Fitting a Cat Flap

It may seem difficult to put up a cat flap, but with the right guidelines, it's not all that difficult. First, decide how high you would like the flap to be (on average the belly height). Then, mark cat flap installer on the door and use the template provided as a guideline to drill.
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 pass through. Reward it as it passes through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap is an excellent way to let your pet move inside and out of your home whenever it wants. This will help keep your cat in good health by ensuring that it is getting exercise as well as being able to go back in if it is stuck outside in bad weather, particularly in winter. It also can reduce the amount of time you'll have to let it out or in and will also help ensure your home is secure by allowing you to know when it has gone out.
However, it is important that the flap on your cat 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 crucial to determine the height of your pet's belly and the doorway to your home in order to ensure that the flap is at the correct height. You can adjust the height of your flap in case your cat is smaller or taller than the average.
The next step is to use a spirit level to mark the centre of the door that you will install the flap. Utilizing the marking as a reference, use a jigsaw and cut out the form of the flap in the door. Once you have cut out the door, sand the edges of the door to smooth the surfaces. Then drill any fixing holes that are required.
The installation of a cat flap should not take more than two hours. The process is slightly more challenging if you need to install it in the form of a uPVC door or a composite one. This is because composite doors come in various thicknesses, which can affect the way holes are cut. We always recommend to contact a professional for your first time working with glass.
Measure Your Cat
You can avoid hours of listening to the pet's meow to be let in or out. This is particularly helpful if you are at work most of the day and your cat has to stay in the house waiting for you to get home in all weathers.
It is crucial to first measure your cat before you begin the installation. Although it might seem like to be a simple task, it is important to get the measurement right or your cat may find it difficult to use.
First, make sure that your cat is calm before taking measurements. You will have to hold your cat in a position that they are unable to move. Also, make sure that the measuring tape is straight and not bent against the body. Keeping the measuring tape or ruler against their body from their head to the bottom of their tail will enable you to get an precise measurement.
Once you've figured out the measurements of your cat, it's time to take a look at the door and decide on where to put the flap. Position the flap at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to go through the door with minimal effort. This will also avoid the flap making quite a lot of noise when it swings open and closed.
It is also important to take into consideration the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While timber doors are of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors may differ in their overall structure, which can make fitting the cat flap more difficult because you must ensure that the hole you make is the proper size for your pet.
It is also worth reading through the directions included with the kit to locate a template drawing that can be used to mark out the position of the hole in the door. This will help you determine where the hole needs to be located and ensure that the template is set properly on the door. It is also helpful to employ a spirit-level to ensure that the template is placed perfectly against the door.
Cut the Flap
You'll need to make a hole in the door panel to install your cat flap prior to you can attach it. This can be a tricky task and it is recommended that you seek the help of an expert cat flap fitter for this step if you don't have the expertise or knowledge to tackle it yourself. You can also consult the instructions included with the kit to discover how to do it right.
To do this, you will need to determine the height of your cat or kitten's belly and use that as an indicator point. In general you should place the flap about 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the average height of the cat's belly. This way, your cat will be able to move through the flap with ease and also give other cats or snooping neighbours an issue when trying to get in or out.
Mark the position of the cat flap on the door using a pencil. If your kit includes a template, place it over the door. Use the marks on the template to drill holes in each corner. You will then be able to cut the template's shape and replace it with your cat flap.
If you are installing your cat flap on the form of a door made of wood or uPVC, you are able to do it yourself if you are confident enough to use a jigsaw. Be cautious 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 according to the design of your cat flap. Be patient and don't try to make the jigsaw cut faster.
Once the hole is cut, carefully place your cat flap in its new place of residence. Make sure it is securely secured. If the flap has screw caps, push them onto the protruding bolts. Once the screws have been installed then sand the rough edges and apply sealant to any gaps. This will stop draughts from entering your home.
Fit the Flap
If you have a standard cat flap, you can help your pet to go through it by placing a small amount cat food on the front of the door. You can also try pushing the cat with sticks or your hand. Once your cat is accustomed to walking through the flap it will be in a position to move at will. This allows you to let it in and out as it wants.
You can fit the flap onto a UPVC or glass door although this may not be exactly the same as fitting one into a wood external door because UPVC and some glass doors aren't a uniform thickness. This can affect how you cut the hole for the flap, and could affect the way your flap fits correctly once it's been installed.
Depending on the model of cat flap you choose, it may include a mounting kit and template that will tell exactly where to drill the holes for it. If the kit does not include a template, you are able to make one yourself. When cutting, it is important to avoid pushing the jigsaw too hard so that you don't create a bigger hole than necessary in your door.
The majority of cat flaps are square or rectangular in shape, but there are also some which are circular, and they are generally more difficult to place. If you have a circular flap, ensure that the hole is located in the right place on the door. Otherwise, the cat might not be able to access it, and may be stuck outside the whole day (or night).
Certain cat flaps have locks that let you regulate when your cat is allowed to enter and leave. These are useful if your pet is afraid of going out in the dark or coming back in the dark. They can also be helpful if you work all day. Some locks can be used for access or exit, and others can be locked both ways. This is helpful for sick or elderly cats who aren't keen to venture out in cold weather.