Cat flaps allow your pet to go inside and out as they please without you having to let them in or out. They also can help stop your cat from peeing in the home.
It is simpler to install an animal flap on a Upvc panel than one made of glass, but you will require some knowledge and correct tools.
Take a measurement of the door
The installation of a cat flap in the front door is difficult however, provided that the cat flap is of the right type and you follow the directions you can make it less difficult. We will be showing you how to draw the shape, then use the jigsaw to slice the door's opening and then complete the job by fixing the flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap remains in place and shields the door from rain and wind damaging the door.
To determine the size of the cat flap you require, take a measurement of your pet's width. This will ensure that the flap is large enough that your pet can go inside and out of the house without having to open or close the door every time, yet small enough to stop them from going too far either way.
If your kit has a drawing showing where to drill then you can place it on the door, and then draw a pencil around it. If your door has moulding or a sill at the bottom, be sure you leave plenty of space between your cat and the moulding or sill.
Set a square to make sure you're cutting correctly and to ensure the hole is a perfect rectangle shape. Once you are happy with this, you can begin to remove the remaining door material. If you own a square that you have cut, make use of it to verify that you are cutting correctly and to make sure the hole is in a rectangle shape, once you are satisfied with the shape, 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 a nuisance to visitors or leaving unwanted gifts inside the house. It also helps prevent draughts and helps keep your home's temperature in check. However, putting the cat flap to your door might seem like an overwhelming task for those who've never done it before, which is why many people to seek out a professional joiner or carpenter to complete the task. It is an option, but you can do it yourself, provided the tools are right and the instructions are adhered to.
It is much easier to do on doors made of wood, however it is still possible using uPVC. However, you must be careful not to damage the doors because this will invalidate your guarantee. The first step is to examine the door's measurements to make sure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. If you have an ordinary uPVC panel it's easy. However, if your door is composite or another type of door, you might have to be more cautious.
The next step is to determine the height of your cat's belly. This is the height from the floor to the underside of the cat's stomach, and you'll need to find a spot near the door where this measurement will fall within the range that your pet can comfortably go through. Once you've got the information you'll be required to mark the space with a spirit level and a pencil so you know the hole will fit your cat.
Once you have marked out the area, it is time to cut out the hole. It is important to be patient and use a jigsaw in order to ensure the cuts are smooth and clean not uneven and rough. This could cause damage to your door. image source and a dust mask while working with a jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust is dangerous for your health. After you've finished the cutting process, you will have to smooth the edges of the hole using sandpaper, so that the cat flap will fit easily in place.
Cut a Hole
Installing a cat flap into an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be difficult. You might be tempted to tackle the job yourself, but unless you have expertise in DIY, it's likely to be best to have a professional to do the task for you. A botched job may not only look ugly, but it could also be a security risk as well as allowing cold air to get in when the cat is outside, and hot air to escape once inside.
The first thing you have to do is mark out the position of the hole in the door using an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure that it is located and is in a straight line with the other components of the door. Make sure you have some sandpaper to smooth any rough edges.
Wear the safety equipment you require when working with a power tool. If you are worried about the sound of a jigsaw you can buy a cordless version which is quieter and more user-friendly to use.
It is crucial to only cut away the material needed to fit the cat flap. A little bit of extra material will be needed to cover the thickness of the wall of the cat flap itself but removing more than that can cause problems or harm the frame of the door.
If the upvc door has a metal panel or frame, it could interfere with the microchip flap. In this scenario you'll need to make an oversize hole to ensure that the metal does not come into contact with walls of the flap.
If you're installing an animal flap to a upvc door or double-glazed window with a metal frame, you'll need to talk to a professional who can supply you with a new pane of glass with the hole for the cat flap already drilled inside. This is less expensive than trying to install the flap into an existing pane of glass that was not made specifically for this purpose.
Place the Flap
Cat flaps give your pet the freedom to come and go whenever they want, allowing them to relax in the home whenever they like. However, if you have an uPVC door, it might be difficult to fit an animal flap, especially when you don't have a glass pane that can be cut to accommodate one. If you're able to buy and install a replacement half-glazed uPVC panel then it is possible to add a cat flap to these doors. It's not a simple matter of drilling a hole into the door. You'll also need to perform a few steps to ensure that it is safe.
A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel typically comprises a flimsy plastic outer skin bonded to a soft polystyrene insulating core. It is essential to be cautious when cutting the material. This type of door has a template you can use to cut the hole.
After you have marked out the hole in your front door, it's time to install the cat flap. You can purchase and install a wide variety of different models including basic push-button operated ones to microchip-activated ones that only let in your pet. Whatever type of cat flaps you select it's essential that your cat is able to utilize the flap with ease without getting stuck in the rain.
A circular fitting is superior than a square one, as circles can be cut more securely into the glass. It's because square holes are more likely to crack the glass when they are drilled. It's also a safer choice to use since you don't risk having to drill into toughened glass that may break and hurt your pet or family members. This is particularly important if you have young or elderly person at home who could be hurt by shards of glass.