Fitting a Cat Flap

The process of installing a cat flap may appear daunting however it's actually quite simple to install by following the correct instructions. Determine how high you would like your cat flap to be (normally it's located at the belly height). Mark this point on your door and use the template provided as a guide when drilling.

If you have a kitten who is still a baby, gently prop the door slightly open and encourage it to walk through. Reward it as it passes through.

Measure the Door

A cat flap is a wonderful method to allow your pet to move in and out of your home whenever it wants. This will help keep your cat healthy by ensuring that it is getting exercise as well as being able to get back inside if stuck outside in bad weather, particularly during the winter. This can reduce the time you spend letting your cat out or in and make your home secure by letting you know when it's gone.

It is crucial to ensure that the cat flap is set up correctly to stop your pet from being pushed through through it by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is crucial to determine the height of your pet's belly and the doorway of your house so that you can ensure that the flap is at the proper height. If your cat is a little longer or taller than the normal, you can adjust the flap's position by moving it up or down by a tiny amount.

The next step is to use a spirit level to mark the center of the door that you will put the flap. Using the marking as a guideline, you can use a jigsaw and cut out the form of the flap inside the door. After cutting the area then sand the edges to create smooth surfaces. Make any holes that are required.

The process of fitting a cat flap isn't as difficult as you may believe and it shouldn't take more than two hours for the entire process from beginning to finish. However, the process may be slightly more complicated if you need to fit it inside a uPVC or composite door cat flap door because these doors come with various thicknesses which can affect how the holes are cut and what they are fixed to. We always suggest to consult with a professional when this is your first experience working with glass.

Measure Your Cat

A cat flap will save you from listening to your pet meow for you to let it in or out. This is particularly useful when you're at work all day and your cat is stuck in the house waiting for you to get home in any weather.

It is crucial to measure your cat first before you attempt the installation. Although it might appear to be to be a simple task, it is important to get the measurement right or your cat may find it difficult to use.

First, ensure that your cat is calm prior to taking measurements. You will need to hold them in a position where they cannot move and make sure that the ruler or measuring tape is flat against their body, not bending in any place. By keeping the measuring tape or ruler against their body from the top of their head to the tip of their tail can allow you to determine an exact measurement.

Once you have the measurement of your cat's body, it's time to look at the door and decide where to place the flap. Place 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 prevent the flap from making a lot noise as it swings back and forward.

You will also need to think about the thickness and the structure of the uPVC door or composite. While timber doors are of the same thickness, uPVC and composite doors can be very different in their overall construction and can make fitting a cat flap more complicated as you will need to make sure the hole you make is the proper size for your pet.

You can make use of the template included in the instructions to mark the position of the hole on the door. This will allow you determine the location where the opening should be, and also to ensure that the template is properly placed on the door. Using a spirit-level to make sure that the template is sitting right against the door will also be very helpful.

Cut the Flap

Before you can put in your cat flap, you'll have to cut the door panel in order to make it large enough for it. This is a difficult job and it is recommended to seek the help of an expert cat flap fitter for this job in case you don't have the expertise or knowledge to tackle it yourself. It is also recommended to consult the instructions that come with the kit to discover how to do it correctly.

You can consider the height of your cat's or kitten's stomach to guide you. As a general rule, place the cat flap installers flap about 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the typical height of the belly for cats. This will let your cat pass through the flap without difficulty and will make it difficult for other cats or nosy neighbours to get inside or out.

Once you've decided the location where the cat flap needs to be positioned, mark this location on the door using pencil. Then, if your kit has an outline of paper, place it on top of the door and use the marks to drill holes into each corner of the template. Then, you should be able to cut the template and replace it with the flap for cats.

You can install the cat flap yourself in an uPVC or wood door If you're comfortable using a Jigsaw. Be sure to not cut through any of the door mullions or vertical rails. You can use a jigsaw to cut your panel into a square or circle, depending on how you'd like it. Make sure to take your time and don't force the jigsaw into cutting faster.

Once the hole is made and the flap is firmly positioned, carefully place the cat flap into its new home and ensure that it is securely fixed. If it has caps for screws, then put them onto the screws that protrude. Once the screws are in place, sand the rough edges of the cut and then seal any gaps to ensure there are no draughts coming into your home.

Fit the Flap

If you have an ordinary cat flap, you can try to encourage your pet through it by placing a small amount of cat food on the top of the door. You can also try pushing the cat with a stick or your hand. Once your cat is accustomed to moving through the flap, it will be able to move in and out as it pleases, so you can let it out or in without having to be there to open the door for it all day (and potentially in any weather).

It is possible to install the flap inside a UPVC door or a glass door, however it may not be as simple as putting one on a wooden external door. This is due to the fact that the doors made of UPVC and some kinds of glass doors do not have a uniform thickness. This could affect how you cut the hole for the flap and can also affect whether your flap will fit properly once it's installed.

The mounting kit could include a template showing you the best places to drill holes. If the kit doesn't come with the template you can copy it to create your own. It's important to not push the jigsaw too hard when cutting, so that it doesn't make a larger than needed hole in your door.

Most cat flaps are rectangular or square in shape, but there are also some which are circular and these are generally more difficult to fit. If you have a circular flap, make sure that the hole is located in the correct spot on the door. If not, your cat may not be able to access it, and could be outside all day (or night).

Certain models of cat flaps (urquhart-mathiassen-2.technetbloggers.de) have locks that let you manage when your cat comes and goes. These are very helpful when you're worried about your pet going out at night and coming back in due to the darkness, or if you're at work for the entire day. Some locks can be used for either 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.