Installing a cat flap

[RosscoPCole]

Is it easy to put a cat flap into a uPVC door?
Any hints and tips would be greatfully received, thanks.

[Simpo Two]

RosscoPCole said:

Is it easy to put a cat flap into a uPVC door?
Any hints and tips would be greatfully received, thanks.

Yes, but it depends on the make/design of cat-flap. If there's a template use it as some designs have very little gap between the edge of the hole and where the fixings go. Also note where the door panels come to - if you measure on one side and the frame is higher on the other side, you'll be stuffed.

CatMate are very good but Staywell are rubbish.

http://www.catflaps.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d45.html

[knight]

I've fitted two Staywell catflaps recently, one into a wooden door and the other a UPVC one and had no trouble at all.

[Simpo Two]

Not harder to fit, but the door mechanism is clunky and noisy, takes more catpower to work, and lacks weathersealing so you get a draught.

In the very cold winter my cat came in rather fast one day and broke the door pivot on the CatMate (I see the current models have been modified). The only option locally (the car was snowed in) was a Staywell; my cat refused to use it, being frightened of the clack/clack noise and couldn't push it open. Replaced it with a CatMate soon after. A far superior product, better looking and you get a tunnel to line the hole with.

[RosscoPCole]

Thanks for the advice guys. Will look at the different brands and see which one best matches the old one we had.

[Puggit]

I've fitted two recently. Both on what I thought were uPVC doors. One was, that was simply achieved with power tools.

Our new house has what I thought was straight forward uPVC... Turned out to be foam and aluminium in the main. Still got the job done, but needed more (and better quality) tools for working on metal!