As a cat flap fitter, I am often asked about draught-proofing of a cat flap – the answer is that there is no such product on the market! You will get a draught from your cat flap whether it be in glass or brick installation.
The main reason is that the moment the cat flap is opened, it has created a draught, hence no cat flap manufacturer can claim that it is draught-proof. The only way you could avoid this would be like a hotel revolving door, that never actually opens as such – you enter a compartment that then moves around to the opening so you can get out. This, of course, would not work for a cat flap. Neither could you have hot air blowing down like the supermarkets or high street shops do to keep the cold at bay.
The cat flap is a centuries-old invention. Experienced cat owners know this pitfall of draught as a trade-off for allowing their cat access to the outside world. The other option is to leave a window open which of course is worse in terms of draught. Alternatively, you could open the door or window on request of the cat but this is impractical if you are at work or it’s the middle of the night. The only option you are left with is to have a house cat and not allow it out.
With a cat flap, your cat has the freedom to go in and out without pestering you, and there is less foul odour of the litter tray.
Cat flap manufacturers do their best to try and minimize cold air coming through the flap when the cat flap is not in use through what they call draught excluders – essentially a brush-like material around the flap that is meant to insulate it somewhat.
However, you need to bear in mind that the actual flap must be light and easy to open for the cat to be able to push open themselves with ease. It cannot be sealed tight as it must swing both ways, or it would defeat the object.
You must also consider the current thickness of your wall or glass pane–insulated cavity wall depth of about 400mm or about 28mm for double glazing. When putting a hole in either of these for a cat flap, it is essentially replaced with a thin layer of plastic (the cat flap) that is obviously not as thick or insulated as the wall or double glazing that was there previously.
Predominantly, the question about draught is asked by new cat owners with their first kitten or rescue who are yet to experience the joys and pitfalls of owning a cat. As a cat flap fitter, our role is to fit the cat flap you have chosen – we don’t manufacture them and I urge people who are thinking of owning a cat to do their homework on which cat flap best suits theirs and their cat’s needs. Check out the reviews too, there are many online.
I hope you found this blog informative – it is honest and genuine and representative of our experience in fitting cat flaps. Thank you for reading and any queries, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
