Cat flaps let your cat go in and out as they please without you needing to let them in or out. They can also help stop your cat from urinating inside the house.

Installing a cat flap into a door panel made of Upvc is a lot easier than a glass door, however it requires some knowledge and the appropriate tools.

Take a measurement of the door

Fitting a cat flap in the door can be a challenge however, as long as you use the correct type of cat flap be patient and follow the steps provided it shouldn't be a problem. We will show you how to draw the shape using an jigsaw to cut the door's opening. Then we will finish the job by affixing the flap. This will ensure the flap is in place and shields the doors from damage caused by wind and rain.

The first thing you need to do is take a measurement of the width of your pet in order to determine an accurate estimate of what size of cat flap you will require. This will allow you to choose a cat flap that is big enough for your pet to go into the house and leave without needing to open the door each time.

If your kit has an illustration of where to drill then you can put it on the door, and then draw 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.

Utilize a set square to make sure you are cutting correctly and to make sure the hole is in a rectangle shape. Once you are satisfied with the result, you can begin to remove the rest of the door material. If you have a square that you have cut, use it to check whether you're cutting in the right way and also to ensure that the hole is a proper rectangular shape. Once you are happy with this you can start to remove the remaining door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap in upvc door panel flap lets you to let your pet in and outside without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwelcome gifts. It also prevents draughts, and helps to keep your home's temperature in check. However, putting a cat flap in your door can seem like an intimidating task for those who haven't done it before, leading many to hire an expert joiner or carpenter to do the job. While this is definitely an option, it's possible to do the work yourself if you own the appropriate tools and follow the instructions carefully.

It is much easier to do on a wooden door, but it is possible with uPVC. However it is important to be cautious not to scratch the doors as this could invalidate your guarantee. The first step is to measure the door and ensure that it will accommodate the new cat flap. This should be simple enough when you have an ordinary uPVC door, but you might need to take more care if using an insulated or composite type of door since these are more difficult to cut into than solid uPVC panels.

The next step is to measure the height of your cat's stomach. This is the amount of height between the floor and the bottom of your cat's stomach. It is important to find an area at the entrance that will allow your pet to pass through comfortably. Once you have this information then you need to mark out the area using pencil and a spirit level so that you can be sure that the hole you will make will be a good fit for your cat.

Once you have marked out the area, it's time to cut out the hole. It is crucial to take your time and use a jigsaw in order to ensure that the cuts are smooth and clean not rough and uneven. This could damage your door. Be sure to wear safety glasses and a dust-proof mask whenever using the jigsaw, as breathing in the dust could be harmful to your health. After you have finished cutting the hole, you will require sandpaper for smoothing the edges so that the cat flap is easily inserted into the hole.

Cut a Hole

Installing a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit is quite difficult. If you're not skilled in DIY, it is best to employ a professional to complete the work for you. A mistake could not only be ugly and unattractive, but could also be an security risk. It could allow cold air in when the cat is outdoors and hot air out when the cat is inside.

The first thing to do is mark out the position of the hole in the door with an eraser and an ax level. This will ensure that it is correctly positioned and that it runs flush with all other parts of the door. It is important to have an sandpaper piece on ready to smooth out any rough edges.

Wear any safety gear you require when working with an electric tool. If you are concerned about the sound of a jigsaw you can buy a cordless version 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 small amount of material will be needed to cover the thickness of the the flap, but removing more than this can cause problems and even cause damage to the door frame.

A door made of upvc could have a metal frame or panel that could interfere with the microchip cat flaps for french doors flap and if this is the case, you will need to cut an oversize hole to ensure the metal does not get in contact with the the cat flap, if this is done it is crucial to fill in the oversize gap and render it watertight.

If you're installing a cat flap into the frame of a double glazed windows with a metal frame then you will need to speak to a specialist who can provide you with a brand new glass pane with the hole for the cat flap in it. This will be cheaper than trying to fit a cat flap inside an existing pane that wasn't designed specifically for this purpose.

Fit the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet to come and go as they please, giving them the freedom to lounge inside the house whenever they want to. If you've got an upvc door panel with cat flap door it can be difficult to put in a cat flap, especially 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 panel, it is possible to install an additional cat flap. It's not just a matter of drilling holes in the door. You'll also need to perform a few steps to ensure it's safe.

A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is usually composed of a 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 causing damage. This kind of door typically comes with a template drawing which you can use as a reference to cut the hole in the door.

After you've marked the location of the hole in your door, it's time to put in the cat flap itself. You can purchase and install a wide variety of different models, from basic push-button operated ones to microchip activated units that allow only your pet. No matter which type of cat flaps you select, it's vital that your cat flap install can use the flap comfortably without getting caught in the rain.

It's a good idea to select circular fittings rather than one that is square, because circles can be more securely cut into the door glass. This is because square holes can make the glass more susceptible to cracking if a drill is used on it. It's also a safer option to use as you don't risk drilling into toughened glass that might break and cause injury to your pet or family members. This is particularly important if you have young or elderly person at home who could be injured by shards of glass.