Cat flaps allow your pet to leave and come whenever they want without having to let him in or out. They also help stop your cat from urinating inside the house.

It is much easier to put a cat flap on a Upvc panel than a glass one, but you will need some skills and the appropriate tools.

Take a measurement of the door

Installing a cat door into a front door can be difficult, but so long as the cat flap is the correct one and you follow the directions you can make it less difficult. We will show you how to mark the shape and use a jigsaw in order to cut the door area. Then we will finish the job by attaching the flap. This will ensure that the flap stays in place and shields the door from rain and wind damaging the door.

The first thing to do is measure the width of your pet to get an accurate measurement of what size of cat flap you'll require. This will ensure that the flap is large enough to let your pet enter and leave the house without having to open and close the door each time, but it is also small enough to prevent them from going too far in either direction.

Once you have the measurements you can mark out the area on the door where the template should be positioned, usually this is done with an X, but some kits include a drawing that shows the location to drill, if yours does then stick it to the door and use a pencil to draw around the door. If your door has a sill or moulding at the bottom, make sure you leave plenty of space between your cat and the moulding or sill.

Put on your eye protection and dust mask, and using a jigsaw start to cut along the line that you have pencilled in, don't try to push the blade too hard, as this will cause it to cut more quickly than you'd like it to. Use a set square to ensure that you are cutting the material properly and that the cut is a rectangle. When you are satisfied with the result, you can remove the remaining door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap is a great way to allow your pet to go in and out without worrying about them coming in with a visitor, or leaving unwanted gifts inside the house. It also helps prevent draughts and helps keep your home's temperature stable. The installation of a cat flap your door may seem daunting to those who haven't tried it before. Many people call a professional carpenter or joiner to complete the work. This is a viable option, however you can do it yourself, provided the tools are appropriate and the steps are adhered to.

This is much simpler to accomplish on a wooden door, but it is still possible using uPVC. However it is important to be cautious not to harm the doors because this will invalidate your guarantee. The first step in the process is to take measurements of the door, making sure that it can be able to accommodate the new cat flap. This isn't too difficult if you are using the standard upvc door panel with cat flap fitted door, however you may need to take more care if you have an alternative type of door as these can be more difficult to cut into than solid upvc door panels with cat flap panels.

The next step is to determine the height of your cat's stomach. This is the height between the floor and the bottom of your cat's stomach. You'll need to locate a space at the entrance that allows your cat to comfortably pass through. Once you have the information you'll be required to mark the space using a spirit level and a pencil, so that you know the opening will fit your cat.

After you have marked the area, it is time to cut the hole. It is crucial to be patient and use a jigsaw to ensure the cuts are clean and smooth, not rough and uneven. This could cause damage to your door. You should also remember to wear safety glasses and a dust mask when using the jigsaw, as breathing in the dust could be hazardous to your health. Once you have completed the cutting process, you will need to smooth out the edges of the hole using sandpaper so that your cat flap will fit easily in place.

Cut a hole

Installing a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be quite difficult. You may be tempted to do it yourself, but unless have a lot of experience with DIY, it's recommended to hire an expert to complete the job for you. A shoddy job might not only look ugly, but also an issue for security and also allow cold air to enter when the cat is outside, and hot air to escape once inside.

The first thing you have to do is mark the position of the hole in the door with an eraser and a spirit level, this will ensure that it is properly placed and runs parallel to the other components of the door. Make sure you have an sandpaper piece on the ready to smooth any edges.

After the line is traced, you must cut the hole using the jigsaw. Remember to wear the appropriate safety equipment for working with the power tool. If you're worried about the noise, you can purchase an electric jigsaw that is quieter and more user-friendly.

It is crucial to only cut away the material needed to make the cat flap. A little bit of extra material is required to increase the thickness of the the cat flap itself but removing more than this can cause problems or harm the frame of the door.

If the door is made of upvc and is made of metal, or has a frame, it could interfere with the microchip flap. In this case you'll need create an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal doesn't touch the walls of the flap.

If you're installing a cat flap into a upvc door or double glazed windows with a metal frame, you'll need to talk to a professional who will provide you with a new pane of glass that already has the hole for the cat flap premade in it. It is much less expensive to do this than trying to fix the flap to an existing glass pane that has not been manufactured specifically for this purpose.

Fit the Flap

Cat flaps give your pet the freedom to move around whenever they like and allow them to be comfortable at home whenever they like. If you have a uPVC front door, it might be difficult to install the cat flap. This is particularly true when you don't have a glass panel that is cut. If you're able to buy and install a new half-glazed replacement upvc door panels with cat flap panel then it is possible to fit the cat flap to the doors with cat flap. It's not as simple as simply making a hole in the door, however there are a few things you'll need to take care of first to ensure it's secure.

A composite, upvc door panel with cat flap or GRP door panel is generally made up of a plastic skin that is attached to an insulating polystyrene base. The material is fairly fragile and care must be taken when cutting into it to avoid causing damage. This type of door has a template you can use to cut the hole.

Once you have marked the location of the hole in your door, now it's time to fit the cat flap itself. You can pick from a wide range of options, from simple push-button units to microchip activated ones that allow your pet in. However, no matter what kind of cat flap you select, it's crucial to ensure that your cat can use the flap without getting trapped in the weather.

A circular fitting Cat flap in upvc door panel is superior than a square one, as circles can be cut more securely into glass. It's because square holes are more likely to break the glass when they are drilled. This is also a safer choice because you won't need to drill into the toughened glass that could shatter and harm your pet or your family members. This is especially important if you have young or elderly person in your home who could be hurt by shards of glass.