Fitting A Cat Flap

It may seem difficult to set up the flap for your cat but with the right instructions it's not that hard. Find out how high you'd like the cat flap (normally it's at the belly height). Mark this point on the door and use the template provided as a guide to drill.

If you have a kitten, or a young kitten, prop the door open a bit and gradually push it to pass through. Reward the kitten every time it moves through.

Measure the Door

A cat flap allows your pet to enter and exit your home at its convenience. This can help keep your cat healthy since it will ensure it is exercising regularly and will also allow it to return inside if it gets trapped in the elements during bad weather. This will reduce the amount of time you spend letting your cat out or in and also make your home safer by notifying you when it has left.

It is essential to ensure that the cat flap bifold doors flap is installed correctly in order to prevent your pet from being forced through it or escaping by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is important to measure the height of your pet's belly as well as the height of the doorway at your home to ensure that the flap is at the correct height. You can adjust the position of your flap when your cat is smaller or taller than the average.

The next step is to utilize a spirit level mark the centre of the door where you will install the flap. Utilizing the marking as a guideline, you can use a jigsaw and cut out the shape of the flap within the door. After you've cut the flap then sand the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any necessary holes.

Fitting a cat flap should not take longer than two hours. The process is a bit more difficult if you have to install it on a uPVC door or composite one. This is due to the fact that these doors come in a variety of thicknesses, which could affect the way holes are cut. We always recommend to contact a professional if this is your first time working with glass.

Measure Your Cat

You will not have to spend hours of listening to the pet's meow to be allowed in or out. This is particularly useful if you are at working all day and your cat is stuck in the house waiting for you to get home regardless of the weather.

It is essential to first measure your cat before attempting to install. Although it might appear to be to be a simple task, it is important to get the measurement right or your cat may find it very difficult to use.

Firstly, make sure your cat is calm and not feeling anxious prior to taking the measurements. You'll need to put your cat in a position where they cannot move. Also, ensure that the measuring tape is straight and not bent against the 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 determined your cat's measurement then you can look at the door to determine where to put the flap. A good tip is to place the flap at the height of your cat's belly as this will allow them to pass through it without too much effort. This will also avoid the flap making quite a lot of noise when it swings open and closed.

You should also consider the thickness and structure of the uPVC door or composite. While all doors made of timber have a similar thickness, uPVC or composite door cat flap doors are different in their overall structure. This makes fitting an enclosure for your cat more difficult since you need to ensure the hole is of the correct size.

You can also use the template drawing included in the instructions to mark the position of the hole in the door. This will help you determine where the opening must be, and also to ensure that the template is placed correctly on the door. Utilizing a spirit level to ensure that the template is right against the door will also be extremely helpful.

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 job and it is recommended that you engage a professional to assist you if you don't have the knowledge or skills. It is also recommended to consult the instructions that come with the kit to discover how much to install a cat flap to do it correctly.

You can take the height of the cat's or kitten's stomach as a reference. As a general rule you should place the flap approximately 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the average height of the cat's belly. Your cat will be able to 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 located, mark the position on the door with pencil. If your kit includes a template for paper, place it over the door and use the markings to drill holes in each corner of the template. Then, you should be able to cut out the template shape and replace it with the cat flap.

If you are installing your cat flap in an entryway made of wood or uPVC, you can do it yourself if you feel confident enough to handle using a Jigsaw. Be sure not to cut through the vertical rails or mullions of your door. You can use a Jigsaw to cut your panel into a square or circle depending on the way you'd like to cut it. Remember to take your time and don't try to make the jigsaw cut faster.

Once the hole is cut then carefully insert the cat flap into its new location and make sure that it is securely fixed. If the flap has screws, push them onto the protruding bolts. Once the screws are in place, sand the rough edges of the cut then apply sealant to any gaps to ensure that there are no draughts coming into your home.

Install the Flap

If you have a basic cat flap you can open it and encourage your pet to use it by putting a small amount of cat food in the front of the door. You can also try pushing the cat using the help of a stick or your hands. Once your cat is used to walking through the flap, it is likely to be able into and out as it wants and you should be able to let it in or out without to open the door to allow it in all day (and possibly in any weather).

You can fit the flap onto an UPVC or glass door however it's not exactly the same as fitting it into a wooden external door because the UPVC doors and some glass doors don't have a consistent thickness. This can have a dramatic effect on the way you cut the hole for the flap and will also affect whether the flap will fit properly once it's been put in place.

Based on the type of cat flap you pick, it may be equipped with a mounting kit and template that shows exactly where to drill the holes for it. If the kit does not come with a template, you can make one yourself. When cutting, it's important to keep the jigsaw from being pushed too to the point that you create a bigger hole than you need in your door.

The majority of cat flaps are rectangular or square in shape, but there are also some which are circular and these are usually more difficult to place. If you have a circular flap, it is essential to ensure that the hole is in the right location on your door as if it's not, the cat can't use it and could be left out in the sun all day (or even at night).

Certain models of cat flaps come with locks that permit you to regulate when your cat comes in and goes. This is useful for pets who are afraid of leaving in the dark, or coming back to the house at night. They can also be helpful when you are working all day. The lock can be used to allow entry or exit, and some can be locked in both directions, allowing you to shut the door completely, which is especially beneficial for cats with a chronic illness or older age who aren't willing to go out in the rain.