap should be located, mark the location on the door using the help of a pencil. Then, if your kit has a template for paper, place it on top of the door and use the marks to drill holes into every corner of the template. After that, you'll be able to cut out the template shape and replace it with the cat flap.
If you are installing your cat flap on a door made from wood or uPVC, it is possible to do it yourself if you are comfortable with using a Jigsaw. Be careful not to cut through the vertical rails or mullions of your door. You can use a Jigsaw to cut your panel into a square or circle according to the way you'd like to cut it. Take your time and don't try to force the jigsaw into cutting faster.
After the hole has been cut, carefully fit the flap onto its new home and ensure that it's securely secured. If the flap has screws, push them onto the protruding bolts. Once the screws have been installed, sand the rough edges and apply sealant to any gaps. This will stop draughts from entering your home.
Install the Flap
If you have a simple cat flap, you can leave it open and encourage your pet to go through by putting a small amount of cat food in front of the door. You can also push the cat using sticks or your hand. Once your cat is comfortable walking through the flap it will be capable of walking through the flap at will. This will allow you to let it in and out as it wants.
It is possible to put an animal flap into a UPVC door or a glass door, however it may not be as easy as installing one on a wooden external door. This is because UPVC doors and some types of glass doors don't have an even thickness. Recommended Webpage could have an enormous impact on how you cut out the flap's hole and how well the flap fits after installation.
The mounting kit might include a template showing you the best places to drill holes. If the kit does not include a template you can make one on your own. When cutting, it's important to avoid pushing the jigsaw too far enough to create a bigger hole than you need in your door.
Some cat flaps come in circular designs, which are more difficult to install. If you have a round flap, make sure 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 might be stuck outside the whole day (or night).
Certain models of cat flaps have locks that allow you to control the time your cat comes and goes. These are useful when your cat is scared of leaving in the dark or coming back in the dark. They can also be helpful for those who work all day. Certain locks can be used for entrance or exit, while others can be locked both ways. This is beneficial for sick or older cats who aren't keen to venture out in cold weather.