Can You Put a Cat Flap In a uPVC Door? (Read This 1st)
If you have a uPVC door and have a cat you may be wondering if it is possible to fit a cat flap or if this not acceptable.
Can you put a cat flap in a uPVC door?
You can put a cat flap in a uPVC door but it requires cutting a hole in the door, tools, and confidence with DIY. The safest way to do it is to replace the door with one pre-made with the cat flap fitted.
So, now you know you can. But, what are these doors made of? Could this cat flap make your door weaker? Or less secure? Keep reading to get these answers, and much more…
What is a uPVC door?
A uPVC door is a reinforced door that has a steel frame and is covered in un-plasticized polyvinyl chloride (or uPVC). They are used to look stylish in most domestic homes whilst being insulated and secure. You often see them in a clean white finish to go with most modern home decor.
These doors are common in the UK but to other parts of the world, they may have not heard of them before. They are popular in the UK because of their looks and often meet most home insurance requirements.
Will a cat flap weaken a uPVC door?
A cat flap will weaken a uPVC door. In fact, it will weaken any door because it adds a hole and entry point to it. However, the extent of this weakness depends on how it was fitted. If you have done it yourself with limited experience it’s likely to be weaker than if it was fitted by a professional, or manufacturer.
Personally, I am no DIY expert. Therefore I would never consider fitting one of these. Why? Because I am likely to either fit it wrong or cause a real weakness in the door. This is why, like me, a pre-fitted cat flap is a more appealing option.
But, with that aside the fitting of the cat flap is not always the biggest concern, regarding security.
Will a cat flap make a uPVC door less secure?
Depending on the cat flap it can make a door less secure. This is because an intruder could put something through the cat flap to help gain access. This could be a large stick or hooking device to grab some available keys, etc.
Often people leave their keys in a bowl near their front door. This makes practical sense, right? But, it’s also great for an intruder who has access to a great big hole in your door, are you with me?
What can you do to improve security?
To avoid the chance of an intruder hooking keys through your cat flap it is a good idea to not leave your keys there in the first place. And, also consider a cat flap that needs to be activated with a chip (Click here to see my best one) or a tag.
Regarding your keys being moved to improve security, this is a known problem in general. Not just for cat flaps. So, regardless if you decide to get a cat flap or not it is a good idea to move the location of your home keys from the front door.
Why has my cat stopped using the cat flap?
If your cat has suddenly stopped using your cat flap it is likely to have had a scary experience. This could be from several experiences. Such as a local cat, another cat in your home pushing it around, or another animal that has chased it.
Once this happens it can freak your cat out and make them either cautious about using it or stop using it completely. If it’s the latter you need to build its confidence back up. Alternatively, you could help to improve its visibility outside near the flap.
This will help it to convince itself that there is nothing till after it if they decide to venture out of hiding.
How long does it take for a cat to get used to a cat flap?
The time it takes for a cat to get used to a cat flap can vary greatly. It could be within days, or even longer. The key thing to remember is, however long it is, do not give up on the plan. If you open the door once, instead of the cat using the flap, it will reduce your chances of it using the cat flap.
It may be a painful experience trying to get it to use it. Also, never try to physically force it through the cat flap. This will only make it anxious about it and may stop it from ever using it in the future.
It’s like riding a bike, I remember starting to ride a bike and feeling anxious about riding it without support from someone else. The moment I thought I was riding it myself I would fall off.
But, the annoying thing is I was essentially doing the cycling action myself weeks before I get the confidence to take the bike out myself. My point is, I rode the bike when I was mentally ready like your cat will be.
Should I lock my cat flap at night?
Locking the cat flap at night is not ideal. This is because your cat may want to get out and get frustrated or confused about why it’s closed. This may make it lose confidence in the cat flap and resort to annoying you for going outside.
Some cat owners have some concerns about their cats going out at night and wish to do this. And, ultimately it is their own choice. But, think of it from the cat’s perspective, it could be confusing, right?
Let’s look at it from a human’s perspective, for example, you just picked up a new house key, let yourself I all week. Then next week the key won’t open the door, without any reason, or warning. Do you see what I mean?
Are there other alternatives to fitting a cat flap in your door?
There are several alternatives to fitting a cat flap into your uPVC door such as fitting it into a window, wall, another door that leads into another part of your home, such as the porch, etc.
Also, you can secure the cat flap with a microchip (Click here to see my best one) or tag access to restrict which cats can get in. Obviously, this doesn’t necessarily stop a human intruder but other cats can be locked out.
Is it a good idea to leave a window open for your cat?
It is not a good idea to have a window open for your cat’s convenience. Although it may seem like an easy option it will allow anyone access to your home. Also, if your home is not left secure and an intruder gains access it could cause issues with your insurance.
I get it it may seem tempting to forget the expense and hassle of fitting a cat flap and just leave the window open. But, it is what is known as a false economy. Meaning the cost of lost items and damage from an intruder far outweighs the hassle or cost of fitting a cat flap (click here if you are worried its too high), are you with me?
