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A cat flap gives your cat the freedom to come and go, and saves you from playing doorman at all hours. If your back door is mostly glass, or a window would suit better, you might assume a cat flap is off the table. It isn’t.
Cat flaps can be fitted into glazed doors, patio doors and windows, and when it’s done properly the result looks neat and works well for years. Here’s how it works, what your options are and, with Bonfire Night this week, how to keep your cat safe and calm when the fireworks start.
Can you fit a cat flap in glass?
Yes. A cat flap can go into almost any glazed door or window, including double and triple glazed units. The flap sits in a round opening in the glass, with a fitting kit that seals both panes so the unit stays airtight and keeps its insulating value.
What matters most is the type of glass. Most door glass, and a lot of window glass, is toughened safety glass, and that changes how the job is done.
Why we usually make a new glass unit
Toughened glass is heated and then cooled quickly during manufacture. That makes it far stronger than ordinary glass, and if it does break it crumbles into small, blunt pieces rather than sharp shards. The catch is that it can’t be cut or drilled once it has been toughened. Try, and the whole pane shatters.
So rather than cutting into your existing glass, we measure up and have a new sealed unit made with the cat flap opening already in place. The hole is cut before the glass is toughened, then the unit is assembled and sealed as normal. On fitting day we take out the old unit, put the new one in and fit the flap.
A new unit also means you choose where the flap goes, rather than working around what’s already there. As a rough guide, it should sit at about the height of your cat’s belly, so they can step through comfortably without crouching or jumping. If you have more than one cat, or a kitten that’s still growing, we’ll help you find a height that suits everyone.
Doors, patio doors and windows
Glazed back doors
This is the most popular choice. A cat flap in the lower glass panel of a back door gives your cat a direct route to the garden, and because it sits in the glass rather than the door panel, it’s easy to place at the right height.
Patio and sliding doors
Patio doors work well too. Where possible the flap goes into a fixed pane, so it isn’t moving every time the door opens. Tell us which side you use most and we’ll suggest the best spot.
Windows
A window can be the answer when a door isn’t practical, for example in a flat or a kitchen with no back door. Your cat will need a safe way up and down on both sides, such as a sturdy shelf, a wide sill or a pet ramp, so it’s worth planning this before the new unit is ordered.
Microchip cat flaps
A microchip cat flap reads the chip your cat already has and only unlocks for them. It’s the simplest way to stop neighbourhood cats wandering in, helping themselves to food and upsetting your own pet.
Many models can store several cats, and some offer extras such as:
- Curfew settings that lock the flap at set times
- An in only or out only mode
- App control, so you can lock the flap or see when your cat comes and goes
Microchip flaps run on batteries, so there’s no wiring, and they fit into glass in exactly the same way as a standard flap. If your cat isn’t chipped, many models come with a collar tag that does the same job.
Keeping your cat safe on Bonfire Night
Fireworks can be frightening for cats, and with Bonfire Night this Thursday, displays will often carry on through the weekends either side. A few simple steps make a real difference:
- Bring your cat in before dark and keep them in until the fireworks are over.
- Lock the cat flap, or set a microchip flap to in only, so they can get home but not back out.
- Close windows and curtains, and put some music or the television on to soften the bangs.
- Give them somewhere to hide, such as a covered bed or a box under a chair, and let them stay there.
- Put out a litter tray, food and water indoors.
- Check your cat’s microchip details are up to date, just in case they slip out.
Try not to coax a cat out of a hiding spot. Staying calm yourself is one of the most reassuring things you can do.
Cat flap installation in Surrey
We’ve been fitting glass across Surrey and Berkshire since 1972, and a cat flap is one of those small jobs that makes a big difference at home. We’ll measure up, have your new glass unit made with the opening in place, then fit the unit and the flap together. You’ll get straight advice from a real person, with no pushy sales.
Ready to give your cat a little more freedom? Find out more about our cat flap fitting service or call 01932 344 415.
