Cat flaps allow your pet to go inside and out as they please without you needing to let them in or out. They can also help keep your cat from having to go to the bathroom in the house.

Installing a cat flap into a door panel made of Upvc is much simpler than installing one in glass doors, however it does require some skills and the proper tools.

Take a measurement of the door

The installation of a cat flap inside the door can be a challenge but as long as you use the correct type of cat flap be patient and follow the directions provided, it shouldn't be too much trouble. We will be showing you how much to install a cat flap to mark out the shape, then use an jigsaw for cutting out the door's area and then complete the job by securing the flap to the door. This will ensure the flap is in place and also protects the doors from the damage caused by wind and rain.

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 for your pet to enter the house and leave without needing to open the door every time.

Once you have the measurements you can determine the location on the door where the template should be placed. usually, this is done using an X, however some kits include a drawing that shows where to drill, if yours does then stick it to the door and draw a line around it. If your door has a moulding or sill on the bottom of it then make sure you have enough space because this will ensure your cat's safety and prevent them gaining access to your home.

Put on your eye protection as well as a dust mask, and using a jigsaw, begin to cut along the line that you have pencilled in, but don't push the blade too hard because this could cause it to cut faster than you'd like it to. If you have a set square then make use of it to verify that you're cutting properly and to ensure that the hole is in a rectangle shape, once you are happy with this you can begin to take off the rest of the door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap is a great method to allow your pet to go in and out without having to worry about them being a nuisance to visitors or leaving unwelcome gifts in the home. It also stops draughts and helps to keep the temperature of your home in a stable manner. Fitting a cat flap to your door may seem daunting to those who haven't tried it before. Many people will call a professional joiner or carpenter to do the job. This is an option but you can do it yourself if your tools are in order and the directions are adhered to.

While this is much simpler to accomplish with a timber door, it is still possible to do this in uPVC doors, but you must be careful not to scratch the doors since this could end your warranty. First, you must examine the door's measurements to make sure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. If you have an ordinary upvc door panel replacement cat flap panel it's easy. However when your door is composite or another type of door, you may have to be more cautious.

The next step is to measure 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 place near the door that will be within the range that your pet can comfortably go through. Once you know this then you have to draw the area with pencil and a spirit level to ensure that the hole you create will fit your cat.

After you have marked the area, you're now ready to cut the hole. It is crucial to take your time and use a jigsaw in order to ensure that the cuts are clean and smooth, not rough and uneven. This could damage your door. Be sure to wear safety glasses and a dust protection mask whenever using the jigsaw, as inhaling the sawdust can be dangerous to your health. After you've completed the cutting, you will have to smooth the edges of the hole using sandpaper, so that the cat flap will fit easily.

Cut a hole

The process of fitting a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be difficult. If you are not very experienced in DIY, it is best to employ a professional to complete the work for you. A mistake could not only look ugly and unattractive, but could also be a security threat. It could let cold air to enter when the cat is outside and hot air to escape when the cat is inside.

The first thing you need to do is mark the position of the hole in the door using an eraser and an ax level. This will ensure that it is positioned and that it runs flush with all the other components of the door. Make sure you have a piece of sandpaper at ready to smooth out any rough edges.

Wear any safety gear you need to work with a power tool. If you are concerned about the sound produced by the jigsaw, consider buying one that is cordless, which is quieter and more user-friendly to use.

It is important that you only remove the material required to fit the cat flap. A little bit of extra material will be needed to cover the thickness of the the flap, but removing more than that could cause issues and harm the frame of the door.

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

If you are fitting cat flap In upvc door panel a cat flap into the frame of a double glazing cat flap glazed window with a metal frame then you will need to speak to a professional who will supply you with a new glass pane with the hole for the cat flap already drilled inside. This will be cheaper than trying to fit a cat flap in an existing pane of glass that was not designed specifically for this purpose.

Fit the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet the freedom to move around whenever they like and allow them to be comfortable in the home whenever they'd like. If you've got a uPVC door, it might be difficult to fit a cat flap, particularly when you don't have glass panes that can be cut to fit one. If you're willing to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement upvc door panel with cat flap panel, it is possible to install a cat flap. It's not a matter of drilling a hole into the door. You'll also need to take a few steps to ensure it's safe.

A uPVC, GRP or composite door panel is typically made up of a flimsy plastic outer skin bonded to a soft polystyrene insulating core. The material is quite fragile and care must be taken when cutting through it to avoid causing damage. This kind door has a template you can use to make the hole.

Once you've determined the location of the hole in your door, it's time to put in the cat flap itself. You can choose from a wide range of designs, from simple push-button units to ones that are microchip-activated and only let your pet in. No matter which type of cat flap you pick it is essential that your cat is able to use the flap without getting stuck outside in bad weather.

A circular fitting is superior than a square, because circles can be cut more securely into glass. It's because square holes are more likely to crack the glass when drilled. This is also a safer choice since you don't have to drill into the toughened glass that could shatter and harm your pet or your family members. This is particularly important if you have a young or elderly person in your home who could be hurt by shards of glass.