It can be difficult to put up a cat flap, but with the right instructions it's not that hard. Decide how high you'd like your cat flap to be (normally it's located at belly height). Then, mark this area on the door and use the template provided as a guide to drill.
If you have a kitten that is still a newborn then gently prop the door slightly open and allow it to pass through. Reward the kitten each time it passes.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap is a great way to allow your pet to come and go inside and out of your home whenever it wants. This can help with keeping your cat in good health by ensuring that it gets exercise as well as being able to come back inside if stuck outside in bad weather, particularly during the winter. It can also reduce the amount of time you have to allow it in or out and can also protect your home by letting you know when it's been out.
It is essential to ensure that the cat flap is set up correctly to stop your pet from being forced through through it by other animals (e.g. dogs). It is essential to measure your pet's belly height and the entrance to your home in order to ensure that the flap is at the correct height. You can adjust the position of your flap if your cat is smaller or taller than the average.
The next step is to use a spirit level to mark the middle of the door. This is where you'll install the flap. Then, using the marks as an indication, cut out the contour of the flap on the door with the aid of a jigsaw. Once you've cut the area, sand the edges of the door to create smooth surfaces. You can then drill any fixing holes that are required.
The process of fitting the cat flap isn't as complicated as you believe and it shouldn't take more than two hours to complete the entire process from beginning to the end. However, the process can be a bit more difficult when you have to install it onto the frame of a uPVC or composite door since these doors come in a wide range of thicknesses, which affect how the holes are cut and what they are fixed to. This is the reason we recommend hiring a professional to carry out the job, particularly if you have never worked with glass before.
Measure Your Cat
A cat flap can spare you from hours of hearing your pet's cries for you to let it out or in. This is particularly useful when you're at working all day and your cat is stuck inside waiting until you get home in any weather.
If you want to fit a cat flap on your door it is important to take measurements of your cat prior to attempting the task. It may appear to be a simple task, but it is essential to measure your cat correctly. Otherwise, your pet may have difficulty putting it in use.
First of all, make sure that your cat is calm and not feeling stressed prior to taking the measurements. You will need to hold them in a position where they cannot move and also ensure that the ruler or measuring tape is flat against their body and not bending in any place. Holding the measuring tape or ruler against their body from the top of their head to the tip of their tail will enable you to get an precise measurement.
Once Repair My Windows And Doors got the measurement of your cat's body, it's 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 without much effort. This will also prevent the flap making lots of noise when it opens and closes.
You will need to take into consideration the thickness of the uPVC or composite door as well. While all timber doors have the same thickness to them, uPVC or composite doors are different in their overall design. This could make the process of fitting the flap for your cat more difficult as you have to make sure that the hole is of the correct size.
It is also worth reading through the directions that come with the cat flap kit to locate a template drawing that can be used to mark the location of the hole inside the door. This will allow you to determine where the hole must be located and make sure that the template is placed precisely on the door. Utilizing a spirit level to check that the template is flush against the door can be very helpful.
Cut the Flap
You'll need to cut an opening in the door to accommodate your cat flap before you can attach it. It's a challenging task and it is recommended that you get a professional assist you if you don't have the knowledge or skills. It is also recommended that you consult the instructions that come with the cat flap kit to discover how to do this properly.
To do this, you will need to determine the height of your cat or kitten's belly and use this as an indication point. As a rule of thumb, place the cat flap about 10-15 centimeters above the ground. This is the average height of the belly for cats. This will allow your cat to move through the flap easily and make it difficult for other cats or naughty neighbors to get in or out.
Once you've determined the best location for the cat flap to be positioned, mark this location on the door using the help of a pencil. If your kit comes with an outline you can place it on the door. Use the markings on the template to drill holes at each corner. Then, you'll be able to cut the template and replace it with the flap for cats.
If you are installing your cat flap on the form of a door made of wood or uPVC, it is possible to do this yourself if you are comfortable with a Jigsaw. Be sure not to cut into the vertical rails or mullions of your door. You can use a jigsaw to cut your panel into a square or circle, depending on how you'd like it. Take your time, and don't try to force the jigsaw to cut faster.
Once the hole has been made, carefully place the cat flap into its new home. Make sure it's firmly secured. If it has caps on the screws, then place these caps onto the protruding screws. Once the screws are in place, you can 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.
Fit the Flap
If you have a basic cat flap, you can open it and encourage your pet to go through by putting a small amount of cat food in the front of the door. You can also push the cat with the help of a stick or your hands. 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 out or in without to open the door to allow it in all day (and possibly in all weather conditions).
You can install an animal flap inside an UPVC or glass door although this may not be quite as straightforward as fitting it into a wooden external door since the UPVC and glass doors don't have a consistent thickness. This can have a major impact on the way you cut out the flap's hole and how well the flap fits after installation.
The mounting kit could contain a template that outlines the best places to drill holes. If the kit does not include a template you can use a photocopier to create your own. When cutting, it's important to keep the jigsaw from being pushed too to the point that you create a bigger hole than is necessary in your door.
Certain cat flaps come in circular shapes, which are more difficult to install. If you have a round flap, ensure that the hole is located 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 stuck outside the whole day (or at night).
Certain models of cat flaps come with locks that permit you to manage the time your cat comes and goes. These can be very useful if you're concerned about your cat going out at night only to come back in because of the darkness, or you're at work all day. Certain locks can be used for access or exit, and others can be locked in both directions. This is beneficial for older cats or sick cats who don't want to go outside in bad weather.