Cat flaps allow your pet to go inside and out at their own pace, without having to let them in or out. They can also help prevent your cat from toileting in the house.

It is easier to install a cat flap on a Upvc panel than a glass one but you'll require some knowledge and right tools.

Measure the Door

Fitting a cat door in a front door could be difficult, but so long as the cat flap is the right type and you follow the directions it shouldn't be too difficult. We will be showing how to trace the shape, use a jigsaw to cut out the door's area and then complete the job by securing 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 you require, measure your pet's width. This will enable you to choose a cat flap that is large enough to allow your pet to go into the home and exit without having to open the door every time.

If your kit has an illustration of the location to drill, you can put it on the door and then draw a pencil around it. If your door has a sill or moulding at the bottom, make sure you leave enough space between your cat and the moulding or sill.

Put on your eye protection as well as a dust mask, and using a jigsaw begin cutting according to the lines you penciled in, but don't push the blade too hard because this can make it cut faster than you'd like it to. Use a set square to ensure that you are cutting the material correctly and that the cut is a rectangle. When you are satisfied with the result, you can remove the remaining door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap is a great method to let your pet in and out without having to worry about them being in the house with guests or leaving unwanted gifts in the house. It also helps prevent draughts and keeps your home's temperature stable. The installation of a cat flap your door might seem difficult to those who haven't tried it before. Many people will call an expert carpenter or joiner to do the work. While this is definitely an option, it is possible to complete the task yourself if you have the right tools and follow the instructions carefully.

While this is far simpler to accomplish with a timber door, it is still possible to do this in uPVC doors - although you must be careful not to scratch the doors since this could invalidate your warranty. First, you must examine the door's measurements to ensure that it can accommodate the new Cat Flap In Upvc Door Panel-flap. This should be simple enough for a standard uPVC door, but you may need to take more care if you have a composite or other type of door since these can be more difficult to cut into than solid uPVC panels.

The next step is to determine the belly height of your cat. This is the distance between the floor and the underside of your cat's stomach. You will need to locate an area on the door that will allow your pet to move through easily. Once you've figured out the measurements, you'll be required to mark the space using a spirit level and a pencil so that you are sure that the opening will fit your cat.

After you have marked the area, it's now time to cut the hole. You will need the jigsaw, and it is important that you be patient to ensure that the cuts are smooth and clean rather than uneven and rough, since this could damage your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when working with a jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust can be harmful for your health. After you have finished cutting the hole, you will require sandpaper for smoothing the edges so that the cat flap can be easily inserted into the hole.

Cut a Hole

Installing a cat flap into an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit is quite difficult. You might be tempted to tackle the job yourself, but unless have a lot of experience in DIY it is likely to be best to have an expert to complete the task for you. A shoddy job might not only be unsightly but also an enigma for security as well as allowing cold air to enter when the cat flap cover for winter is outside and hot air to escape when inside.

The first thing you need to do is mark the location of the hole in the door with pencil and a spirit level, this will ensure that it is correctly positioned and that it runs parallel to the other parts of the door. You should make sure you have an sandpaper piece on hand for any rough edges.

Wear the safety equipment you need to work with a power tool. If you are worried about the noise of the jigsaw, you can purchase an electric version that is quieter and simpler to use.

It is crucial to only remove the material needed to fit the cat flap. A little bit of extra material is required to increase the thickness of the wall of the flap but removing more than that can cause problems and even damage the doors frame.

If the door is made of upvc and features a metal panel or frame, it may interfere with the microchip flap. In this scenario you'll need make an oversize hole to ensure that the metal does not come into contact with walls of the flap.

If you're planning to install a cat flap into windows made of double-glazed or upvc with metal frames you'll need to talk to a specialist. They can provide you with a new piece of glass that has the hole already pre-made for the cat flap. It will be much cheaper to have this done than to attempt to fix a cat flap into an existing pane of glass that was not designed specifically for the purpose.

Install the Flap

Cat flaps give your pet the freedom to move around anytime they want and allow them to be comfortable at home whenever they'd like. However, if you own a uPVC door, it may be difficult to fit an animal flap, especially when you don't have a glass pane that can be cut for one. If you are willing to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it is possible to add an additional cat flap. It's not as easy as just making a hole in the door though and there are a few things you'll need to take care of first to ensure that it's secure.

A composite door cat flap, uPVC or GRP door panel is generally comprised of a thin plastic skin that is bonded to an insulating polystyrene core. It is essential to be careful when cutting the material. This type of door typically comes with a template drawing that you can use as a guide to cut the hole into your door.

Once you've marked the opening in your front door, it's time to put in the cat flap. You can pick from a wide range of designs, from simple push-button models to ones that are microchip-activated and allow your pet in. No matter which type of cat flaps you choose, it's vital that your cat can utilize the flap with ease without getting caught in the rain.

A circular fitting is superior than a square because circles can be cut more securely into the glass. This is because square holes are more likely to break the glass when they are drilled. This is also a safer choice since you don't have to drill into the toughened glass which could break and cause harm to your pet or family members. This is particularly crucial if you have children or elderly people at home who might be injured by glass shattering.