Ask The Trades
https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl
DIY Forum >> Building Questions >> Catflap thru a wall
https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1085417575

Message started by HandyMac on May 24th, 2004, 5:52pm

Title: Catflap thru a wall
Post by HandyMac on May 24th, 2004, 5:52pm

I've had an enquiry about putting a catflap thru a wall. Haven't looked at this yet but it's a mid-terraced property so I assume we are talking about a double-brick with cavity.

Drilling a big enough hole is probably not going to be the main issue, assuming I can hire a large enough core drill.

However I'm a bit concerned that taking so much material out of the wall to fit a catflap might weaken the structure of the wall. Anyone got any thoughts on this?

I'm not sure of the size of a catflap but it's got to be 6-8in in diameter - a bit larger than a regular extractor hood vent.

Apparently it isn't possible to put the catflap anywhere else because it is a sliding patio door to the back garden, so it can't go thru the door.

Andrew

Title: Re: Catflap thru a wall
Post by thescruff on May 24th, 2004, 6:21pm

You can buy catflaps for wall about a brick squire and build it in.

scruff

Title: Re: Catflap thru a wall
Post by WJOHNM on May 24th, 2004, 6:47pm

is the cat not good enough to go through front door ???
o.k.theres a main road ::)
might not be a bad idea (problem solved).
only joking i love cats ;) ;) ;)
how about a new double glazed unit for the patio door with the hole pre cut in the toughend glass.i have seen this done before for extractor vents etc.
might be costly though.
         john

Title: Re: Catflap thru a wall
Post by supersparky on May 24th, 2004, 6:59pm

dont want to make the hole too big, the cat wont get any pleasure  :o

ss

Title: Re: Catflap thru a wall
Post by HandyMac on May 24th, 2004, 10:45pm


wrote on May 24th, 2004, 6:59pm:
dont want to make the hole too big, the cat wont get any pleasure  :o

Gotta watch out for them pesky rabbits coming in the other way too..... ;)

Andrew

Title: Re: Catflap thru a wall
Post by Kesh on May 24th, 2004, 10:45pm

I wonder if 6"- 8" will be big enough through a cavity wall?  Cats usually "step" through a standard catflap in a door, but crawling through a circular hole this size may be too much of a squeeze.

Perhaps a better option would be to make a rectangular opening, a little taller?

Another thought just occurred to me - how about getting a glazier to cut a hole in a downstairs window :-/

Title: Re: Catflap thru a wall
Post by HandyMac on May 24th, 2004, 10:47pm

That thought struck me too. In fact I did a catflap replacement in a glass door recently - nice round hole already in the glass for that one.

Can't help thinking this catflap idea thru a cavity wall isn't a great one. As you say, poor old pussy is going to be lost in the void, with it's tail disappearing one end before the whiskers come out the other.

Andrew

Title: Re: Catflap thru a wall
Post by ROBBO on May 24th, 2004, 10:59pm

Would assume Handy that if this is a mid terrace and an old property that there would be no cavity at all, but rather two skin of brick  stretcher bond tied in with  headers running through intermitantly.... If so there would be no probs with a cat flap at all just a bit of brute force with the old hammer & bolster.
If you look at the wall and you see  those headers probably on every third course then you will be ok.

Title: Re: Catflap thru a wall
Post by Dewy on May 25th, 2004, 12:04am

Cats can get through very small holes. My father always said that a cat used it's whiskers to judge whether it could get through or not. They are very sensitive & if the whiskers can pass an object then the whole cat can.

Title: Re: Catflap thru a wall
Post by thescruff on May 25th, 2004, 7:30am

Still can't see whats wrong with buying the proper thing, includes sleeve through the wall and draught excluder.

scruff

Title: Re: Catflap thru a wall
Post by Symo on May 25th, 2004, 8:58am


wrote on May 24th, 2004, 6:47pm:
how about a new double glazed unit for the patio door with the hole pre cut in the toughend glass.i have seen this done before for extractor vents etc.
might be costly though.
         john


I had this done. Used a clear polycarbonate cat-flap. It works great and is very inconspicuous.

Trouble is, big patio doors so the replacement panel with the hole was expensive, cost £400 all in. :-[

Symo

Ask The Trades » Powered by YaBB 2.3!
YaBB © 2000-2008. All Rights Reserved.