The freedom to let your cat go in and out of the house at will is an excellent method to keep your pet active and mentally stimulated. Having a flap can also aid in reducing accidents due to toilets by making it easier for your cat to exit the house when it is required to.
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A cat flap allows your pet to move around as they want without having to open the door. This makes it perfect to keep them in the house the home when you're away and helps to keep unwanted pests out of your home too!
It's important to measure the door prior to when you buy a cat flap as there are various sizes available. You should then make sure that the cat flap is the right size for your upvc doors. In the event that it is not, it could be too large or small and your cat may have difficulty using it.
Before you take any action, though, take a ruler and determine the width of the door in various locations along its edge. Also, you should take measurements of the height of the door in a few spots. This is because doors that are too high could cause your cat to perform a gymnast's routine every time they want to use the flap!
Get help from a glazier if you aren't sure how to measure the door. They should be able to assist you in determining whether or not your door is suitable for a cat flap, and provide you with the appropriate size of flap you should purchase.
After you've gotten your measurements, the next thing to do is mark the outline of the hole on the door. This will give you an outline to cutting the hole out and will prevent you from making an error that will cost you money in the end!
Make sure to put the hole in the correct place. For instance, if you're installing the cat flap on a patio door, it's important that the hole doesn't sit too close to hinges, since this could cause leakage and issues with the seal.
If you have glass doors you could want to leave this task to a glazier. It can be very tricky to fit a cat flap into the glass pane and you could find that the process causes it to break and lose its weatherproof seal.
Measure the Cat
A cat flap lets your pet move around as they want, without having to leave him home alone. It can also stop draughts from entering your house, which aren't good for you or your cat!
If you own a uPVC door or composite, it might be difficult to install the cat flap. These types of doors are typically made from different materials than traditional wooden or uPVC doors, and the installation process is different as well. Be sure to check with the manufacturer if it is compatible prior to installing a cat flap on your uPVC composite or uPVC door. Alterations may invalidate warranties.
These doors are generally designed to be durable and tough with insulation. They are more resistant to weather than other kinds of doors, but it can be difficult to install an animal flap. Consult a professional before installing a cat flap onto the uPVC door or composite.
To make sure that your cat can access the door, you'll have to determine their height. This is easiest if they are sleeping or calm, so that they don't move around too often. Once you know their height, you can measure the distance between their stomach and the floor to determine where the bottom of the cat flap needs to go. This location is marked on the door.
If you are using power tools to cut your composite or uPVC door, you will need be cautious. The act of drilling into the metal may cause cracks, especially if the area is toughened glass. This is why it's highly advisable to hire an experienced glazier when putting your cat flap inside the glass pane. This will stop the glass from shattering or becoming fragile. A glazier will also provide you with a circular hole to use for the flap for your cat, which will be less likely to crack and is safer for your kitty to use.
Cut the Hole
If not, you can make one yourself using a sheet of paper (tracing paper is ideal). If it doesn't, you can create your own by using a thin piece of paper (tracing papers are perfect). After the shape is drawn in pencil on the door, then use a spirit level to ensure that the design is horizontal. This will allow your cat's flap to properly fit into the door and prevent it from being capable of sliding open or close.
Next, use your jigsaw and cut out the design that was written on the door. Use a blade designed for uPVC door use. It is usually labeled with this information. If not then ask the staff at the DIY store for assistance. Once you have the hole drilled and the flap section is in place, put it against it and push it out to ensure that the flap's action is smooth. If it is bound at any point, you can use a filer or a rasp to fix this.
It is also important to ensure that there are no electric cables or gas pipes inside the door you'll be cutting into since they could be damaged by the jigsaw. Be aware of any handles or other fixtures that are in the door, which have to be removed in order to install the cat flap. Be careful not to damage these items in the process.
The majority of people who install a cat flap on their own have the standard solid uPVC front door, meaning they won't have to deal with these problems. However, if your door is made of wood or has a decorative panel that cannot be removed, it will add to the complexity of the task.
It is always advisable to seek professional assistance from a cat flap fitter for these kind of jobs because it is crucial to get them right to avoid any potential issues in the future. If you do it wrong, it could cause the door to be damaged, which could invalidate the warranty.
Fit the Flap
Once you've got the hole drilled, place the flap on to see whether it opens easily. If you spot any areas that stick or catch, file them down with a hand file or sandpaper until it is a perfect fit and opens without issue. Make sure the flap is flush with the door too.
Some kits come with templates for this, but even if yours doesn't provide a template, you could use a piece of thin paper instead - something similar to tracing paper. Place the paper on the door and draw an area on which you'll want to position the flap (this will serve as your cutting guide). Draw four screw holes at each corner of the flap using the pencil marks you traced on the door. These will be the screw holes will be used to secure the flap in place.
Most uPVC doors are solid and therefore easy to cut into. But, if your door is made of GRP or a composite then this can be more complicated. If you are not familiar with this, it's best to hire a professional. They can also advise you on whether or not your specific door is suitable for installation of a cat flap.
You can install a cat flap into composite doors but it's important to verify with the manufacturer or a professional joiner prior to making any changes since any modifications to these doors could invalidate the warranty. If you decide to do the work yourself, keep in mind that this can be messy and even dangerous.
With composite doors, you'll generally need to use a grinder or saw to cut through the door's frame instead of just cutting through the GRP. Be aware that this could be very dangerous and you'll need to take great care not to hurt the door or yourself since it is very fragile. It's worth noting that it's much more difficult to cut holes in door glass than a uPVC door or solid wood doors.