Cat Flaps in Shaftesbury, Dorset (4)

You have two main options for fitting a cat flap in your home – you hire a professional or you do it yourself. If you’re an experienced and skilled DIY enthusiast then you might want to fit the cat flap yourself. Otherwise, we recommend contacting your local cat flap fitters to do the job.

Hiring a professional cat flap fitter
There are a number of benefits of hiring a professional cat flap fitter:

• They’re experienced in fitting cat flaps and will have all the necessary tools to do the job.
• Expert cat flap fitters will be able to complete the work much faster.
• The work will be carried out safely and finished to a professional standard.
• They’ll know the right height and dimensions to fit the cat flap.

DIY cat flap installation
We would only recommend DIY cat flap installation for wooden doors – if you want to fit your cat flap in a glass, double glazed or uPVC door, or an external wall, we would always recommend hiring a professional. If you feel confident fitting your cat flap into a wooden door, here’s how to do it:

1. Measure and mark. Your cat flap should be positioned about 10-15cm from the floor, to allow your cat to easily come and go. You’ll then need to mark this height in the middle of the door.
2. Drill the corners. Most cat flaps will come with a guide to show you exactly where you’ll need to drill – which should be relative to the four corners of the cat flap.
3. Saw out the cat flap shape. With the four drilled holes you can now use a jigsaw to cut out the shape of the cat flap, sawing from one hole to the next. Once finished remove the block of wood you’ve cut out.
4. Sand down the edges. You’ll want to smooth down all the sides of the hole you’ve now created using sandpaper.
5. Drill screw holes. Take the cat flap front and mark where the screw holes will need to be drilled, then drill them.
6. Assemble the cat flap. Put the front piece of the cat flap in place and put screw into the four houles. Then place the back section in position and attach nuts to the screws.

If in doubt, speak to local cat flap fitters in Shaftesbury for their advice. And for more information on cat flap fitting, check out our cat flap installation cost guide.

In a word, yes. The simple truth is, fitting a cat flap will immediately compromise the security of your door to some degree. Classic cat flaps with no lock or automatic opening/closing system are the most vulnerable in terms of security – as they allow anyone to gain reach access through the flap itself.

The issue isn’t so much that it weakens the strength of the door itself, though a cat flap will create a degree of weakness to the area in the door where it’s installed. The main issue is that burglars will potentially be able to reach in and either unlock the door itself or reach keys to then open the door from the outside.

If you’re considering having a cat flap fitted in your home, we recommend discussing security options with cat flap fitters in Shaftesbury. They will be able to provide you with options that can offer greater security features, such as lockable cat flaps or automated models.

As an alternative, you can also consider having the cat flap fitted to a wall away from a door, so that the immediate risk of a burglar gaining access is lower. Although cat flap installation in a wall costs more, it can be well worth the initial outlay to have greater peace of mind for you and your home.

Top tips for cat flap installation
Here are some of our top tips for fitting a cat flap:

• Consider installing a lockable or automated cat flap for added security
• Avoid fitting cat flaps in the main entrance doors to your home.
• Have the cat flap fitted in a wall away from a door, if possible.
• Speak to your local cat flap fitters about costs and security options available.

If you want to find out more about cat flaps and how much installation costs, take a look at our guide to cat flap fitting costs.

Yes indeed, a cat flap can absolutely be fitted in a double glazed door. In fact, cat flap installation in glass doors is actually very popular – and something our trusted cat flap fitters get asked about all the time.

Double glazed doors
The usual process for installing a cat flap into double glazing involves the cat flap supplier making a new piece of glass with the cat flap installed into it already. That new piece of glass would then be fitted into the existing frame of your double glazed door.

Single glazed doors
Cat flaps can also be fitted in single glazed doors too. The process for single glazing is very similar, only the cat flap supplier would need to use a piece of toughened glass for the cat flap. This is to ensure that the glass itself can withstand the pressure of the cat flap itself and the cat(s) using it.

