Fitting a cat flap can be a bit daunting but it's simple with the right instructions. First, decide how high you want the cat flap to be (on average or belly height). Note this on your door, and use the included template to guide you when drilling.
If you have a kitten, or a young kitten hold the door open very slightly and gradually encourage it to pass through. Reward it when it goes through.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap is an excellent option to allow your pet to come and go into and out of your home whenever it pleases. This will help keep your cat in good health by ensuring that it gets exercise and also being able to go back in if stuck outside in bad weather, particularly in winter. It can also cut down on the amount of time you have to allow it in or out and can also keep your home safe by letting you know when it has gone out.
It is essential to make sure that the cat flap is installed properly to stop your pet from being pushed through through it by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is important to measure your pet's belly height and the doorway of your house so that you can make sure that the flap is at the proper height. You can alter 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 centre of the door where you will install the flap. Utilizing the marking as a guideline, you can use an jigsaw to cut the shape of the flap within the door. After you've cut the flap and sanded the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any holes you need to.
Installing a cat flap ought to not take longer than two hours. However, the process can be slightly more complicated if you need to fit it onto a uPVC or composite door since these doors come with various thicknesses that can affect the way the holes are cut and the type of door they are fixed to. This is the reason we recommend hiring a professional to carry out the task, especially when you've never dealt with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
You will not have to spend hours of listening to the cat's meows to be allowed in or out. This is particularly useful if you are at work all day and your cat is stuck inside waiting until you get home regardless of the weather.
If you are planning to install a cat flap inside your door, it is crucial to determine the size of your cat prior to beginning the task. It might appear to be a simple task, but it's crucial to make sure you measure the right measurements. Otherwise, your pet may have difficulty putting it in use.
Firstly, make sure your cat is calm and not stressed prior to taking the measurements. You will have to hold your cat in a position where they cannot move. Also, make sure that the measuring tape is straight and not bent against the body. By keeping the ruler or measuring tape against their body from the top of their head to the tip of their tail can allow you to make an accurate measurement.
Once you've got your cat's measurements and measurements, you need to look at the door to determine where to place the flap. Position the flap at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to go through the door with minimal effort. This will also prevent the flap from making a lot noise when it swings back and forth.
You will need to take into consideration the thickness of the uPVC or composite door as well. While timber doors are all of a similar thickness, uPVC and composite doors may differ in their overall construction and this can make the installation of the cat flap more difficult because you must ensure that the hole you make is the proper size for your pet.
You can also use the template included in the instructions to mark the location of the hole on the door. This will allow you to determine where the hole needs to be located and ensure that the template is set correctly on the door. It is also helpful to use a spirit-level to ensure that the template sits perfectly against the door.
Cut the Flap
You will need to cut an opening in the door panel to install your cat flap prior to you can install it. This can be a tricky job, and it is recommended that you seek out the assistance of a professional cat flap fitting service for this job should you not have the knowledge or skills to tackle it yourself. You can also read the instructions provided in the kit to find out how to do it correctly.
You can consider the height of your cat's or kitten's stomach to guide you. In general put the flap about 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the average height of the belly for cats. This will let your cat pass through the flap without difficulty and will make it difficult for other cats and nosy neighbors to get in or out.
Mark the position of the cat flap on the door with the pencil. If your kit has a template you can place it on the door. Use the markings on the template to drill holes in each corner. Then, you'll be able to cut out the template and replace it with the cat flap.
You can install the cat flap yourself on an uPVC or wood door if you are confident using the use of 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 your panel into a circle or square depending on the way you want it. Make sure 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 home and make sure that it is firmly secured. If it features caps for screws, then put them onto the screws that protrude. Once the screws are in place, you can sand any rough edges of the cut then apply sealant around any gaps to ensure that there aren't any draughts getting into your home.
Fit the Flap
If you have a standard cat flap, you can encourage your pet to go through it by placing a small amount cat food on the top of the door. You can also push the cat with a stick or your hand. Once your pet is used to walking through the flap, it is likely to be able in and out as it pleases so you can let it in or out without having to be there holding the door open for it all day (and potentially in all weather conditions).
It is possible to fit a cat flap into the UPVC or glass doors however it's not quite as straightforward as fitting one into a timber exterior door due to the fact that the UPVC and glass doors aren't a uniform thickness. This could affect how you cut the hole for the flap, and can also affect whether your flap fits correctly once it's been put in place.
Depending on cat flap installers of cat flap you select It may include a mounting kit as well as a template that will tell precisely where to drill holes for it. If the kit doesn't come with a template, you can photocopy it to create your own. When cutting, it is important to not push the jigsaw hard so that you don't create a larger hole than you need in your door.
Some cat flaps come in circular shapes, which are more difficult to install. If you have a round flap, make sure the hole is in the right place on the door. In the event that it is not, the cat might not be able use it, and might be locked outside for the entire day (or night).
Some cat flaps come with locks that permit you to 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 you're working all day. The lock can be engaged to allow or deny entry, and some locks can be locked in both directions, permitting you to close the door completely. This is especially helpful for cats with a chronic illness or older age who don't want to go out in bad weather.