Cat flaps let your pet come and go whenever they want without you needing to let them in or out. They can also help prevent your cat from urinating inside the house.

Fitting a cat flap in a upvc door panel is much simpler than installing one in a glass door, however it requires some knowledge and the appropriate tools.

Take a measurement of the door

Installing a cat flap on a door can be tricky but if you use the correct type of cat flap be patient and follow the steps provided it should not prove to be a problem. We will be showing you how to draw the shape, using the jigsaw to slice the area in the door and then finish the job by fixing the flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap remains in place and shields the doors from the damage caused by wind and rain.

The first thing you need to do is take a measurement of the width of your pet to determine an accurate estimate of what size of cat flap you will need. This will ensure that the flap is big enough to let your pet enter and leave the house without having to open or close the door every time, but it is also small enough to stop them from moving too far in either direction.

If your kit has an illustration of where to drill then you can stick it on the door, and then draw around it. If your door has moulding or sill on the bottom of it ensure that you have enough clearance from these as this will ensure your cat's safety and will prevent them from getting access to your home.

Then put on your eye protection and dust mask. Then using a jigsaw begin to cut along the line that you've drawn in, don't try to push the blade too hard, as this could cause it to cut faster than you'd like it to. Utilize a set square to ensure you are cutting the material properly and that the cut is a rectangle shape. Once you are satisfied with the result, you are able to remove the remaining door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap in upvc door panel flap is a great way to allow your pet to go out and in without worrying about them coming in with a visitor, or leaving unwanted gifts inside the home. It also prevents draughts, and helps to keep your home's temperature steady. Installing a cat flap on your door might seem difficult for those who haven't attempted it before. Many people will call a professional carpenter or joiner to do the work. While this is definitely an option, it is possible to do the job yourself if you own the appropriate tools and follow the instructions carefully.

Although this is much simpler to accomplish with a wooden door, it is still possible in uPVC doors - although you must be careful not to scratch the doors as this will cause damage to the warranty. First, you need to take measurements of the door to make sure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. If you have an ordinary uPVC panel it should be a breeze. However in the case of made of composite or another kind of door, you might need to be more careful.

The next step is to determine the height of your cat's stomach. This is the distance between the floor and the bottom of your cat's stomach. It is important to locate a space at the entrance that will allow your pet to pass through comfortably. Once you have the information, you'll be required to mark the space using a spirit level and a pencil so you are sure that the hole will fit your cat.

Once you've marked the area, it is time to make the hole. It is essential to be patient and use a jigsaw to ensure that 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-proof mask at all times when using the jigsaw, since inhaling the sawdust could be hazardous to your health. After you've finished the cutting, you will have to smooth out the edges of the hole with sandpaper, so that the cat flap will fit easily into place.

Cut a hole

It isn't easy to install a cat flap into a door panel or a sealed double glazing cat flap glazing unit. You might be tempted to do it yourself, but unless have plenty of experience in DIY it is probably best to get a professional to do the task for you. A shoddy job might not only look ugly, but also an issue for security and also allow cold air to get in when the cat is outside and hot air to escape once inside.

The hole's location should be marked on the door with an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure it is correctly positioned and runs flush with the rest of the door. Make sure you have a piece of sandpaper at the ready to smooth out any rough edges.

After the line is drawn, you can cut the hole with the jigsaw. Remember to wear any safety equipment for working with an electric tool. If you are worried about the noise of a jigsaw you can buy an electric version that is quieter and simpler to use.

It is important that you only remove the material needed for the fitment of the cat flap. A little bit of extra material will be required for the thickness of the wall of the flap, but removing more than that could cause issues and 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 situation you'll need to create an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal doesn't touch the wall of the flap.

If you are fitting an animal flap to the frame of a double glazed windows with a frame made of metal, you will need to speak to a specialist who can supply you with a new glass pane that already has the hole for the cat flap inside. This is less expensive than trying to install a cat flap inside an existing pane of glass that was not made for this purpose.

Install the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet to leave and come whenever they want, allowing them the freedom to lounge inside the house whenever they want to. However, if you have a uPVC door, it might be difficult to put in a cat flap, particularly when you don't have a glass pane that can be cut for one. Luckily, if you're happy to buy and install a half-glazed replacement uPVC panel then it is possible to fit a cat flap to the doors. It's not a matter of cutting an opening in the door. You'll also have to do a few things to ensure it's safe.

A uPVC, GRP or composite door panel is typically made up of an flimsy plastic outer layer joined to a soft insulating polystyrene core. It is essential to be careful when cutting the material. This type of door typically comes with a template drawing that you can use as a reference for cutting the hole in your door.

Once you've determined the position of the hole in your door, now it's time to put in the cat flap. You can buy and fit many different models including basic push-button operated models to microchip-activated ones that allow only your pet. Whatever type of cat flap installation flap you pick, it's vital that your cat can use the flap without getting caught in the rain.

It's a good idea to opt for circular fittings instead of one that is square, because circles are more securely cut into the door glass. This is because square holes make glass more vulnerable to cracking if drilling is applied to it. It's also a safer choice to use since you don't risk drilling into toughened glass that may break and injure your pet or family members. This is particularly important if you have child or an elderly person living in your home who could be injured by shards glass.