Fitting a Cat Flap

It may seem difficult to set up a cat flap however, with the proper guidelines, it's not all that difficult. Decide how high you'd like the flap to be (normally, it is at belly height). Mark this point on the door, and use the template as a guide to drill.

If you have a young kitten you can prop the door open a bit and gradually allow it to pass through. Reward the kitten as it moves through.

Measure the Door

A cat flap lets your pet to move into and out of your home at the time that is convenient for you. This can help with keeping your cat healthy by making sure that it gets exercise as well as being able to get back in if trapped outside in the rainy weather, especially during the winter. It also can reduce the amount of time you have to allow it out or in and will also help keep your home safe by allowing you to be aware of when it went out.

It is crucial to ensure that the cat flap is set up correctly in order to prevent your pet from being forced 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 doorway of your house in order to make sure that the flap is at the correct height. If your cat is a little longer or taller than the average, you can adjust the flap's height 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, where you will be installing the flap. With the markings as a reference, use an jigsaw to cut the shape of the flap within the door. Once you've cut the door, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces. You can then drill any fixing holes that are required.

Installing a cat flap ought to not take longer than two hours. The process can be slightly more complicated if you are required 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 that holes are cut. This is why we always recommend calling an expert to do the job, particularly in the event that you've never worked with glass before.

Measure Your Cat

You can avoid hours of ignoring the cat's meows to be allowed in or out. This is especially helpful for cats that are inside in all weathers when you are at work.

If you are planning to install a cat flap on your door it is important that you take measurements of your cat prior to attempting the task. Although it might seem like to be a simple task, it is essential to make sure you measure correctly or your pet will find it very difficult to use.

First, ensure that your cat is calm before you begin taking measurements. You'll need to keep your cat in a position that they are unable to move. Also, make sure that the measuring tape is flat and not curved against their body. You can get an accurate measurement by keeping the measuring tape or the ruler flat against the body of the animal from the top to the bottom.

Once you've got your cat's measurements then you can examine the door to determine where to place 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 prevent the flap from making a lot of noise as it opens and closes.

You will also need to take into consideration the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While all timber doors have the same thickness to them, uPVC or composite doors are different in their overall structure. This could make the process of fitting the flap for your cat more difficult, as you must ensure that the hole is the right size.

It is also worthwhile reading through the directions that come with the cat flap kit to locate an illustration template that can be used to mark out the location of the hole in the door. This will allow you to see where the opening must be, and also to make sure that the template is correctly positioned on the door. Using a spirit level to ensure that the template is sitting right against the door will also be extremely helpful.

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 can be a daunting job so it's recommended you get a professional help you if you lack the knowledge or skills. You can also consult the instructions provided with the kit to learn how to do it right.

You can take the height of your cat's or kitten's stomach as a reference. In general you should place the flap around 10-15 centimeters higher than the ground. This is the average height of the cat's belly. This will allow your cat to pass through the flap with ease and make it difficult for other cats and nosy neighbors to get in or out.

Once you have determined the location where the cat flap needs to be located, mark the location on the door using a pencil. Then, if your kit comes with an outline of paper, place this over the door and use the marks to drill holes in each corner of the template. Then, you should be able cut out the template and replace it with the cat flap.

You can put in your cat flap yourself in the door made of wood or uPVC If you're comfortable with the jigsaw. Be cat flap fitting 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, depending on how you want it. Be patient and don't force the jigsaw to cut faster.

Once the hole has been made, carefully place the cat flap in its new place of residence. Make sure that it is firmly secured. If the flap has screw caps put them on the protruding bolts. Once the screws are in place, you can sand any rough edges of the cut then apply sealant around any gaps to ensure there aren't any draughts getting into your home.

Fit the Flap

If you have an ordinary cat flap, you can help your pet to go through it by placing a small amount cat food on the top of the door. You can also try pushing the cat using sticks or your hand. Once your pet has become comfortable moving through the flap, it will be in a position to move as it pleases. This lets you let it in and out at any time it wishes.

You can fit an animal flap inside an UPVC or glass door however it's not as simple as fitting one into a wood exterior door due to the fact that the UPVC doors and some glass doors don't have a consistent thickness. This could have an enormous impact on the way you cut out the flap's hole and whether the flap will fit correctly after installation.

The mounting kit might include a template showing you where to drill holes. If the kit doesn't come with an example you can use a photocopier to create your own. It's important not to use the jigsaw to in order to cut, so it doesn't leave a bigger than needed hole in your door.

Some cat flaps come in circular designs, which are more difficult to install. If you have a circular flap, it's important to make sure the hole is in the correct location on your door as if it's not, your cat won't be able to use it and could be left out in the sun all day (or even at night).

Certain cat flaps have locks that let you determine when your cat can enter and leave. These can be very useful when you're worried about your pet going out at night only to come back in because of the darkness, or you're working all day. The lock can be used to allow entry or exit, and some locks can be locked in either direction which allows you to close the door completely, which is particularly beneficial for sick or elderly cats who don't want to go out in the rain.