Existing uPVC door panel
Existing uPVC door panels, typically allow a cat flap fitter to install any cat flap or pet door. We can carefully cut the existing panel, and ensure it’s all sealed and water tight during the fitting process.
Some uPVC door panels have a metal strengthening sheet within their interior, but these are pretty rare, it’s typically an MDF reinforced core within the insulation of the uPVC panel. As skilled cat flap fitters we can install to almost any type of existing uPVC panel, or replace them if required.
In some cases where there is an existing decorative moulding on the panel, it is advisable to replace the uPVC panel for a flat one to achieve a better cat flap fitting, but this is not always necessary.
wooden door
Wooden doors come in all different styles, but most commonly are Georgian style with 2 panels in the lower half of the door.
As your local cat flap fitter, we can advise which cat flap will be best suited to your door style, and recommend the ideal position for your cat flap to be installed.
Composite and aluminium doors
It is possible to fit a cat flap to a composite door, but there are a few things you should consider before proceeding. Any remaining warranty on the door will likely be void if the door is altered in any way. Also once the door is cut, there is no going back. Unlike uPVC doors which have interchangeable panels, composite doors would need to be replaced if you wished to remove the cat flap later on.
Most aluminium doors are not a problem, although most microchip cat flap manufacturers recommend a larger hole is cut when the cat flap is installed into metal doors, otherwise the effectiveness of the RFID field can be reduced.
Which cat flap do you recommend for door installs?
Suitable for most doors the Standard Pet Safe Manual 4 way locking cat flap comes in either white or brown to match your doors finish. With a self lining tunnel for doors up to 50mm thick, this cat flap will also work well with thin panel doors.
The PetSafe cat flap has an easy to operate 4 way manual lock and generous cat flap size allowing for cats up to 8kg to come and go as they please.
A greatly improved design on the older PetSafe cat flaps, these cat flaps are more robust and have a better draught seal than their predecessors.
If you do require a microchip cat flap recognition to keep out strays and neighbouring cats, then the Sureflap Microchip cat flap will work with your cats existing microchip, and is easily programmed by the push of a button.
It has a 4 way manually operated lock, and with a clear battery low indicator, there is no fear of locking your cats out when the batteries run low.
Although the draught seal around the flap is not the best, it’s easily the most reliable and well designed microchip cat flap available.
For owners of multiple cats, especially those with kittens, the Sureflap Dual Scan and Connect cat flap models offer great benefits.
These have selective exit as well as entry. This is great if you need to keep your kitten or an ill cat in, whilst the other cats in your household are free to come and go as they please.
The Dual Scan microchip cat flap has the manual 4 way lock and low battery indicator, the same as the Sureflap microchip cat flap. Whereas the Connect version cat flap also benefits from a smart phone app for remote locking, notifications and programmable curfew modes from anywhere that you have internet access on your phone!
For those of you with larger cats, or even small dogs up to 10kg or 34cm to the shoulder, requiring microchip recognition, the Sureflap Pet Door is packed with features and a larger size than normal cat flaps.
It works with your pet’s existing unique microchip number for selective entry, has a 4 way manual lock as well as a a timed curfew mode to keeps pets in at night if required.
The sturdy construction and dual catch design of this microchip pet door, mean this is robust enough to withstand even the largest domestic cats and most enthusiastic small dog breeds using it day in and day out.
F.A.Q.
It is possible to fit a cat flap to almost any composite door, however as mentioned above, whether or not you should requires careful consideration. If you’re content that you’ll likely void any warranty on the door and that to remove the flap in the future requires a complete door replacement, then we can fit a cat flap for you.
In most cases, yes, even with moulding present on the panel a cat flap can still be fitted. However, depending on the design it might be advisable for us to replace the panel for a flat one for a better fit. The old panel can then be kept to go back in the door if ever you move or wish to remove the cat flap later on.
For most door designs, having a cat flap fitter install a cat flap properly will have little impact on the overall integrity of the door, however there are some important things to consider before starting. These include retaining door lock integrity, such as replacing a thumb lock for a key operated cylinder. Ensuring access to the door with the flap is restricted, so it’s not advisable to install them in front or easily accessible side doors. Making sure the flap is not fitted too close to the door edge, or cutting any of the door styles.
As an experienced cat flap fitter we can advise on any likely issues before fitting the cat flap.