Fitting A Cat Flap

Installing a cat flap might appear daunting but it's simple to install with the proper instructions. Determine how high you would like the flap to be (normally, it is at belly height). Note this on the door and then use the template included as a guide 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 encourage it to pass through. Reward the kitten as it goes through.

Take a measurement of the door

A cat flap lets your pet to enter and exit your home at its convenience. This will keep your cat healthy as it ensures that it gets enough exercise and be able to go back inside if it is stranded outside in bad weather. It also can reduce the amount of time you need to let it in or out and can also ensure your home is secure by allowing you to know when it's been out.

It is essential to make sure that the cat flap is placed correctly to stop your pet from being forced through 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 so that you can ensure that the flap is at the proper height. You can adjust the height of your flap when your cat is taller or less than average.

Next, use a spirit-level to mark the middle of the door. This is where you will put in the flap. Utilizing the marking as a guide, take an jigsaw to cut the form of the flap within the door. Once you have cut out the area, sand the edges of the door to smooth the surfaces. Then drill any fixing holes needed.

The process of fitting a cat flap isn't as difficult as you may think, and it shouldn't take more than two hours for the entire job from start to completion. However, the process can be a little more complicated in the event that you have to put it inside the door of a uPVC or composite door because these doors come in an array of thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and what they are fixed to. We always recommend to contact an expert if this is your first time working with glass.

Measure Your Cat

You can save yourself hours of listening to the pet's meow to be let in or out. This is especially helpful for those who work most of the day and your cat is in the house waiting for you to get home regardless of the weather.

If you want to fit a cat flap in your door, it is essential that you take measurements of your cat prior to attempting the task. Although it might seem like an easy task, it is crucial to make sure you measure correctly or your cat will find it difficult to use.

First, make sure your cat is calm before 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, not bending in any place. Holding the ruler or measuring tape against their body from the top of their head to the tip of their tail will allow you to get an accurate measurement.

Once you've got the measurement of your cat, it is time to look at the door and decide where to place the flap. It is advisable to place the flap in the middle of your cat's belly because this will allow them to get through it without much effort. This will also prevent the flap from making a lot noise when it swings back and forth.

You will also need to take into consideration the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While all timber doors have a similar thickness to them, upvc door panel replacement cat flap or composite doors are different in their overall structure. This can make the process of putting in a flap for your cat more difficult, as you must ensure that the hole is of the correct size.

It is also worth studying the instructions that come with the kit to locate an outline of the template that can be used to mark the location of the hole inside the door. This will help you determine where the hole must be located and make sure that the template is placed precisely on the door. It is also helpful to utilize a spirit-level to make sure that the template sits perfectly against the door.

Cut the Flap

Before you can put in your cat flap you need to cut the door panel in order to make a space big enough to accommodate it. This can be a challenging job and it is recommended to seek the help of a professional cat flap fitting (postheaven.Net) service to complete this task if you don't have the knowledge or skills to do it yourself. You can also refer to the instructions that come with the kit to learn how to do it correctly.

To do this, you have to take a measurement of the height of your cat or kitten's belly. Use this as a reference point. In general, place the cat flap around 10-15 centimeters higher than the ground. This is the typical height of the cat's belly. This way your cat can move through the flap without difficulty and also give the other cats or neighbours who are snooping a tough time trying to leave or enter.

Once you have determined the best location for the cat flap to be placed, mark this location on the door using a pencil. If your kit includes an outline put it on top of the door. Use the marks on the template to drill holes at each corner. You should then be able cut out the design of the template and replace it with your cat flap.

You can install the cat flap yourself on a wood or uPVC door when you're confident with a jigsaw. Make sure you don't cut through any of the door's mullions or vertical rails. You can use a jigsaw to cut the panel into a square or circle depending on the design of your cat flap. Be patient and don't force the jigsaw into cutting faster.

Once the hole has been cut, carefully place the cat flap into its new place of residence. Make sure it's solidly secured. If the flap is fitted with screw caps, push them onto the protruding bolts. Once the screws are in place, sand any rough edges of the cut then apply sealant to any gaps to ensure that there are no draughts coming 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 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 flap install is used to moving through the flap, it will be able to move in and out as it wishes, so you can let it in or out without to open the door for it all day (and likely in all weather conditions).

It is possible to fit the flap onto an replacement upvc door panel with cat flap or glass door although this may not be as simple as fitting one into a timber external door since the UPVC doors and some glass doors don't have the same thickness. This can have a major impact on how you cut out the flap's hole and whether the flap will fit correctly after installation.

The mounting kit might contain a template that outlines where to drill holes. If the kit doesn't include the template you can copy it to make your own. When cutting, it's crucial to avoid pushing the jigsaw too far enough to create a larger hole than is necessary in your door.

The majority of cat flaps are square or rectangular in shape, but there are some that are circular and these are typically more difficult to install. If you have a round flap, make sure the hole is in the right place on the door. If not, your cat may not be able to use it, and could be outside all day (or at night).

Certain models of cat flaps have locks which let you manage the time your cat comes and goes. These are very helpful in the event that you are concerned about your cat going out at night and then coming back in because of the darkness, or if you're at work for the entire day. The lock can be engaged for entry or exit and some are locked in both directions, permitting you to close the door completely. This is especially beneficial for older or ill cats who aren't willing to go out in bad weather.