Fitting a Cat Flap

It may seem difficult to set up the flap for your cat but with the right instructions, it's not too difficult. Firstly, determine how high you want the cat flap to be (on average the belly height). Then, mark this area on the door, and use the template provided as a guideline to drill.
If you have a kitten who is still a baby, gently prop the door slightly open and encourage it to pass through. Reward it each time it goes through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap allows your pet to enter and exit your home at the time that is convenient for you. This can help keep your cat healthy since it will ensure that it gets enough exercise and also be able to go back inside when it is stranded outside during bad weather. This will cut down on the time you have to let your cat go in and out and make your home safer by letting you know when it has left.
It is essential to ensure that the cat flap is placed correctly to stop your pet from being pushed through it or escaping by 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 proper height. You can adjust the height of your flap if 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 install the flap. With the markings as a reference, use a jigsaw and cut out the form of the flap within the door. Once you've cut the door, sand the edges of the door to smooth the surfaces. Then drill any fixing holes 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 because these doors have an array of thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and the type of door they are fixed to. We always suggest to contact a professional when this is your first experience working with glass.
Measure Your Cat
A cat flap can save you from hours of listening to your pet's meow for you to let it in or out. This is especially useful for cats that are inside in all weathers while you are at work.
It is crucial to measure your cat's measurements first before attempting to install. Although it might appear to be an easy task, it is important to get the measurement right or your cat will be unable to use.
First, make sure your cat is calm prior to taking measurements. You'll need to put your cat in a position that they are unable to move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is straight and not bent against their body. You can get a precise measurement by keeping the measuring tape or ruler flat against the body of the animal from the top to the bottom.
Once you've got the measurement of your cat, it is time to look at the door and decide on where to put the flap. Position the flap at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to walk through the door with minimal effort. This will also stop the flap from making a lot of noise as it swings back and forth.
You should consider the thickness of the uPVC or composite door as well. While timber doors are of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors can be very different in their overall construction and this can make the installation of a cat flap more complicated as you will need to ensure that the hole you make is the proper size for your pet.
It is also worthwhile reading through the directions that come with the cat flap kit to find an outline of the template that can be used to mark out the location of the hole inside the door. This will help you to see where the opening needs to be and make sure that the template is correctly positioned on the door. Using a spirit level to make sure that the template is sitting right against the door will also prove beneficial.
Cut the Flap
Before you can put in your cat flap, you'll need to cut the door panel in order to make it large enough for it. cat flap installers near me can be a tricky task and it is recommended to get help from a professional cat flap fitting service for this job in case you don't have the skills or experience to complete the task yourself. It is also recommended to read the instructions included with the kit to find out how to do this correctly.
You can consider the height of the cat's or kitten's stomach as a reference. As a rule of thumb you should place the flap approximately 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the typical height of the cat's belly. Your cat will be able to move through the flap with ease and also give any other cats or curious neighbours an issue when trying to enter or leave.
Once you have determined where the cat flap should be located, mark the position on the door with a pencil. If your kit comes with the template you can place it on the door. Use the markings on the template to drill holes at each corner. Then, you should be able cut out the template and replace it with the flap for cats.
If you are installing your cat flap on an entryway made of wood or uPVC, it is possible to do it yourself if are confident enough to use the jigsaw. Be careful not to cut through the mullions or rails that run vertically of your door. You can use a jigsaw cut the panel into a circle or square according to the design of your cat flap. Remember to take your time and don't force the jigsaw to cut faster.
Once the hole is cut, carefully fit the cat flap into its new location and make sure that it's securely fixed. If the flap has screw caps put them on the protruding bolts. Once the screws are in place, sand any rough edges of the cut, and then apply sealant to any gaps to ensure there aren't any draughts entering into your home.
Install the Flap
If you have a basic cat flap you can open it and encourage your pet to walk through by placing a small amount of cat food in the front of the door. Alternatively you can try pushing the cat through using your hand or a stick. Once your pet has become used to walking through the flap, it will be in a position to move whenever it wants. This will allow you to let it in and out as it's wanted.
It is possible to fit an animal flap into the UPVC doors or glass door, however it's not as easy as installing one in a wooden external door. This is due to the fact that UPVC doors and some types of glass doors do not have an even thickness. This could affect the way you cut the opening for the flap and could affect the way your flap will fit properly once it's been put in place.
Depending on the type of cat flap you choose It could be equipped with a mounting kit and template that will show exactly where to drill the holes for it. If the kit doesn't come with the template you can use a photocopier to make your own. It's important not to use the jigsaw to hard when cutting, so it doesn't leave a bigger than necessary hole in your door.
Some cat flaps come in circular shapes, which are more difficult to put in. If linked resource site have a circular flap, it is essential to ensure that the hole is in the correct position on your door because if it's not, your cat will not be able to use the flap and may be stuck in the open all day (or even night).
Certain cat flaps come with locks that let you control the time your cat can enter and leave. They can be extremely useful if you're concerned about your cat going out at night only to come back in the darkness, or you're at work for the entire day. The lock can be engaged for entry or exit and some locks can be locked in either direction which allows you to close the door completely. This is particularly beneficial for sick or elderly cats who aren't willing to go out in bad weather.