How to install a cat flap on a door?

Choosing a cat flap for your home and installing it yourself requires some prior knowledge. Here's what you need to know.

Summary

How to choose a suitable cat flap?
Where is the best place to install a cat flap?
How to install a cat flap?

If you own a cat , you have probably already thought about installing a cat flap to allow it to enter and leave the house as it pleases without having to open the door systematically. Cat flaps are doors for pets that allow them to move around freely, without you having to open and close the door for them. How to choose a suitable cat flap? Where and how to install it? Our answers.

How to choose a suitable cat flap?

Cat flaps come in a variety of sizes and shapes. It is important to choose the right one for your cat's size so that your pet can easily enter and exit through the cat flap, while maintaining the safety of your home .

What criteria should you take into account when purchasing a cat flap?

Check the dimensions of the cat flap and compare them to the size of your cat: does he have enough room to fit comfortably through the door? If you have a kitten , consider a cat flap with an adjustable flap to enlarge the cat flap as your cat grows .
Make sure the cat flap is made of durable, weather- resistant materials to prevent it from becoming damaged over time. If possible, choose a silent cat flap guaranteeing thermal and acoustic insulation.
Do you want to prevent your pet from going out at night? Opt for a model with manual hatch locking.
Do you prefer to opt for a classic model or an electronic cat flap? In the latter case, you equip your cat's collar with an electronic identification chip or an infrared badge which automatically opens the cat flap upon arrival, thus preventing other cats from entering your home.

Where is the best place to install a cat flap?

Once you have chosen a cat flap that suits your cat, you need to decide where to put it. Installing the cat flap in a rear or side door of your house is a good option for more discretion. But the ideal is to place it where your cat usually goes out.

The simplest is to create the opening on a wooden door , but it is also possible to install a cat flap on:

A PVC door , like a garage door : this is an interesting alternative, because a cat flap can turn out to be a real energy sieve and choosing to place it in an unheated zone (called a buffer zone) can prevent you from losing heat. In this case, you will also need to provide a second cat flap on the internal door between the garage and your home. Please note: you will find insulated cat flap doors on the market promoting thermal insulation and sealing.
A single-glazed or double-glazed window or veranda pane , for example for access to the balcony if you are in an apartment .
A glass door or French doors .
A wall in which you will drill an opening.

If you opt for the cat flap in a door, make sure the door is in good condition and can be cut out to accommodate the equipment. Also remember to ask for agreement from the co-ownership before installing a cat flap if you live in a building or from your landlord, if applicable.

For the installation of a cat trap requiring more delicate work, do not hesitate to call a professional . Finally, keep in mind that the cat flap must be easily accessible by your cat, but also by you, because you will certainly have to clean it regularly.