Homemade Cat Flaps

Cat owners enjoy many benefits from the companionship of their cats; however, many responsibilities come with that ownership. Providing a cat flap is one way to lessen the strain of cat ownership, and it provides a greater degree of freedom for the cat who would otherwise be dependent on his owner to enter or exit a house. Crafting an interior cat flap is fairly straightforward, but an exterior flap requires a bit more consideration.

Things You'll Need

  • Door
  • Flap material
  • Screws or staples
  • Molding
  • Paint
  • Saw
  • Hammer
  • Finishing nails
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Instructions

  1. Installing a Cat Flap

    • 1
      Remove the door from its hinges and mark an opening.

      Remove the door from its hinges and use a pencil to mark the area to be cut out. For an exterior door, it is best if the base of the flap and the opening are a few inches off the ground, level with the cat's stomach. This will help stop rodents from entering the house through the cat flap.

    • 2
      Cut out the opening for the cat door with a saw.

      Use a handsaw or a jigsaw to cut out the opening for the cat door.

    • 3
      Use molding to frame the cat door.

      Purchase some decorative corner molding from a hardware store to frame the opening of the cat door. If the molding is not pre-cut, use a miter box to cut it at 45-degree angles. Use finishing nails to install the molding.

    • 4
      Paint the molding to match the door.

      Paint the molding the same color as the door for a more seamless look.

    • 5
      Attach the flap to the opening with screws or heavy-duty staples.

      An interior door can be fitted with any type of fabric for the flap, which is attached with heavy-duty staples or screws. The flap for an exterior door should use a fairly heavy material, such as a piece of Plexiglas or Lexan, to help prevent cold air from entering the house. For additional weather protection, consider placing a flap on each side of the door. Also consider edging the entire border of both the flap and the molding with low-resistance magnets (similar to the seal on a refrigerator).