Fitting a cat flap can be a bit daunting, but it is fairly simple with the right instructions. Firstly, determine how high you want the flap to be (on average the belly height). Mark this point on the door and then use the template as a reference to drill.
If you have a kitten, or a young kitten hold the door open a bit and gradually push it to pass through. Reward it when it goes through.
Measure the Door
A cat flap lets your pet to enter and exit your home at the time that is convenient for you. This can help keep your cat in good health by ensuring that it is getting exercise as well as being able to go back inside if left outside in the rainy weather, especially during the winter. It also can reduce the amount of time you'll have to allow it in or out and will also help ensure your home is secure by allowing you to be aware of when it went out.
However, it is important that the cat flap is fitted correctly to prevent your pet from being able to escape through it or be pushed through by any other animals (e.g. dogs). It is important to measure the height of your pet's belly as well as the doorway to your home to make sure that the flap is at the proper height. You can adjust the height of your flap if your cat is smaller or taller than the average.
The next step is to utilize a spirit level mark the center of the door that you will put the flap. Utilizing the marking as a guide, take an jigsaw to cut the form of the flap in the door. After cutting the area, sand down the edges to create smooth surfaces. Drill any holes you need to.
Fitting a cat flap should not take longer than two hours. The process is slightly more challenging if you need to put it in the form of a uPVC door or a composite one. This is due to the fact that these doors come in a variety of thicknesses, which can impact the way holes are cut. This is why we recommend calling a professional to carry out the job, particularly in the event that you've never worked with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
A cat flap can save you from hearing your pet's cries for you to let it out or in. This is especially helpful if your cat is trapped inside during the winter months while you work.
If you want to fit a cat flap inside your door, it is crucial to measure your cat before attempting the task. Although it might appear to be a simple operation it is important to measure the right way or your cat may find it very difficult to use.
First, ensure that your cat is calm and not stressed prior to taking the measurements. You'll need to keep them in a way that they cannot move and make sure that the measuring tape or ruler is flat against their body, not bending in any way. You can take 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 measurements, it's time to examine the door to determine where to put the flap. The flap should be placed at the level of your cat's belly. This will allow them to walk through the door without much effort. This will also stop the flap making quite a lot of noise when it swings open and shut.
You should think about 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 design, which can make fitting the cat flap more difficult because you must make sure that the hole you cut is the right size for your pet.
great post to read can make use of the template included in the instructions to mark the location of the hole on the door. This will allow you to see where the opening must be, and also to ensure that the template is placed correctly on the door. It is also helpful to utilize a spirit-level to make sure that the template is in a straight line against the door.
Cut the Flap
You'll need to make an opening in the door panel for your cat flap before you can put it in place. This can be a challenging job and it is recommended that you seek the help of a professional cat flap fitter for this job in case you don't have the knowledge or skills to do it yourself. It is also recommended to read the instructions included with the kit to discover how to do this correctly.
You can take the height of your cat's or kitten's stomach to guide you. A good rule of thumb is to place the flap of your cat about 10 centimeters off the ground, as this is approximately the average height of the cat's belly. This way your cat can move through the flap without difficulty and will also make other cats or snooping neighbours a tough time trying to enter or leave.
Once you have determined the location where the cat flap needs to be located, mark the position on the door with the help of a pencil. If your kit comes with a template you can place it on the door. Use the marks on the template to drill holes in each corner. Then, you should be able to cut the shape of the template and replace it with your cat flap.
If you are installing your cat flap on an entryway made of wood or uPVC, it is possible to do this yourself if you feel confident enough to handle the jigsaw. Ensure that you do not cut through any of the door's mullions or vertical rails. You can use a jigsaw to cut your panel into a square or circle, depending on how you'd like it. Be patient and don't try to force the jigsaw to cut faster.
Once the hole is made and the flap is firmly positioned, carefully place the flap of cat food into its new home and ensure that it is securely fixed. If the flap is fitted with screw caps put them on the protruding bolts. After the screws are installed, sand the rough edges and seal any gaps. This will stop drafts from entering your home.
Fit the Flap
If you have an ordinary cat flap, you can encourage your pet to use it by placing a small amount cat food on the front of the door. Alternately, you can push the cat through using your hand or a stick. Once your cat is accustomed to walking through the flap it is likely to be able into and out as it wishes, so you can let it in or out without to open the door to allow it in all day (and possibly in all weathers).
It is possible to fit the flap onto a UPVC or glass door although this may not be as simple as fitting one into a timber external door because the UPVC doors and some glass doors don't have a consistent thickness. This can have a significant impact on how you cut the opening for the flap and could affect the way your flap will fit properly once it's installed.
The mounting kit might include a template that shows you where to drill holes. If the kit does not include a template you can copy it to create your own. When cutting, it is important to avoid pushing the jigsaw too far enough to make a larger hole than necessary in your door.
Certain cat flaps come in circular shapes, which can be more difficult to install. If you have a circular flap, ensure that the hole is located in the correct spot on the door. If not, your cat may not be able use it, and may be locked outside for the entire day (or night).
Certain models of cat flaps have locks that allow you to manage the time your cat comes and goes. They can be extremely useful when you're worried about your pet going out at night and then coming back in the darkness, or if you're at work all day. The lock can be turned on for entry or exit and some locks can be locked in either direction allowing you to shut the door completely. This is especially beneficial for older or ill cats who aren't keen on going out in bad weather.