Fitting A Cat Flap

It might seem daunting to put up the flap for your cat but with the right instructions, it's not too difficult. Find out how high you'd like the flap to be (normally it's located at the belly height). Note this on the door and use the template as a reference to drill.

If you have a small kitten, prop the door open a bit and gradually push it to go through. Reward it as it passes through.

Measure the Door

A cat flap is a wonderful option to let your pet leave and come in and out of your house as it likes. This will keep your cat healthy as it will ensure that it gets enough exercise and will also allow it to go back inside when it is trapped outside in bad weather. It also can reduce the amount of time you'll have to allow it in or out and can also protect your home by letting you know when it's been out.

However, it is essential that the flap on your cat is fitted correctly to prevent your pet from escaping through it or be pushed through by other animals (e.g. dogs). You should determine the height of your pet's belly as well as the height of the doorway in your home to ensure the flap is at the right height. You can alter the height of your flap in case your Cat Flap Step is taller or less than the average.

The next step is to utilize a spirit level mark the center of the door that you will put the flap. Then, using the mark as a guideline, cut out the shape of the flap on the door with a jigsaw. After you have cut the flap and sanded the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any necessary holes.

The process of installing a cat flap is not as complicated as you believe and it shouldn't take more than two hours to complete the entire job from start to finish. However, the process can be a little more complicated in the event that you have to put it into the door of a uPVC or composite door as these doors come in various thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and what they are fixed to. This is the reason we recommend hiring an expert to do the job, particularly if you have never worked with glass before.

Measure Your Cat

You will not have to spend 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 has to stay inside waiting until you get home regardless of the weather.

It is essential to measure your cat first before you begin the installation. It might seem like a simple task, but it is important to measure your cat correctly. Otherwise, your pet may have difficulty putting it in use.

First, ensure that your cat is calm and not feeling stressed before you take the measurements. You'll need to put your cat in a position that they are unable to move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is flat and not curved against their body. You can take 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 figured out the measurements of your cat, it's time to look at the door and decide on 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 with minimal effort. This will also avoid the flap from making lots of noise when it swings open and closed.

You must think about the thickness of the uPVC or composite door too. While all timber doors have a similar thickness to them, uPVC or composite doors are different in their overall design. This could make the process of the installation of the flap for your cat more difficult since you have to make sure that the hole is the proper size.

You can make use of the template included in the instructions to mark the position of the hole in the door. This will allow you determine where the opening needs to be, and also to make sure the template is correctly positioned on the door. It is also a good idea to use a spirit-level to ensure that the template sits flush against the door.

Cut the Flap

Before you can install your cat flap, you'll need to cut the door panel to make it large enough to accommodate it. It's a challenging task, so it's recommended that you hire a professional to help you if you lack the knowledge or skills. It is also recommended to consult the instructions that come with the kit to find out how to do it correctly.

To do this, you have to measure the height of your cat or kitten's belly and use this as an indication point. A good guideline is to set the flap of your cat about 10 centimeters away from the ground since this is the typical belly height for cats. This way, your cat can move through the flap without difficulty and it will also give other cats or snooping neighbours a tough time trying to leave or enter.

Once you've decided the location where the cat flap installer flap needs to be positioned, mark this position on the door with the help of a pencil. If your kit has a paper template, lay it on top of the door and use the markings to drill holes into each corner of the template. You will then be able cut out the shape of the template and replace it with your cat flap.

You can install your cat flap yourself on an uPVC or wood door If you're comfortable 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. Take your time, and don't make the jigsaw cut faster.

After 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 has screws put them on the protruding bolts. Once the screws are in place, sand any rough edges of the cut then seal any gaps to ensure there aren't any draughts entering into your home.

Place the Flap

If you have an ordinary cat flap, you can try to encourage your pet to use it by placing a small amount of cat food on the top of the door. Alternately, you can push the cat through with your hands or with a stick. Once your cat flap double glazing is accustomed to moving through the flap, it should be able to go in and out as it wishes, so you can let it out and in without keeping the door open to allow it in all day (and likely in all weathers).

You can install the flap onto the UPVC or glass doors although this may not be as simple as fitting a cat flap one into a wood exterior door due to the fact that the UPVC and glass doors don't have a consistent thickness. This could have a dramatic effect on the way you cut the opening for the flap and can also affect whether your flap will fit properly once it's installed.

The mounting kit might include a template that shows you the best places to drill holes. If the kit doesn't include a template you can make one on your own. It is important not to press the jigsaw too hard when cutting, so that it doesn't create a larger than needed hole in your door.

Some cat flaps come in circular shapes, which are more difficult to install. If you have a circular flap it is essential to ensure that the hole is in the right position on your door because if it's not, your cat will not be able to use the flap and could be left outside all day (or even at night).

Some models of cat flap have locks that let you regulate when your cat comes in and goes. These can be very useful in the event that you are concerned about your cat flap insulation going out at night and coming back in due to the darkness, or if you're at work for the entire day. Some locks can be used for either entry or exit, and others can be locked both ways. This is helpful for older cats or sick cats who aren't keen to go outside in bad weather.