Topic ID 5763
I need to fit a cat flap into my double glazed door and have been told by a local company that the entire double glazed unit will need to be remade to incorporate the flap. Does anyone have any experience of fitting cat flaps into double glazing? Any opinions on whether or not a glazier can just cut the hole for me? If that's possible, can anyone recommend one? Thanks
Reply ID 79228
quote:I have done this twice. The first time was in a small double glazed panel in a front door. The second time was in a double glazed rear patio door. On both occasions we had the benefit of very fair and impartial advice and service from people who were not simply trying to sell us an entire unit. On the first occasion my father in law advised that a new double glazed panel was required for the front door and duly made one up with the hole for the cat flap ready cut. He was a glazer so his advice was trusted. On the second occasion we used the son of a close friend who works for Anglian windows and he said the same, that the whole panel needed to be fitted. Again, his judgement was without question.
Originally posted by newgirl
I need to fit a cat flap into my double glazed door and have been told by a local company that the entire double glazed unit will need to be remade to incorporate the flap. Does anyone have any experience of fitting cat flaps into double glazing? Any opinions on whether or not a glazier can just cut the hole for me? If that's possible, can anyone recommend one? Thanks
Reply ID 79230
you cannot cut a double glazed unit (the glass) because it's vacuum sealed, so without the vacuum it doesnt work. (as well) Just open and close the door for the cat when it wants to come and go!
Reply ID 79232
if it's the plastic panel at the bottom of the door, it's a doddle. If it's a glass panel, get rid of the cat. A new doub;e glazed unit aint cheap!
Reply ID 79233
Frankly two daft responses.....and before you say it, yes I know I've done the same in the past. Codek2.........is it at all a solution to expect someone to open and close a door every time a cat wants to come and go? And if you've ever had a cat (and I'm not saying you haven't) you've probably experienced the joy of opening a door because a cat is standing by it and seemingly wishing to exit only to find the cat then stands looking out of the door that you have opened for as long as you will stand there. A glass panel at the bottom of a normal door is not too expensive. A patio door is a different matter, even if you know the guy who works for Anglian as I did and did half the installation myself.
Reply ID 79235
Unfortunately for me there are two kittens involved here and the door to the back garden is down two flights of stairs from the living room so I'm not going to be up and down there all the time - even if I could hear the miaowing ! Also, unfortunately for me, it IS a fully glazed door but one of a pair and only about 2 feet wide. Looks like there is nothing for it but to replace the whole unit then [:(] I desperately need the flap - I'm spending half of my day trying to get in and out of the front door without them escaping. At least once they have their own access point, I can just leave them outside if they escape.
Reply ID 79236
quote:It is just the panel that needs replacing as opposed to the whole door. When we had it done they even matched the distinctive patterning on the panel. One thing I would advise though is to get more than one quote.
Originally posted by newgirl
Unfortunately for me there are two kittens involved here and the door to the back garden is down two flights of stairs from the living room so I'm not going to be up and down there all the time - even if I could hear the miaowing ! Also, unfortunately for me, it IS a fully glazed door but one of a pair and only about 2 feet wide. Looks like there is nothing for it but to replace the whole unit then [:(] I desperately need the flap - I'm spending half of my day trying to get in and out of the front door without them escaping. At least once they have their own access point, I can just leave them outside if they escape.
Reply ID 79237
Any recommendations for local firms? Thanks
Reply ID 79239
I know it's not quite the answer to the question you asked, but we had a friend who put her catflap in the wall. If there is a wall next to the door, it might be an option (although I wouldn't hazard a guess as to price).
Reply ID 79240
Wall not an option. I'm afraid - washing machine and fitted cupboards in the way. If only....
Reply ID 79270
This is going to look like a silly question but, in my defence, these are my first cats and I have never had a cat flap before so please bear that in mind - I went round the house last night to look for a bit of external wall and I have found a small space that comes into the front hallway but would need to be accessed from the side access to the garden. This is basically a narrow passageway (3 feet?)with the house on one side and the tall fence on the other. This is the silly question now - would the kittens be able to find a catflap up an alleyway or am I underestimating them? [:I] Still be keen to get some local glazier quotes if anyone can recommend someone?
Reply ID 79274
quote:If they want to get into and out of the house and the catflap is accessible then they will find it and use it.
Originally posted by newgirl
This is going to look like a silly question but, in my defence, these are my first cats and I have never had a cat flap before so please bear that in mind - I went round the house last night to look for a bit of external wall and I have found a small space that comes into the front hallway but would need to be accessed from the side access to the garden. This is basically a narrow passageway (3 feet?)with the house on one side and the tall fence on the other. This is the silly question now - would the kittens be able to find a catflap up an alleyway or am I underestimating them? [:I] Still be keen to get some local glazier quotes if anyone can recommend someone?
Reply ID 79281
A friend of ours has the same issue but they plan to replace their doors so as a temporary measure they have put a catflap in their shed, so at least they, the cats that is :) have somewhere to go when they are not able to offer the full cat butler service of door opening. Form a glazing point of view i have used Hertford glass several times and found them to be very helpful and reasonably priced
Reply ID 79289
quote:As long as they go out of it first (rather than get them to come in), they should be all right. I remember the first time our cats went out. We let them out of the back door and they went a few yards up the path and came back, then a few more, and back, and so on. We had more of a problem getting them to use the flap itself, but once they realised there was no alternative they were okay.
Originally posted by newgirl
This is the silly question now - would the kittens be able to find a catflap up an alleyway or am I underestimating them? [:I]
Reply ID 79296
I would also recommend Hertford Glass, they installed a cat flap for us a couple of years back and were excellent.