New double glazing
The best option, if you’re having new double glazing fitted in your home is to pre-order the cat flap installed in the door – so that you don’t have to organise for it to be installed at a later date. By doing it that way, it should avoid you having to specifically pay for a cat flap fitting cost, as it will come as part of your double glazing installation.

Before you decide what type of cat flap you’re going to buy and exactly where you’re going to fit it, do your homework and ask local cat flap experts for their professional advice. The security of your home and the wellbeing of your cat are worth taking a little time to make the right decision.

Finding the right cat flap fitter
If you’re looking for someone to fit your cat flap in a single or double glazed door in your home, we recommend speaking to local cat flap fitters to get quotes for the job. And make sure you shop around for cat flap fitting costs, so that you’re confident that you’re being quoted fair and competitive prices.

Installing a cat flap might seem like a harmless but very useful addition to your home. And no doubt your cat will be thrilled about their newfound freedom. But you could be putting your home at risk in more ways than one.

Fitting a cat flap can potentially have a number of consequences that you need to consider before going ahead with the installation:

Increasing your premium
The reality is, a cat flap gives an additional weak spot for burglars to enter your home, putting your home at greater risk of being burgled. It’s therefore no surprise that having a new mini door for your cat can lead to your home insurance premiums going up.

Insurers might not pay out
If your house is burgled via a cat flap there are often no signs of forced entry. If that’s the case and you subsequently make a claim for stolen items on your insurance, you could be in trouble. Some home insurance policies have it written into the terms of your contract that they won’t pay out if there isn’t sufficient evidence of forced entry. Or, your insurer might decide that leaving your keys in or near a door with a cat flap is suitably negligent to nullify any claim that you’re making.

Lose your no claims bonus
The increased risk of burglary that comes with having a cat flap is not only a worry for insurers not paying out. If you get burgled and successfully claim then you’ll have lost your no claims bonus – and the valuable discounts that come with it. Another hit for your insurance premiums to increase.

Tips for avoiding issues with a cat flap
If you have a cat flap in your home, here are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of being burgled:

• If you bought a property with a cat flap and don’t need it, remove it as soon as possible. And notify your home insurance provider of the change.
• Never leave keys in or near doors with a cat flap.
• If you must have a cat flap, upgrade to a lockable or automated model with enhanced security features.
• Don’t ever have large cat flaps, as some burglars use children to break into homes.

Before having a cat flap fitted in your home, speak to your home insurance provider to find out whether it will have an impact on your home insurance.

The best people to fit a cat flap are your local expert cat flap fitters in Shaftesbury. You can find a number of experienced professionals in your area on Checkatrade. They will be able to provide you with accurate quotes for the cost of installing a cat flap, how long it will take and the types of cat flaps available.

If you’re having a cat flap fitted to a double glazed door, you might be able to have the cat flap installed before they fit your double glazing. In which case, speak to your double glazing supplier and ask if that’s an option.

Benefits of hiring a professional cat fitter Although it is possible to fit your own cat flap in some cases, we would always recommend you hire a professional cat flap fitter to carry out the work. You want to ensure that your home’s security standards aren’t compromised and that the cat flap is installed safely and correctly.

Expert cat flap fitters can advise you on the best make and model to choose. Your home’s security could be at risk if a DIY cat flap installation is done poorly. A professional will be able to quickly and safely install your cat flap with minimal fuss.

Whether you’re looking to organise cat flap installation in glass doors, uPVC doors or in a wall, it’s worth shopping around to get quotes. We always recommend obtaining at least three separate quotes from our trusted tradespeople on Checkatrade. Our handy request a quote feature is perfect for getting quotes – you post details about the job you want doing and we’ll send it out to local tradespeople in your area. Give it a go!

Want to know more about cat flap fitting and the costs involved? Read our cat flap installation guide for advice and average prices in the UK.