Cat flap in double glazing

[24lemons]

We need to put a cat flap in our back door but it is a full height upvc double glazed door. Is it possible to install a cat flap into it or will we have to get a new bit of glass? We are in the Worcester area if anyone knows of companies who could help.

[Robbo 27]

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/4613345?cmpid=GS001...la-192125010805|crid:100241542645|nw:g|rnd:11678212738045794510|dvc:c|adp:1o3&gclid=CMfOhbrT_tECFdEy0wodN3YN9Q

Is this the sort of thing?

[FurtiveFreddy]

It'll be toughened glass so the company who made the door or another who can guarantee it will fit, will have to make a new sealed glass unit with the hole in it and fit it for you.

Make sure you're sitting down when you ask how much it will cost.

[eltawater]

Typically it's a whole new pane into which they cut a circular hole, seal, fit the cat flap and then bring it to your property to swap with the existing glass.

One point to watch out for is the width of your current door upvc surround. As the glass will have to be cut sufficiently far enough from the edge to avoid cracking, it tends to leave the resulting flap quite high off the ground. Your moggy will need to stretch up and over the flap hole to get out.

This lengthened entry/exit process will also mean you'll feel a draft more as the flap is held open longer.

[J3PTF]

Think carefully about the type of cat flap you go for - when we had ours the glaziers cocked it up and eventually they installed a flap they bought. Because it was a slim surround, it meant you could see all of the foil surround of the hole they'd cut, and it looked awful.

Much better to go for a flap with a chunky surround if there's enough space!

[Puggit]

Just paid £180 to go through a wall, if that helps once you get the double glazing cost!

[fourfoldroot]

It's probably easier to make a hole through the wall and fit cat flaps on each end of the susequent tunnel. You could even have a light in it so they can find it at night.;)

[FurtiveFreddy]

If you do go for a hole in the double glazing, this one is by far the best. We have it in our double glazed back door.

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/5758618

[Evanivitch]

Girlfriend has looked into this and has quotes of about 350 quid, which I can guarantee will mean the cats won't use it.

I'd rather go through the wall myself...

[gus607]

My mate had a similar problem & cut a hole in the brickwork & constructed a small tunnel with a standard catflap at each end for his cat, cat loved it !

[Darkslider]

As has been said, cheaper to go through the wall or replace the door with half glazed and half solid panel, the lower panel being straightforward to fit a cat flap in.

[Shakermaker]

Had ours done a few weeks ago, and it cost £260 including the cost of the cat flap. That was replacing the full height pane. Sadly nowhere to go through the wall here as I would have preferred that if possible but happy with the work done.

[rash_decision]

If the door has 2 double glazed units, above and below a centre spar, like most, why not replace the lower glazed unit with an infill panel? That will be cheaper to buy and modify to accommodate the cat flap. A very easy task to carry out.

[24lemons]

Unfortunately it is a single full height pane. I'll try some local glaziers for quotes

[olimain]

I used this guy a few years ago to replace the unit with one with a hole (Jez I think his name was) and a mate did recently on my recommendation: http://www.wefitforyou.com/

He's based up north somewhere but we're in London. Seems to come down one week to do a number of measuring jobs then a couple of weeks later to do the fittings, was very reasonable.

[motco]

gus607 said:

My mate had a similar problem & cut a hole in the brickwork & constructed a small tunnel with a standard catflap at each end for his cat, cat loved it !

I did the same and didn't bother with an internal flap as it emerged under a shelf and was invisible from head height. Cats seemed unfazed by the foot long tunnel.

[anonymous-user]

We also went through the wall, about 3-4 hours of my and my brother cocking about got it fitted, got some tunnel pieces from the company who made the flap, cats are fine with it and happily trot in and out

[llewop]

We had one fitted in a full height double glazed unit couple of years ago. They came and measured it first, built the unit with the flap in it and then fitted it. We've the plain unit in the back of the shed if we or anyone after us wishes to revert to a flap-less window. I can't remember who we used, but will check when at home (west Oxfordshire).

Since others have mentioned them: We've also had a tunnel done - the patio door/window is now enclosed by a conservatory, so had tunnel built into the conservatory.

Our cussed cat is absolutely fine with the flap in window, but less happy with the tunnel, I think she worries about not seeing if anyone/anything is waiting outside to ambush her!