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Allowing your cat to enter and go out of the house at their own pace is a great idea to keep it physically and mentally active. A flap can help reduce toileting accidents by making it easier for your cat to leave the house when it needs to. Take a measurement of the door A cat flap lets your pet to move around at their own pace, without having to open the door for them. This is a great method to keep your pet inside the home when you are away or at home. It also helps prevent unwanted pests from entering. You should examine the door's measurements to ensure you get the right size cat flap. There are a variety of sizes available. This ensures you get the correct size that fits inside your door made of upvc, otherwise, it might be too small or too large and your cat will struggle to use it. Before you do anything, though, take a ruler and determine the width of the door in various places along its edges. Also, you should determine the door's height in a few places. This is because the door that is too high can cause your cat to perform an exercise routine like a gymnast every time they use the flap! Ask a glazier for assistance if you aren't sure how to measure the door. They will be able to help you determine whether or not your door is suitable for a cat flap and help you decide on the best size of flap to buy. Draw the shape of the hole on your door once you have your measurements. This will assist you when you're cutting the hole and will save you money! Make sure that you put the hole in the right location. If you're fitting the cat flap onto the patio door, it is vital that the hole doesn't be too close to hinges. This could lead to leakage or problems with the seal. If you have a glass door it is best to let this job to a glazier. It can be very tricky to insert a cat flap inside an existing pane of glass, and you may find that the process causes it to break and lose its weatherproof seal. Measure the Cat A cat flap allows your pet to leave and come back whenever they want, without needing to leave him all by himself. It can also help to stop draughts from entering your home, which isn't good for either you or your cat! If you do have a uPVC or composite door it can seem tricky to fit the cat flap. These types of doors are typically made from different materials than traditional wooden or uPVC doors and the procedure for installing them is quite different too. Before you think about installing an egress flap to your uPVC or composite door, ensure that it's compatible, and you have checked with the manufacturer as any modifications could invalidate any warranties. Generally speaking, these types of doors are made to be durable and tough with insulation included. They are more resistant to the weather than other types of door, but it isn't easy to install the cat flap. If you're unsure about whether your uPVC or composite door is able to accommodate the cat flap, make sure you consult with a professional jointer prior to starting. You'll need to take their height to make sure they fit through the door. This will be easiest when they're asleep or calm, so that they don't move around too often. Once you've established their height, measure the distance between their stomachs and the floor to determine where the bottom of the cat flap should be. This location can be marked on the door. When using power tools to cut your composite or uPVC door, you have to be careful. The act of drilling into the metal may cause cracks, especially in the case of toughened glass. It is highly recommended to hire an expert glass installer when putting in the cat flap inside a pane. This will stop the glass from becoming fragile or shattering. A glazier will also be able to provide you with a cat flap that is less likely to break and safer for your cat to use. Cut the Hole A good quality cat flap should come with a template drawing that you can use to mark the spot on your door where the hole should be. If it doesn't, you could create your own by using a thin piece of paper (tracing papers are perfect). After the shape is pencilled in on the door, then use your spirit level to ensure that the shape is horizontal. This will ensure that your cat flap is positioned correctly in the opening, and it will not open or close. Then, you can use your jigsaw to cut out the shape marked on the door. Make sure you are using a blade suitable for use on uPVC doors. Usually, it will be marked accordingly, if not ask the staff at the DIY store for guidance. Once you have the hole drilled, place the flap section against it and push it out to ensure that the flap's movement is smooth. If it binds on any point, then use a file or rasp to fix it. Check that there aren't any gas or electric pipes inside the door you're going to cut into. Your jigsaw could cause damage to them. Also, be aware of any handles or other fixtures on the door that will need to be removed to accommodate the cat flap. Be careful not to cause damage to these items during 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 issues. If your door is constructed of wood or has a decorative part that cannot be removed, it will make the task. For these types of jobs, it is recommended to seek out expert advice from a cat-flap fitter. It is essential to do them correctly to avoid future problems. If you do it wrong, it could lead to the door being damaged and could cause the warranty to be invalidated. Fit the Flap Once you have cut your hole, put the flap to check if it opens and fits well. If you find any points that catch or stick, use a hand file or sandpaper to smooth them down until they fit properly and can be opened without issue. Make sure the flap sits flush with the door too. If your kit doesn't have a template, you can make use of thin paper such as tracing or Acetate. Lay the paper against the door and mark an area on which you'll need to position the flap (this will serve as your cutting guide). Then, using the pencil lines you've made on the door, mark four screw holes in each corner of the flap. These will be the screws you'll use to fit the flap into the right position. Most uPVC doors are solid and therefore quite straightforward to cut into. If your door is constructed of GRP or composite the process can be more difficult. If you're not experienced in this area, it might be beneficial to engage a professional to do the work for you. cat flap installation will also be able inform you if the door is suitable for the installation of the cat flap. If you want to install a cat flap into composite doors, it is important to first check with the manufacturer or a professional joiner. Any modifications made to these doors may invalidate the warranty. If you decide to tackle the work yourself, bear in mind that it can be messy and may even be hazardous. With composite doors, you'll typically need to use a grinder or saw to cut through the door panel itself instead of just cutting through the GRP. This is a risky job, and you will need to take extra care to ensure that the door is not damaged. It's important to remember that it is much more difficult to make holes in door glass than in a uPVC door or solid wood door.