cat flap installation in wooden door

Cat Flap Installation in Wooden Door or uPVC Door

Each cat flap installation in wooden door or uPVC door will be slightly different, as they differ between brands and products. There are, however, similarities between them all though. First, the microchip pet door should be set up for all your pets. This can be done after installation, but is best done beforehand. See here for how to set up for your microchip cat flap.

Don’t feel comfortable to follow the advice here or the manufacturer’s instructions? Then click to find a professional pet flap fitter  in your local area for pet door installation.

Put simply, a hole has to be made in your wall, door or window and then the microchip pet flap can be fixed around it. For step by step instructions on cat flap installation in wooden door, see below.

After advice on how to install a microchip pet door in a glass door or window?

Cat flap in a wooden door

uPVC and wooden doors

Measure the height of your pet’s stomach off the floor. Mark the height of your pet’s stomach on your door. This will be where you will place the bottom of the inside of the pet door, so your pet can walk through the pet door comfortably. If you have more than one pet that will be using the microchip pet flap, make sure that the smallest measurement from your pets’ stomachs to the floor is used. Make this mark where you want the centre of the microchip pet door to be, horizontally. Also mark this on the inside frame of the cat flap.

Using this mark on the door as the centre of the inside bottom face of the pet flap, fix the cat flap frame to the door with tape or Blu Tac. Then draw the inside line of the cat flap frame on the door. The idea is to match up the centre mark on the door with the centre mark on the cat flap frame. It would help to use a spirit level to check whether the microchip cat door is to be level. Mark where the drill holes for the microchip cat flap frame are to go.

Cat_flap wooden door

Making a hole in a wooden door for a cat flap

With a large drill bit, make holes in the corner of the outline. These holes need to be large enough to fit a jigsaw drill into. It is recommended to drill from both sides to avoid splintering. Take care to make sure that the holes will line up. To do this make sure that you have outlines drawn on both sides of the door that line up.

Then cut the outline out with the jigsaw drill carefully. Drill the holes for the microchip cat flap screws. The size of the holes will depend on which microchip cat flap you buy. Screw the microchip pet flap into place and make sure that the frame with the buttons is on the inside. Use a hand screw driver as opposed to a power screw driver to prevent over tightening the screws.

Your microchip cat flap should now be completely installed, but that will depend on which microchip pet flap you have.

Have a look at this great Sureflap video for a microchip cat flap installation in a door.

Cat flap installation in wooden door

Let me know what you guys think about this post for a cat flap installation in a wooden door or uPVC door.

Take a look at our recommended microchip cat flaps, the Sureflap Microchip Cat Flap and the Sureflap Dualscan cat flap.

27 thoughts on “Cat Flap Installation in Wooden Door or uPVC Door”

  1. The cat flap looks great! I’m gonna need something like this for my Travel Trailer. Your cat surely looked curious then finally made it through! Too cute! Great video and post!

  2. Great information. How do these seal for weather? Are they pretty air tite? I was wondering if they would let heat out or cold in. Great idea for a cat to be able to go and come when they please.

    1. Hi Larry, thanks for getting in touch! Yeah. the frame of the microchip cat flaps seals really well against the (big) door and the microchip cat flap door seals well inside the microchip cat flap frame. Obviously, a little microchip cat flap door isn’t going to insulate as well as a thick door. But this is a pretty minor thing, you’re not going to notice it! Thanks Sean

  3. Hi
    Thanks for the video on installing That is great idea on placing putty to stick on door and then mark out cat flap. I installed one before at my old place and mark it out wrong it ended costing me a new door when I moved. I will be watching for any new videos you put up you have some great tips.
    Thanks
    Gary Smith

  4. What a great idea! I love the chip sensor. That would be so handy for the older cats (or dogs). What about security though?

    1. Hi Kate, good to hear from you! Cats and dogs can use microchip cat flaps, just make sure to check the sizes of the microchip cat flaps you’re looking at! Microchip cat flaps are safer than conventional cat flaps, but always make sure you think about a safe place to put your cat flap, like a back door, out of view or through a brick wall. Hope that answers your question, thanks Sean

  5. Nice article. You talked about the microchip pet door. Please, what exactly is the use of the ‘microchip’? How does it function? Thanks

    1. Hi Ben, great question! Cats and other pets can have a microchipped inserted between their shoulder blades and can be used to identify them if they are lost. Microchip cat flaps do the same, scan your cat’s microchip and let your cat in, but keep other cats out. Hope that answers your question, thanks Sean

  6. Great tutorial and adding a video was very helpful. I recently moved into a new place and will have to fit a flap for my two cats to get outside. Their main coons so I’ll have to fit a slightly bigger door.

    Thanks for the pointers.

    1. Hi Jean, great to hear from you and yeah Maine Coons are obviously bigger cats so make sure to check the sizes and get a larger microchip cat flap, thanks Sean

    1. Hi Daniel, good to hear from you and glad to hear you got some useful information from this cat flap installation in a wooden door post! Thanks Sean

  7. Wow, a lot of good information that I did not know. I didn’t know how involved this really is, especially with the microchip idea. Awesome content, and I really enjoyed the video. I look forward to other articles on your site.

    1. Hi Ralph, thanks for getting in touch and glad you enjoyed this post, let me know if there are any articles you would like to see on here, thanks Sean

  8. I’m not very handy when it comes to stuff like this. I know you’ve got some links about finding a local person to do this, but just curious, what’s the ballpark cost to get one of these guys installed? I live in the suburbs and would like to have an easier way to let the fur ball in and out, but not sure how easy it will be from an overall cost perspective…

    1. Hi Craig, great to hear from you! I would day it would depend on a few factors but in UK it would cost from £50 up for a cat flap to be fitted into a wooden or uPVC door. Hope that helps, thanks Sean

  9. Hi Sean,

    Great post mate! I didn’t know catflaps were so involved. And they have chips now too. What a great idea. How do they go with heat and cold? Are they fairly airtight when closed? I guess you wouldn’t really notice it too much.

    I will have to look at putting one in. Your cat looked very curious before making the leap haha! Well done,

    Kev

    1. Hi Kev, thanks for commenting and for your nice words as well. Yeah more and more pets are getting microchipped to identify them. In U.K., it’s the law to have you dog chipped. The chip helps identify them if they become lost 🙂 I haven’t experienced any issues with temperature changes. They’re made of plastic so should be ok and the good ones have draft proof seals, thanks Sean

  10. Hi Sean,
    Interesting things here and practical tips who are very useful. I have also 3 cats and was wondering if a Cat flap is a good idea? So here i found some interesting tips.
    Tanks
    Philip

    1. Hi Philip thanks for getting in touch. I think microchip cat flaps can be great! They let your cat come and go as they please, but stop stray cats from entering your home. I can imagine it can be quite annoying if you’re constantly having to let your three cats in and out! Thanks Sean

  11. Hi, Sean!
    I usually see homes with the Cat Flap but never thought of doing it myself. I think the microchip cat flap sounds like a wonderful idea.

    Thanks to the video which I watched until it was finished, I thought I would attempt to do it myself.You did such a neat job. Looks like the cat needed a little motivation to go through the Cat Flap.

    Is it more difficult to install the Cat Flap in a glass door?
    Thanks for the post.

    1. Hi Luna, thanks for getting in touch and glad you enjoyed the post and the video! Glass is a bit more difficult and I would recommend getting a professional glazer unless you have experience yourself. Thanks Sean

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