Cat flaps let your cat leave and come back as they please without you having to let them in or out. They also help stop your cat from urinating in the house.

It is much easier to put an animal flap on a upvc panel than one made of glass but you'll require some expertise and right tools.

Measure the Door

Installing a cat door into the front door is difficult, but provided that the cat flap is the correct one and you follow the instructions, it shouldn't be too difficult. We will show how to trace the shape, using the jigsaw to slice the area in the door and then finish off the job by fixing the cat flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap remains in place and protects the door from wind and rain which can cause damage.

To determine the size of the cat flap that you need, measure the width of your pet. This will ensure that the flap is big enough to allow your pet to leave and enter the home without having to open or close the door each time, but also small enough to keep them from going too far in either direction.

If your kit has a drawing showing where to drill then you can put it on the door, and then use a pencil around it. If your door has moulding or sill on the bottom edge ensure that you have enough clearance from these to keep your cat safe and stop them from gaining access to your home.

Utilize a set square to ensure that you're cutting properly and to ensure the hole is a good rectangle shape. Once you are happy with this, you can begin removing the rest of the door material. Use a set square to ensure that you're cutting the material correctly and that the cut is a rectangle. Once you are satisfied with the result, you can take the door material off.

Draw a Line

The cat flap is a great method to let your pet out and in without having to worry about them being a nuisance to visitors or leaving unwanted gifts in the home. It also prevents drafts and helps keep the temperature inside your home stable. Installing a cat flap on your door can be a daunting task for those who haven't attempted it before. Many people call an expert carpenter or joiner to complete the job. This is an option but you can do it yourself if your tools are appropriate and the instructions are adhered to.

This is much easier to do on wooden doors, but it is still possible with uPVC. However, you must be careful not to damage the doors since this could cause the door to be damaged and invalidate your warranty. First, you need to take measurements of the door to make sure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. This should be simple enough when you have a standard uPVC door, but you may require more care if you have an alternative type of door as these can be more difficult to cut than solid uPVC panels.

The next step is to measure the height of your cat's stomach. This is the distance from the floor to the bottom of the cat's stomach and you'll need locate a place on the door where this measurement is within the range that your pet can comfortably go through. Once you have this information, you will be required to mark the area with a pencil and a spirit level to ensure that the hole you will make will be a good fit for your cat.

After you've marked the area, you're now ready to cut the hole. You will need to use a jigsaw and it is important that you be patient to ensure that the cuts are clean and smooth, rather than uneven and rough, as it could cause damage to your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when working with a Jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust can be harmful for your health. After you've completed the cutting, you'll need to smooth out the edges of the hole using sandpaper, so that your cat flap can be fitted easily in place.

Make a hole

It can be difficult to put the cat flap onto a door panel or a sealed double glazing unit. If you are not very experienced in DIY, it is recommended to hire a professional to complete the work for you. A botched job may not only be unsightly but it could also be an enigma for security as well as allowing cold air to enter when the cat is outside, and hot air to escape when inside.

The hole's location should be marked on the door using the help of a pencil and a spirit level. This will ensure it is positioned correctly and runs flush with the rest of the door. Make sure you have sandpaper in your possession to smooth any rough edges.

Wear any safety gear you'll need to use a power tool. If you are worried about the sound of the jigsaw, you can purchase one that is cordless, which is much quieter and easier to use.

It is important that you only remove the material that is required to fit the cat flap. A small amount of material will be needed to cover the thickness of the wall of the flap but removing more than this can cause problems or cause damage to the door frame.

A upvc door may contain a metal frame or panel within it which could block the microchip cat flap and if this is the case you will need to cut an oversize hole to ensure the metal doesn't come into contact with the wall of the cat flap. If this is done it is important to fill in the oversize gap and render it watertight.

If you're planning to install a cat flap in a double-glazed or upvc window with metal frames, you'll need to consult a specialist. They will provide you with a new piece of glass with the hole that is already designed for the cat flap. It is much less expensive to have this done than to attempt to fix a cat flap into an existing pane of glass that was not designed specifically for this purpose.

Install the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet the freedom to go and come anytime they want, allowing them to relax at home whenever they want to. If you've got an uPVC door, it may be difficult to fit an animal flap, especially if you don't own glass panes that could be cut to accommodate one. If you're able to buy and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel, then it's possible to add the cat flap to the doors. It's not a matter of drilling a hole into the door. cat flap fitting 'll also need to do a few things to ensure it's secure.

A uPVC, GRP or composite door panel usually has an extremely thin plastic outer skin bonded to a soft polystyrene insulating core. It is crucial to be cautious when cutting the material. This type of door usually comes with a template drawing which you can use as a reference for cutting the hole in your door.

Once you've determined the location of the hole in your door, it's now time to put in the cat flap itself. You can purchase and install many different models including basic push-button operated ones to ones that are activated by microchips that allow only your pet. However, regardless of what kind of cat flap you pick, it's important to make sure that your cat can use the flap without becoming stuck outside in the rain.

A circular fitting is better than a square because circles can be cut more securely into the glass. This is because square holes can make the glass more susceptible to cracking if a drill is used on it. It's also a safer option as you don't risk drilling into toughened glass that might break and hurt your pet or family members. This is particularly important if there are children or elderly people at home who could be hurt by glass shattering.
cat flap fitting