Cat flaps allow your pet move around whenever they want without having to let them in or out. They also can help stop your cat from urinating inside the home.
Installing a cat flap into a door panel made of Upvc is a lot easier than a glass door, however it does require some skills and the appropriate tools.
Measure the Door
Fitting a cat door in a front door can be difficult however, provided that the cat flap is of the correct one and you follow the directions you can make it less difficult. We will show how to trace the shape, use an jigsaw for cutting out the door's opening and then finish the job by securing the cat flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap stays in place and shields the door from wind and rain causing damage.
To determine the size of the cat flap that you require, take a measurement of your pet's width. This will ensure that the flap is big enough to let your pet go inside and out of the house without needing to open and close the door each time, but it is also small enough to keep them from moving too far in either direction.
If your kit comes with an illustration of where to drill, you can put it on the door and then draw around it. If your door has moulding or a sill at the bottom, make sure you leave plenty of space between your cat and these elements.
Use a set square to check that you're cutting properly and to ensure the hole is a perfect rectangle shape. When you are satisfied with this, you can begin to remove the rest of the door material. If you have an already-cut square, make use of it to verify that you're cutting properly and to make sure the hole is a good rectangular shape. Once you are happy with this you can begin to remove the rest of the door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap is a great way to allow your pet to go out and in without worrying about them being in the house with a visitor, or leaving unwelcome gifts in the house. It also prevents drafts and helps keep the temperature inside your home in a stable manner. However, installing a cat flap in your door can seem like an overwhelming task for those who have never done it before, leading many to hire a professional carpenter or joiner to do the job instead. While this is certainly an option, it is possible to do the work yourself if you own the appropriate tools and follow the instructions with care.
This is much easier to do with a wooden door, but it is still possible using uPVC. However it is important to be cautious not to damage the doors because this will cause the door to be damaged and invalidate your warranty. The first step is to take measurements of the door to make sure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. If you have a standard uPVC panel, this should be easy. However, if your door is made of composite or another kind of door, you might need to be more careful.
Next, you will need 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 find an area on the door that allows your cat to pass through comfortably. Once you have this information you'll be required to mark the area using a pencil and a spirit level to be sure that the hole you create will fit your cat.
After you've marked the area, it's now time to cut the hole. It is crucial to be patient and use a jigsaw to ensure that the cuts are clean and smooth not uneven and rough. This could cause damage to your door. You should also remember to wear safety glasses and a dust protection mask at all times when working with the jigsaw as dust from the saw could be hazardous to your health. After you've finished the cutting, you'll have to smooth the edges of the hole with sandpaper, so that the cat flap will fit easily into place.
Cut a hole
The process of fitting a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be quite difficult. If you are not very skilled in DIY, it is recommended to hire an expert to do the job for you. A faulty job can not only look ugly, but also pose an security risk. It could allow cold air in when the cat is outdoors and hot air out when inside.
The first thing to do is mark the position of the hole in the door with an eraser and an ax level. This will ensure that it is properly located and is parallel to other parts of the door. Make sure you have some sandpaper on ready to smooth any edges.
After the line is marked you should cut out the hole using a jigsaw. Be sure to wear any safety equipment for working with a power tool. If you are worried about the noise of the jigsaw, consider buying one that is cordless, which is much quieter and easier to use.
You should only remove the material that is required to fit the cat flap. A small amount of material will be required for the thickness of the the cat flap itself but cutting off more than this can cause problems and even cause damage to the door frame.
A door made of upvc may have a metal frame or panel within it that could interfere with the microchip cat flap, and in this case you will need to cut an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal doesn't touch 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 looking to install a cat flap into a double-glazed or upvc window with metal frames it is necessary to speak with an expert. They can provide you with a brand new piece of glass with the hole already pre-made for the cat flap. This will be cheaper than fitting the flap into an existing pane of glass that was not designed for this purpose.
Fit the Flap
Cat flaps allow your pet to come and go whenever they want, allowing them the ability to unwind in the home whenever they feel like it. If you have an uPVC front door, it might be hard to install the cat flap. This is particularly true in the event that you don't own a glass panel that is cut. Luckily, if you're happy to purchase and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel, it's possible to install a cat flap to these doors. It's not just a matter of drilling holes in the door. You'll also have to perform a few steps to ensure that it is safe.
A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is typically made up of a thin plastic skin that is bonded to an insulating polystyrene base. The material is fairly fragile and care must be taken when cutting through it to avoid damaging. This kind of door typically includes a template which you can use as a reference for cutting the hole in the door.
After you have carved out the opening in your front door, it is time to install the cat flap. back door with cat flap fitted can buy and fit various models, from basic button operated ones to microchip-activated ones that allow access only to your pet. No matter which type of cat flaps you choose, it's vital that your cat is able to utilize the flap with ease without getting caught in the rain.
A circular fitting is better than a square one, as circles can be cut more securely into the glass. This is because square holes are more likely to crack the glass when they're drilled. It's also a much safer choice to use since you're not putting yourself at risk by having to drill into toughened glass that may break and cause injury to your pet or family members. This is particularly crucial if you have elderly or children at home who could be injured by glass fragments.