Fitting A Cat Flap

It may seem difficult to install the flap for your cat flap bifold doors, but with the right guidelines, it's not all that difficult. First, decide how high you would like the flap to be (on average or belly height). Then, mark this area on the door, and use the template included as a guide to drill.

If you have a kitten, or a young kitten, prop the door slightly open and gradually encourage it to pass through. Reward it as it passes through.

Take a measurement of the door

A cat flap is an excellent option to allow your pet to leave and come inside and out of your house as it pleases. This will help keep your cat healthy by ensuring that it is getting exercise and also being able to come back in if stuck outside in bad weather, especially in winter. It also can reduce the amount of time you have to spend letting it out or in and will also help protect your home by allowing you to be aware of when it went out.

However, it is essential that the flap for your cat 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 stomach and the width of the doorway at your home to ensure that the flap is at the proper height. You can adjust the height of your flap in case your cat is taller or smaller than average.

The next step is to utilize a spirit level mark the center of the door where you will install the flap. Then, using the mark as a guideline, cut out the form of your flap using a jigsaw. Once you've cut the door, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces and drill any fixing holes needed.

fitting cat flap in upvc door panel a cat flap should not take longer than two hours. However, the process may be a bit more difficult in the event that you have to put it onto a uPVC or composite door because these doors come in an array of thicknesses, which affect how the holes are cut and what they are fixed to. We always recommend that you call an expert when this is your first time working with glass.

Measure Your Cat

You can avoid hours of listening to the cat's meows to be let in or out. This is particularly helpful when you're at working all day and your cat has to stay in the waiting room until you come home in any weather.

If you want to fit a cat flap inside your door it is important that you measure your cat before attempting the task. Although it might appear to be to be a simple task, it is essential to measure the right way or your pet will find it difficult to use.

First, make sure your cat is calm prior to taking measurements. You'll need to keep them in a position where they cannot move and ensure that the measuring tape or ruler is flat against their body and not bending in any place. 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 determined your cat flap installation's measurement then you can examine the door to determine the best place to place the flap. It is advisable to position the flap on the highest point of your cat's belly because this will help them to pass through it with minimal effort. This will also prevent the flap from making a lot of noise when it swings back and back.

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 are different in their overall construction and this can make the installation of a cat flap more complicated as you will need to make sure the hole you cut is the correct size for your pet.

It is also worth looking through the instructions that come with the kit to find a template drawing that can be used to mark out the location of the hole inside the door. This will help you determine where the opening needs to be and also ensure 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 will need to cut an opening in the door to accommodate your cat flap prior to you can attach it. This can be a challenging job, and it is recommended to 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. It is also recommended to review the directions that come with the cat flap kit to learn how to do this correctly.

To do this, you have to take a measurement of the height of your cat or kitten's belly and use this as an indication point. In general, place the cat flap approximately 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the typical height of the belly for cats. This way your cat can move through the flap without difficulty and it will also give the other cats or neighbours who are snooping difficult time trying to enter or leave.

Once you've decided the best location for the cat flap to be placed, mark this position on the door with pencil. If your kit comes with a template, place it over the door. Utilize the markings on the template to drill holes in each corner. You should then be able to cut the template's shape and replace it with your cat flap.

You can install the cat flap yourself in a wood or uPVC door If you're comfortable with a Jigsaw. Be cautious not to cut into the mullions or rails that run vertically of your door. You can use a jigsaw to cut the panel into a square or a circle depending on the design of your cat flap. Take your time, and don't make the jigsaw cut faster.

After the hole has been made, carefully place the cat flap into its new home. Make sure that it is securely secured. If it features screw caps, then push these onto the screws that protrude. Once the screws are in place, you can sand any rough edges of the cut then seal any gaps to ensure there are no draughts coming into your home.

Install the Flap

If you have an ordinary cat flap, you can encourage your pet through it by placing a small amount of cat food on the outside of the door. Alternately, you can push the cat through with your hands or with a stick. Once your cat is used to walking through the flap, it is likely to be able in and out as it wishes and you should be able to let it out and in without having to be there to open the door to allow it in all day (and possibly in any weather).

You can fit a cat flap into a UPVC or glass door although this may not be as simple as fitting one into a wood exterior door due to the fact that UPVC and some glass doors don't have a consistent thickness. This could have a significant impact on how you cut out the flap hole and also whether the flap will fit correctly after installation.

Depending on the model of cat flap you choose, it may come with its own mounting kit and template that will tell precisely where to drill holes for it. If the kit does not include a template you can make one on your own. It is important not to push the jigsaw too hard when cutting, so that it doesn't leave a bigger than needed hole in your door.

Some cat flaps come in circular designs, which are more difficult to put in. If you have a round flap, ensure that the hole is located in the right place on your door. In the event that it is not, the cat may not be able to use it, and could be locked outside for the entire day (or night).

Certain cat flaps have locks that allow you to control the time your cat can enter and leave. This is useful when your cat is scared of leaving in the dark, or coming back in the dark. They can also be useful if you work all day. Certain locks can be used for access or exit, and others can be locked both ways. This is helpful for sick or older cats who do not want to venture out in cold weather.