Fitting A Cat Flap

It might seem daunting to put up a cat flap however, with the proper instructions, it's not too difficult. First, decide how high you want the flap to be (on average or belly height). Note this on your door and then use the template provided as a guide when drilling.

If you have a young kitten, prop the door open a bit and gradually allow it to enter. Reward the kitten as it goes through.

Measure the Door

A cat flap lets your pet to move into and out of your home at its convenience. This will help keep your cat in good health by ensuring that it is getting exercise and also being able to get back in if it is trapped outside in the rainy weather, especially during the winter. This will reduce the amount of time you allow your cat in or out and make your home safe by notifying you when it's left.

However, it is important that the flap for your cat is correctly fitted to prevent your pet from being able to escape through it or be pushed through by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is essential to measure your pet's belly height and the doorway of your house so that you can make sure that the flap is at the right height. You can adjust the height of your flap in case your cat is smaller or taller than average.

Next, use a spirit-level to mark the center of the door. This is where you will put in the flap. Utilizing the marking as a reference, use the jigsaw and cut the form of the flap inside the door. After cutting the area and sanded the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any necessary holes.

Fitting a cat flap should not take longer than two hours. However, the process may be a little more complicated when you have to install it onto the frame of a uPVC or composite door since these doors come in a wide range of thicknesses which can affect how the holes are cut and what they are fixed to. This is why we recommend calling an expert to do the job, particularly when you've never dealt with glass before.

Measure Your Cat

You can save yourself hours of ignoring the pet meow to be let in or out. This is especially helpful if you are at work all day and your cat flap installers near me is inside waiting until you get home in all weathers.

It is essential to measure your cat's measurements first before you begin the installation. Although it might appear to be to be a simple task, it is crucial to measure the right way or your pet will find it very difficult to use.

First, make sure that your cat is calm before you begin taking measurements. You'll need to keep them in a manner that they are not able to move, and make sure that the measuring tape or ruler is flat against their body and not arching in any places. Holding the measuring tape or ruler against their body from the top of their head to the tip of their tail can allow you to make an exact measurement.

Once you've determined your cat's measurements and measurements, you need to look at the door to decide where to place the flap. The flap should be placed 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 from making a lot of noise as it swings open and shut.

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 are different in their overall structure, which can make fitting a cat flap in a upvc door a cat flap more complicated as you will need to make sure that the hole you cut is the right size for your pet.

It is also worthwhile looking through the instructions that come with the cat flap kit to locate an illustration template that can be used to mark the position of the hole in the door. This will allow you to determine where the opening must be and make sure that the template is properly placed on the door. It is also helpful to employ a spirit-level to ensure that the template is placed in a straight line against the door.

Cut the Flap

You'll need to make a hole in the door to accommodate 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 a professional cat flap fitting service to complete this task if you don't have the knowledge or skills to tackle it yourself. You can also consult the instructions that come in the kit to find out how to do it right.

You can consider the height of your cat's or kitten's stomach to guide you. As a rule of thumb put the flap around 10-15 centimeters higher than the ground. This is the standard height of the belly for cats. This way your cat will be able to go through the flap without difficulty and it will also give other cats or snooping neighbours difficult time trying to get in or out.

Draw the location of the cat flap on the door using the pencil. If your kit comes with a template you can place it on the door. Utilize the markings on the template to drill holes at every corner. You will then be able to cut out the design of the template and replace it with your cat flap.

You can install your cat flap yourself in the door made of wood or uPVC when you're confident with the jigsaw. Ensure that you do not cut through any of the door's mullions or vertical rails. You can use a jigsaw cut the panel into a square or a circle, depending on the design of your cat flap. Remember to take your time and don't try to force the jigsaw into cutting faster.

After the hole has been cut and the flap is firmly positioned, carefully place the flap onto its new home and make sure that it's securely fixed. If the flap is fitted with screw caps put them on the protruding bolts. Once the screws are in place, sand the rough edges of the cut, and then seal any gaps to ensure there aren't any draughts entering into your home.

Fit the Flap

If you have a standard cat flap, you can try to encourage your pet to use it by placing a small amount of cat food on the outside of the door. You can also push the cat using the help of a stick or your hands. Once your cat has become used to walking through the flap, it will be in a position to move at will. This will allow you to let it in and out at any time it wants.

You can fit the flap onto the UPVC or glass doors although this may not be exactly the same as fitting one into a timber external door because the upvc door panel with cat flap fitted and 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 installed.

The mounting kit may include a template that shows you where to drill holes. If the kit doesn't include the template, you can photocopy it to make your own. It is important not to push the jigsaw too hard when cutting, so it doesn't leave a bigger than necessary hole in your door.

Certain cat flaps come in circular shapes, which are more difficult to install. If you have a circular flap, make sure that the hole is located in the correct place on the door. If not, your cat may not be able to access it, and might be stuck outside the whole day (or night).

Some cat flaps have locks which let you control the time your cat comes and goes. They are helpful for pets who are afraid of leaving in the dark, or coming back to the house at night. They can also be useful for those who work all day. Certain locks can be used for entry or exit, and others can be locked both ways. This is helpful for sick or elderly cats who don't want to venture out in cold weather.