Fitting a Cat Flap

It may seem difficult to put up the flap for your cat, but with the right guidelines, it's not all that difficult. First, determine the height you would like the flap to be (on average, belly height). Then, mark this area on the door and then use the template included as a guide to drill.
If you have a kitten who is still a baby and you want to keep the door open, gently prop it slightly open and allow it to pass through. Reward it when it goes through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap is an excellent option to allow your pet to leave and come into and out of your home as it wants. This can keep your cat healthy since it will ensure it gets enough exercise and be able to go back inside if it is trapped outside during bad weather. This will reduce the amount of time you allow your cat in or out, and keep your home secure by notifying you when it has left.
It is crucial that the cat flap is properly fitted to stop your pet from being able to escape through it or be pushed through by any other animals (e.g. dogs). You should determine the height of your pet's belly as well as the height of the doorway at your home to ensure the flap is at the right height. You can adjust the height of your flap when your cat is taller or less than the average.
The next step is to use a spirit level to mark the middle of the door. This is where you'll install the flap. Using the marking as a guide, take an jigsaw to cut the shape of the flap within the door. Once you have cut out the door, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces and drill any fixing holes that are required.
Installing a cat flap ought to not take longer than two hours. However, the process may be a bit more difficult if you need to fit it into a uPVC or composite door as these doors come with an array of thicknesses, which affect how the holes are cut and the type of door they are inserted into. This is the reason we recommend hiring a professional to complete the job, particularly when you've never dealt with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
You will not have to spend hours of listening to the pet meow to be let in or out. fitting a cat flap in a upvc door is especially helpful for those who work all day and your cat is stuck in the house waiting for you to get home in any weather.
If you're planning to put a cat flap inside your door it is important to take measurements of your cat prior to attempting the task. While it may seem a simple operation it is important to make sure you measure correctly or your cat will find it difficult to use.
First of all, make sure that your cat is relaxed and not stressed prior to taking the measurements. You will have to hold your cat in a position where they cannot move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is flat and not curved against the body. You can get 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've got your cat's measurements then you can examine 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 walk through the door without much effort. This will also prevent the flap from making a lot of noise when it swings back and back.
You must think about the thickness of the uPVC or composite door as well. While timber doors are of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors are different in their overall construction and can make fitting a cat flap more difficult because you must make sure 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 find an outline of the template that can be used to determine the location of the hole in the door. This will allow you to determine where the hole must be located and make sure that the template is placed properly on the door. Using a spirit-level to ensure that the template is right against the door will also be very helpful.
Cut the Flap
You'll need to cut an opening in the door panel to install your cat flap before you can put it in place. This is a difficult job and it is recommended to get help from an expert cat flap fitter to complete this task if you don't have the knowledge or skills to do it yourself. You can also refer to the instructions provided with the kit to discover how to do it properly.
You can consider the height of the cat's or kitten's stomach as a guide. A good guideline is to put the cat flap about 10-15 centimeters from the ground as this is approximately the average height of the cat's belly. This way your cat will be able to go through the flap without difficulty and will also make the other cats or neighbours who are snooping an issue when trying to enter or leave.
The position of the cat flap on the door with a pencil. Next, if your kit has a template for paper, place it over the door and use the markings to drill holes in every corner of the template. Then, you should be able to cut out the template shape and replace it with the flap for cats.
If you are installing your cat flap in a door made from wood or uPVC, you can do it yourself if you are confident enough to use the Jigsaw. Be cautious not to cut through the mullions or rails that run vertically 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. Take your time and don't make the jigsaw cut faster.
Once the hole is cut, carefully fit the flap of cat food into its new home and make sure that it's securely secured. If it features caps for screws, then put them onto the screws that protrude. Once the screws have been installed smooth the edges and seal any gaps. This will stop draughts from entering 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 cat food on the outside of the door. You can also try pushing the cat with the help of a stick or your hands. Once your cat is used to moving through the flap, it should be able to go into and out as it wants, so you can let it out and in without keeping the door open for it throughout the day (and likely in all weather conditions).
You can install a cat flap into a UPVC or glass door however it's not quite as straightforward as fitting one into a timber exterior door due to the fact that the UPVC doors and some glass doors don't have the same thickness. This can have a major impact on the way you cut the flap's hole and whether the flap fits correctly after installation.
The mounting kit could include a template that shows you the best places to drill holes. If the kit does not include a template you can create one by yourself. It's important not to use the jigsaw to hard when cutting, so it doesn't leave a bigger than needed hole in your door.
Most cat flaps are rectangular or square in shape, however there are some that are circular, and are usually more difficult to place. If you have a round flap, make sure that the hole is in the right place on the door. In the event that it is not, the cat might not be able use it, and may be stuck outside the whole day (or at night).
Certain cat flaps come with locks that let you determine when your cat is allowed to enter and leave. These are useful when your cat is scared of leaving in the dark or returning in the dark. They can also be helpful for those who work all day. Certain locks can be used to lock entrance or exit, while others can be locked both ways. This is helpful for sick or older cats who don't want to go outside in bad weather.